Sharon Dowey

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Spain's Director General for Policies Against Depopulation on 2 November 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Director General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we exchanged views on the depopulation challenges that both Scotland and Spain face and, following from the work done recently by officials in the Scottish Government&rsq…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Director General of the Instituto Cervantes on 3 November 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Director General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which Mr Garcia Montero shared the Cervantes Institute’s plans to open their first International University Chair at the University of Edinburgh in the coming months.The …

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Spanish Government's Cabinet Undersecretary for Culture and Sports on 2 November 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Cabinet Undersecretary and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we spoke about the shared challenges that the COVID19 pandemic had brought to the culture sector and our Culture Strategy for Scotland, setting out our vision on ho…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union on 2 November 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Secretary of State and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we spoke about areas of collaboration with Spain, in particular depopulation, culture and the challenges of the cost of living crisis.The subject of Scottish independen…

23 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the reported increasing cost of hospital travel expenses during the cost of living crisis, particularly for any cancer patients ineligible for help with travel costs at the time of their diagnosis.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Financial support for travel to hospital is available for patients and authorised escorts, in line with eligibility criteria and medical requirements. We continue to work with Boards to build on the significant innovation seen throughout the pandemic, in ord…

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to achieve 100% broadband coverage across the whole of (a) Scotland and (b) the South Scotland region.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Ofcom’s Connected Nations report for 2022 – published on 15th December – indicates that over 99% of all properties across Scotland can access a reliable broadband connection, with less than 1% unable to access broadband of at least 2 Megabits per second (Mbps…

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is 100% broadband coverage for rural properties that currently rely on the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme – offering vouchers worth up to £5,000 for properties not within R100 contract or commercial build plans – remains available. We are seeking to drive demand in a number of ways – sharing case studies and updates onli…

9 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of jobs that have been supported by the cultural sector in each of the last five years, and what projections it has made of future employment growth in this area.

Answer · Neil Gray: Information regarding employment in the creative industries is publicly available on the Scottish Government’s website and can be found at Growth Sector Statistics Database . The relevant data is included in Table 2.5. The employment data in the Growth Sec…

9 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in digital technologies within the cultural sector in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has invested in digital technologies within the cultural sector through direct funding, programmes and sponsorship of public bodies such as Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland. Therefore, what follows is not an exhausti…

8 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Skills Development Scotland to increase the number of funded electrician apprenticeships in 2023.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I recognise that apprenticeships are vital to ensuring that the electrical sector has the skills it requires. SDS is responsible for managing the apprenticeship programme in response to industry demand and in line with Ministerial expectations. They will con…

8 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14973 by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2023, what action has been taken following the meeting on 15 February 2023 regarding the use of diesel generators at Arecleoch and Glen App wind farms.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The rules and regulations that govern the resilience of the GB electricity grid are a matter reserved to the UK Government and the Scottish Government has no responsibility in relation to the operational management of wind farm sites. At the meeting on 15 Fe…

8 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14975 by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2023, whether there are any plans to conduct any monitoring or investigations at (a) Arecleoch and (b) Glen App wind farms.

Answer · Michael Matheson: SEPA has informed Scottish Government officials they have no plans to conduct any monitoring or investigations at Arecleoch and Glen App wind farms. As noted in my answer to question S6W-14975 on 2 March, Scottish Power Renewables have advised the Scottish G…

15 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on the drink industry supply chain of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the health and safety of workers and poor environmental management practices in connection with allegations that Scottish Power has used diesel generators to power 71 wind turbines after a fault developed.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The rules and regulations that govern the resilience of the GB electricity grid are a matter entirely reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government has no responsibility in relation to the operational management of wind farm sites. Scottish Power R…

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to meet with Scottish Power in relation to reported concerns regarding the health and safety of workers and poor environmental management practices in connection with allegations that Scottish Power has used diesel generators to power 71 wind turbines after a fau…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government officials met with representatives from Scottish Power Renewables on 15 February 2023 to discuss the use of diesel generators at Arecleoch and Glen App wind farms. The rules and regulations that govern the resilience of the GB electricity…

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether SEPA has conducted any monitoring and investigations at, or in the area near to, (a) Arecleoch Windfarm and (b) Glenn App Windfarm within the last 12 months, and, if so, whether any environmental concerns were noted.

Answer · Michael Matheson: SEPA has not conducted any monitoring or investigations at Arecleoch or Glen App wind farms within the last 12 months. Scottish Power Renewables have advised the Scottish Government that all spills on the sites have been of a minor nature and therefore have …

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with representatives of Scottish Power, and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government officials met with representatives from Scottish Power on 10 January 2023 to discuss the publication of the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. Officials also met with Scottish Power on 15 February 2023 to discuss the use of di…

7 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £50 million Ukraine Longer Term Resettlement Fund, launched in September 2022, has been distributed to (a) each local authority and (b) registered social landlords.

Answer · Shona Robison: £7.473m has been allocated to Aberdeen City Council, North Ayrshire Council and New Gorbals Housing Association. When including the pilot by North Lanarkshire Council, a total of four capital projects providing 754 homes are being supported by funding in the …

2 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08832 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 June 2022, whether it will provide updated figures on how many of the (a) laptops and (b) tablets due to be provided to school pupils in (i) South Ayrshire and (ii) East Ayrshire are yet to be distributed.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to answer to question S6W-08832 on 7 June 2022. 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-committees/wr…

18 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to statistics showing that just 37.7% of trains arriving on time at Girvan Station between 11 December 2022 and 7 January 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14100 on? 6 February 2023. 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-commit…

18 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reduce ScotRail's arrival and departure delays at (a) Ayr and (b) Girvan Station, in light of statistics showing the percentage of trains arriving on time in the period 11 December 2022 to 7 January 2023 was just 37.7% at Girvan and 67% at Ayr.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As the member is aware, ScotRail’s performance is measured using the industry standard Public Performance Measure (PPM) which combines reliability and punctuality into a single performance metric. To achieve PPM, a service must arrive/terminate at a station w…

18 Jan 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what road improvements are being carried out on the A77 and A70 to address any challenges faced by road users.

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the amount of Chinese investment in the farming industry in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13903 on 24 January 2023. 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-committ…

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the amount of Chinese investment in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Information on the value of Chinese inward investments into Scotland can be found in the publicly available report Businesses in Scotland, which shows that there are currently 15 Chinese owned businesses in Scotland, with an estimated employment of 1,770 and …

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the amount of Chinese investment in infrastructure in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13903 on 24 January 2023. 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-committ…

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the amount of Chinese investment in the whisky industry in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13903 on? 24 January 2023. 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-commit…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its budget for the A77 over the next year has currently been set aside for extreme weather maintenance.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland do not have a specific extreme weather maintenance budget. The winter service budget for the South-West Unit was £5.69 m in 2022/23 and this covers all trunk roads in the Unit; including the A77. Investment for A77 trunk road maintenance p…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents involving (i) HGVs and (ii) other vehicles on the A77 there were in 2022, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these figures by the section of the road that passes through South Ayrshire.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I replied to a similar question from the member on 15 June 2022 (S6W-08828) explaining that collision data for 2022 was not available at that time. Data on fatal and non-fatal road collisions for 2022 are still being collected and provisional figures will be …

21 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of police officers.

14 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, of the wind farm applications submitted in the last five years that were refused, how many have been granted approval following a "material change" within the two years following the initial application.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers take decisions on wind farm applications that are made to them under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. None of the eleven wind farm applications refused by Scottish Ministers over the last 5 years have been consented following a mater…