Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the capital funding of £150 million in its draft Budget 2025-26 to support the offshore wind sector will be allocated.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is working closely with public sector delivery partners to identify priority investment opportunities designed to mobilise private investment in ports, manufacturing and fabrication, to maximise the economic opportunities from offshore…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where the capital funding of £150 million in its draft Budget 2025-26 to support the offshore wind sector will be spent, broken down by region.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government’s Offshore Wind Focus paper identifies key strategic opportunities across ports & harbours infrastructure and the wider offshore wind supply chain. The strategic assessment conducted with public sector delivery partners, draw…
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its Energy Strategy.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The judgements and issues in the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan are informed and influenced by recent developments in UK Government energy policy and by court decisions.This is a rapidly changing landscape and we are taking time to reflect on those …
12 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the £25 million allocated in its draft Budget 2025-26 to increase jobs in the green energy supply chain.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: In line with our Green Industrial Strategy, we are continuing to support Scotland’s energy transition. The draft 2025-26 Scottish Budget includes an allocation of £25m to support the development of hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, as well…
11 Dec 2024 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S6W-31550 by Claire Baker on 11 December 2024, how many email and domain accounts for MSP spouses who are not in paid employment by MSPs there are on the Parliament IT system, and what the average annual cost is of administering a…
Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): In line with data protection legislation the personal data processed by the SPCB is minimised to only that which is necessary, and there is no business reason to hold spousal information of those who work for MSPs in an unpaid capacity. The average annu…
11 Dec 2024 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much it has spent on electric hand dryers in the Parliament building in each of the last three years.
Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): The general maintenance of hand driers is included within the Building Maintenance Contract and the only spend is on replacement parts or replacement hand driers if they fail. Below is spend for last 3 financial years and note on current year. ·&n…
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £500 million Just Transition Fund for the north east and Moray has been allocated to date.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Just Transition Fund has allocated £75 million to date, supporting projects and communities across the North East and Moray to create jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.
6 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with SEPA regarding the potential impact of closing its 24-hour call centre and replacing it with an automated system for responding to significant environmental incidents.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government and SEPA meet regularly to discuss policy and governance matters. Although the Scottish Government has been acutely aware of SEPA’s change plans for their call centre, this is an operational matter for SEPA.SEPA has not raised an…
5 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with VisitScotland regarding the impact of new pylon infrastructure on tourism.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31641 on 5 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…
27 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the current living grant for trainee educational psychologists, in light of the £15,000 grant introduced in 2018 having not been adjusted for the reported 25.96% increase in the cost of goods and services, and how it plans to ensure that the grant r…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since 2018, the number of education psychologists in training has more than doubled from a total of 29 in 2016-2017 to over 76 in 2023-2024. This is due to the continued investment Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA make to deliver the training pro…
27 Nov 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update planning guidance for battery energy storage systems.
25 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £200 million that it committed to improve rail journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 2026 has been spent to date.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The total invested to 9th November 2024 (Railway Period 8 – 2024) on projects to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt is £23.1m. Of this figure, £16.3m has been spent on the Aberdeen – Central Belt Service Improve…
25 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with British Transport Police regarding the enforcement of ScotRail's alcohol ban.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: British Transport Police are responsible for enforcing the alcohol ban and responding to reports of antisocial behaviour on ScotRail trains. The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland engages with British Transport Police in considerations over the fu…
25 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a decision on reallowing alcohol at certain times on ScotRail trains will be made in 2024.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Ministers must collectively consider all factors, particularly antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls. Therefore, Ministers will continue to be informed by the equally safe strategy, alongside the strategic review by the independent working…
25 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been done with ScotRail on any loss of income to its catering service due to the ongoing ban on the consumption of alcohol on ScotRail services.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Recent ScotRail analysis suggests around £160,000 net revenue per annum is foregone from being unable to sell alcohol on ScotRail services.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many seals have been killed under licence in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Total seals killed20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024Rivers1068337273634270000Fish Farms997963495063770000Combined2051621007686971040000
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many seal licences have been issued in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by how many have been exercised.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Seal licences are not issued on a Local Authority basis. Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team (on behalf of Scottish Ministers) determine applications and issue licences to kill or take seals under Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 for …
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many seal licences have been issued to parties along the River (a) Dee and (b) Don in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by how many have been exercised.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Issued20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024Dee11111110001Don00000000000 Exercised Dee10010100000Don00000000000
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many seal licences have been issued in each ofthe last 10 years, also broken down by how many have been exercised.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Issued20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024Rivers232118181818210114Fish Farms323030282727270000 Exercised Rive…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with VisitScotland regarding the impact of large scale energy projects on tourism.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There have been no recent discussions between Scottish Government and VisitScotland regarding the impact of large-scale energy projects on tourism.In 2008, Scottish Government published “Economic impacts of wind farms on Scottish tourism: research findi…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Scottish Power.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I last met with Scottish Power on 29 October 2024 to discuss the Scottish Consenting Consultation.Information about Ministerial engagements, overseas travel, car journeys, domestic travel and gifts received is also published on the Scottish Governments websit…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I last met with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks on Tuesday 29th October 2024 to discuss the Scottish Consenting Consultation.Information about Ministerial engagements, overseas travel, car journeys, domestic travel and gifts received is also publis…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met (a) Benholm and Johnshaven, (b) Crathes, Drumoak and Durris, (c) Echt and Skene, (d) Glamis and Area, (e) Inveresk, (f) Kintore and District, (g) Kirriemuir, (h) Kirriemuir Landward East, (i) Mearns, (j) North Kincardine Rural, …
Answer · Gillian Martin: In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met with the listed Community Councils and I currently have no plans in place to meet them.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met the National Energy Systems Operator.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I last met with the National Energy Systems Operator on 29 October 2024 to discuss Clean Power 2030.Information about Ministerial engagements, overseas travel, car journeys, domestic travel and gifts received is also published on the Scottish Governments webs…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energylast met (a) Aberdeenshire, (b) Angus, (c) Highland and (d) Moray Council todiscuss the impact of (i) major electricity infrastructure and (ii) energyinfrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I have not recently met any of the local authorities listed to discuss the impact of major electricity infrastructure or energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that the proposed electricity infrastructure consenting reforms will not lead to a reduction in the overall quality of decision-making in the consenting process.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The proposed reforms are about making the consideration and determination process more efficient, not making it easier for projects to get consent or to reduce the overall quality of decision-making in the consenting process.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Buchan and Formartine Opposed to Big Energy.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Buchan and Formartine Opposed to Big Energy.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Angus Pylon Action Group.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Angus Pylon Action Group.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Save Our Mearns.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Save Our Mearns.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Not A Just Transition - Opposed To The Industrialisation Of Rural Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Not A Just Transition - Opposed To The Industrialisation Of Rural Scotland.