Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has (a) a strategy regarding public sector employment headcount and (b) any employment headcount targets for specific public bodies.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Resource Spending Review included commitments to hold the total public sector pay bill (excluding Local Government) at around 2022-23 levels whilst returning the overall size of the public sector (excluding Local Government) broadly to pre-COVID-19 levels…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the three missions set for the Scottish National Investment Bank, and what assessment it has made of whether the current missions are maximising the bank's effectiveness.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Bank’s three missions are - achieving a Just Transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2045; extending equality of opportunity through improving places by 2040; and harnessing innovation to enable our people to flourish by 2040. These missions, which ref…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish National Investment Bank to discuss the ongoing recruitment process for a new CEO.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government have engaged with the Bank regularly throughout the recruitment process for a new CEO including over the last few weeks.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will next meet with each chief executive of Scotland’s enterprise agencies.
Answer · Neil Gray: The chief executives of the enterprise agencies meet regularly with Scottish Government ministers. Arrangements are currently being made for future, regular engagement between the agencies and the new Ministerial team.
15 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any potential impact of local authorities decreasing relief on non-domestic rates for empty, listed properties.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Empty Property Relief was devolved to councils on 1 April 2023, including non-domestic rates exemptions for unoccupied listed buildings. Listed buildings were specifically included following discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in 2019…
15 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to assist the workforce of Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen, since the paper mill ceased operations.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government, through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), has provided continuous support to assist the workforce of Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen. On 22 September 2022,…
15 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to recommence operations at Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen, in light of reports from 12 February 2023 that there was about to be a "credible bid" made.
Answer · Ivan McKee: My officials in Scottish Enterprise remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators (Interpath Advisory) and continue to work with them to consider all viable options for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen. The administration process continues to progre…
15 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce bullying in schools.
1 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would remove its presumption against oil and gas from its Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan in the event that it received significant feedback in favour of such a move.
22 Feb 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the £200 million Aberdeen to Central Belt enhancement project, which aims to reduce travel times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026.
14 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the letter it received from the Grampian Local Medical Committee stating that “General Practice continues to be scapegoated as a profession in order to mask the failings of the Scottish Government”.
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many local planning authorities raised concerns about future drive-through developments during the public consultation period on the draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) from 10 November 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Answer · Tom Arthur: There were no specific questions on drive-through developments in the consultation on Draft NPF4. Despite that, five local authorities directly referenced drive-throughs in their responses to Question 45, which related to ensuring Scotland’s places will suppo…
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the late inclusion of Policy 27, part (d) in the revised fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), what its reasoning is for not consulting further with industry.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Policy 27 (d) represents a strengthening and restructuring of the policy consulted on in Draft NPF4. In the Draft NPF4 (Policy 26(a)), we consulted on restricting drive-throughs in out of town locations and, in response to what consultees told us and through …
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has to support specifically limiting drive-through facilities above and beyond other development proposals including commercial leisure uses, offices, community and cultural facilities.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The policy position reflects our commitment to climate change and a town centre first approach, which includes the policy principle of limiting out of town development. The consultation analysis noted that some respondents raised particular issues about drive…
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish more information on how the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) can be amended in future, and what that process will include.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Subject to Parliamentary approval, NPF4 will be adopted by Ministers in early 2023. Regulations and guidance on local development plans will be introduced to support delivery and the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group will be established to ove…
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the late inclusion of Policy 27, part (d) in the revised fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), whether it considered any need to consult further with industry, in light of the change from the initial consultation and in line with section 3CA, part (5) of the Town and Cou…
Answer · Tom Arthur: Consideration was given to the need for consultation in line with section 3CA, part (5), however, further consultation was not required because the changes respond to views received whilst remaining consistent with the original proposals and intent of the ear…
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic impact of Policy 27, part (d) in the revised fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) which accompanies the Revised Draft NPF4 considers the potential benefits and costs to businesses and other stakeholders of each policy. The BRIA can be accessed at https://www.gov.scot/publications/nation…
30 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects police officer numbers to be restored to the previous target of 17,234 officers.
18 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created in renewables in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland’s green jobs revolution is underway and a recent report from the Universities of Strathclyde and Warwick provided an initial estimate that up to 100,000 roles are ‘new and emerging’ green jobs in Scotland. Although the researchers regard this as an u…
16 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry to conclude.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects Scottish Enterprise to recoup any of the cost of the financial assistance that the body reportedly provided to Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen, pre-2022.
Answer · Ivan McKee: This would be an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and is subject to the formal administration process.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guarantees were associated with the reported financial assistance provided to Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen, by Scottish Enterprise pre-2022.
Answer · Ivan McKee: No Scottish Government guarantees were in place.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the purpose was of any financial assistance that it, or its agencies, provided to Stoneywood Mill pre-2022.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Arjowiggins has in the past received SE loans totalling £12m, equity investment of £100,000 and grant funding totalling £163,400. Breakdown of funding: £ 12m loans and £100,000 equity* :£7m loan/equity in July 2019 to support the management buy-out of the c…
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was asked to provide financial assistance to any potential buyer of Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen, and arrived at the decision not to provide any such assistance.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has received no request for financial assistance.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the level of any financial assistance requested by any potential buyer of Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen, which could have prevented the closure of the mill.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government holds no information on the level of any financial assistance requested by any potential buyer.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was recently approached by Scottish Enterprise to assist any potential buyer in the purchase of Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen.
Answer · Ivan McKee: No request for financial assistance has been made to the Scottish Government. In the normal course of business, Scottish Enterprise has provided information about its services to both an interested party and the Administrators.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was recently approached by any potential buyer of Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen, for financial assistance.
Answer · Ivan McKee: A potential buyer did contact Scottish Government but this did not include any request for financial assistance.
26 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available in the context of its Covid Recovery Strategy to help high streets recover from the pandemic and ensure that there are no long-term scarring effects.
26 Sep 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government will make available to the reported 372 members of staff affected by the Arjowigiins papermill at Stoneywood in Aberdeen entering administration.
23 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers were first made aware of problems at Arjowiggins.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government, through Scottish Enterprise, has worked closely with Arjowiggins and its partners since the successful management buyout in 2019. Arjowiggins has received Scottish Enterprise loans totalling £12m, equity investment of £100,000 and gra…