Tess White

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with (a) Food Standards Scotland and (b) local authorities to ensure that bakery businesses established during the COVID-19 pandemic and run from domestic premises fully comply with health and safety regulations, and what action it can take to ensure that registe…

Answer · Maree Todd: All food businesses are required to comply with the relevant requirements of food law. This includes the requirement to register as a food business with their Local Authority Environmental Health team, to comply with food safety and compositional requirements…

23 Mar 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the aviation industry to discuss the sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and what issues were discussed.

7 Feb 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Fire Brigades Union on its plans to remove the bottom of classroom doors.

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Just Transition Fund will be available to eligible companies to support (a) capital and (b) operational expenditure.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In year one, the Fund will be split evenly between Capital and Financial Transactions. Detail of what each can be used for is available in HMT’s consolidated budget guidance, the most recent version of which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/p…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the delivery of freeports in Scotland; when it anticipates that freeports will be established in Scotland, and where these will be located.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We announced on 14 February an agreement with the UK Government to deliver two Green Freeports in Scotland, working on an equal partnership basis. A package of reserved and devolved support will be available in the selected Green Freeports ensuring that Scotl…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the onshore infrastructure in north east Scotland to support the growing offshore wind sector, and what funding it has made available to date to facilitate any necessary upgrades.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is wholly committed to a just transition to net zero and using the energy transition to build a better and more equal society. Our ten-year £500m Just Transition Fund will accelerate the energy transition of the North East and Moray r…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of the winners of the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction by Crown Estate Scotland, what assessment it has made of the timeframe for the consenting process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has an objective to determine Electricity Act section 36 applications within nine months, where possible. It is important to clarify that this timeline is dependent on the submission of a complete, fit for purpose application that full…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to farmers in the north east, in light of the recently reported outbreak of avian flu in Aberdeenshire.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government supports farmers during the ongoing UK-wide avian influenza outbreak through the provision of timely advice and guidance to poultry and other captive bird keepers on risks, legal requirements and biosecurity. This information is made a…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Centre for Cities report, Cities Outlook 2022, showing that Aberdeen city centre and Dundee city centre lost 39 and 32 weeks of sales, respectively, between March 2020 and September 2021. 

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises the difficulties facing Scotland’s cities and businesses as a result of the global pandemic as highlighted in the Centre for Cities report. The Scottish Government has provided more than £4.4 billion of business support sinc…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the amount of respiratory medication for conditions such as asthma that is wasted because of incorrect inhaler technique.

Answer · Maree Todd: The information requested is not held centrally. We expect all NHS Boards to follow all relevant guidelines in order to avoid unnecessary wastage in medication. The Scottish Government recognises that inappropriate inhaler technique can lead to medicine wast…

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of the most up-to-date vacancy rates for (a) retail and (b) hospitality units in (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Dundee city centre.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The information requested on vacancy rates for retail and hospitality units is not held centrally but is held by Local Authorities.

26 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of asthma annual review appointments offered to patients since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Answer · Maree Todd: Details of the number of asthma annual review appointments is not collected centrally. However, the Scottish Government recognises that annual asthma reviews are an important element in enabling people with asthma to self-manage their condition. That is why a…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue letters of guidance to Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council outlining its expectations for collaborative working to implement skills alignment, which was recommended in Audit Scotland’s report, Planning for Skills.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Letters of Guidance are issued by the Scottish Government to its public bodies annually. The letters set clear Ministerial expectations on our priorities for the year ahead. The letters to both Skills Development Scotland and to the Scottish Funding Council …

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards establishing outcome-focused, common monitoring criteria with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council, which it committed to do in the 2017 Enterprise and Skills Review.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I meet jointly with the Chairs and Chief Executives of both agencies to discuss progress in collaborative working on skills every 6 weeks. This is supported by an assurance group, chaired by Senior Civil Servants and including the Senior Responsible Officers…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs it estimates will be created from the 17 ScotWind projects, broken down by region.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Offshore wind development and operation provides a strong route for a Just Transition, helping high carbon sectors and staff transition into low carbon activity. The forthcoming pipeline of ScotWind projects has the potential to transform the energy sector an…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with home insurance companies on the implications for homeowners of the new rules on interlinked fire alarms; when these meetings took place, and what was discussed.

Answer · Shona Robison: Officials have engaged throughout the legislative process with the Association of British Insurers, who have advised that ABI member firms are aware of the changes to legislation and are unlikely to invalidate anyone’s policies.

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of Audit Scotland’s report, Planning for Skills, what action it is taking to improve collaborative working between Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council on skills alignment.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has welcomed the recommendations that Audit Scotland has made in its report and there are a number of areas highlighted in the report where progress has already been made. The first of these is bringing the responsibility for the tert…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards delivering its commitment to increase the resourcing of the Scottish Funding Council in 2022-23.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Government is in discussion with the Scottish Funding Council to explore the resource needs it requires to fulfil its mission now and into the future. This includes how we can best support SFC in 2022-23 financial year. We will continue to work with…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Scottish and UK supply chains benefit from the 17 ScotWind projects.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Renewable energy is a crucial element of our transition to deliver a net-zero economy and we are determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain from our offshore wind potential. We remain fully committed to using every lever wit…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people aged 19 and under were prescribed antidepressants in conjunction with psychological therapy in 2019-20.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people are able to access the right support for their mental health without stigma, including medication where this is the most appropriate intervention. The Scottish Government doe…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported findings that 95% of cybersecurity issues can be attributed to human error, and what actions it is taking to improve digital literacy skills.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Cyber security issues can result from, or be exacerbated by, human error and it is increasingly important for everyone to be aware of the cyber risks and to be able to mitigate them. The Scottish Government works closely with partners such as Education Scotl…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) it will publish the eligibility criteria for applying for the 10-year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray and (b) the first £20 million of the fund will be awarded to qualifying projects.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The design of the Just Transition Fund is currently being developed through discussion with regional partners to ensure that together we secure maximum impact. This work will also be supported by the engagement that is being undertaken to support the developm…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the explanation provided in the 2022-23 Level 4 Budget data, whether it will provide further details of the reasons for the budget allocation to Skills Development Scotland being reduced by £5.8 million in its draft Budget 2022-23, and what assessment has been made of the imp…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This was one of the most fiscally challenging Scottish Budgets to date, with efficiencies having to be found across a number of portfolios. The budget allocation to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) should be seen in that context. The SDS budget allocation i…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people aged 19 and under were prescribed the antidepressant, fluoxetine, in 2019-20, and, of those, how many were prescribed other antidepressants, broken down by what these antidepressants were.

Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally.

12 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the live music and night time industries sectors and what was discussed.

21 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when its refreshed Energy Strategy will be published.

14 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of the Victim Notification Scheme.

8 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the investment it is making in Scotland’s cultural infrastructure.

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03169 by Keith Brown on 1 October 2021, how many mobile phones have been confiscated from prisoners in HMP and YOI Grampian in each month since September 2021.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The following table provides the number of SPS issued mobile phone handsets that have been confiscated at HMP & YOI Grampian, …

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the original estimated cost was for the Haudagain Improvement project, and what the current estimated cost is.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I can confirm that the project remains on budget. There is no change to the estimated total project cost of £49.5m at Q4 2018 prices, of which the construction contract value is £18m, as reported in the Infrastructure Investment Plan updates. Construction co…