Parliamentary questions

Sharon Dowey

756 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the creation of a fund for public artwork, fulfilling the SNP manifesto commitment, and when it anticipates that this will be in place.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are committed to broadening the range of people represented in Scotland’s public places, in particular the contribution of women and ethnic minorities. We will work with Creative Scotland, whose remit includes public art, on what form a fund would take and…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its Humanitarian Emergency Fund spending for the last 12 months.

Answer · Neil Gray: Our independent Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) Panel, supported by the HEF Secretariat, have prepared an Annual Report on HEF spend across 2021-22. In the interests of transparency and accountability, the Scottish Government will make this available on our…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08830 by Keith Brown on 8 June 2022, whether it will provide an update on its plans to create a Peace Institute by 2022, and what the (a) location, (b) cost and (c) remit of this body will be.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is important that we build on our existing peace work and increase our knowledge and experience to strengthen Scotland’s peace offer. That is why we are actively considering options from the expert research we commissioned. The Scottish Government is commi…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what upgrades to the A77, excluding maintenance works, are planned for 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since 2007, the Scottish Government has invested approximately £64 million on five separate road schemes on the A77 including the recent completion of the £29m Maybole bypass which opened in January 2022. The Scottish Government continues to invest in the A7…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on establishing a Percentage for the Arts scheme, and when it anticipates that this will be in place.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are currently in initial stages of scoping a ‘Percentage for the Arts’ scheme, which would channel a small percentage of spending on all new public buildings and spaces into support for arts and culture. This work will require significant engagement and co…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has determined what support will be given to the Scottish Council on Global Affairs in 2022-23.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has awarded the Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA) grant funding of £120,295.17 for the financial year 2022-2023. We will continue to support the SCGA as they develop throughout 2022-2023, and look forward to seeing the SCGA pr…

27 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what improvements it will make to ScotRail in order to improve the punctuality of trains arriving at (a) Ayr and (b) Girvan railway station.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail has challenging performance targets to deliver and it is expected to work in close partnership with Network Rail to ensure passengers are provided with a reliable and punctual service. As the member will be aware, ScotRail’s published reporting for …

27 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Museums Galleries Scotland regarding the body's decision to pause its small grants programme.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has had regular discussions with Museums Galleries Scotland on its decision to pause its small grants programme during the current cost of living crisis. It was jointly agreed that MGS would pause its programme to determine the best wa…

27 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it will have with Museums Galleries Scotland to ensure that current funding is distributed in a way that most effectively meets the sector's needs.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Museums Galleries Scotland to understand the current challenges faced by the sector. We have agreed with Museums Galleries Scotland that it will repurpose the grants it receives from the Scottish Government i…

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the situation at Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site; what plans it has to clean up the site, and what negotiations it is having with all relevant stakeholders.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: With funding from the Scottish Government, SEPA has contracted an environmental consultant to manage the construction of a leachate management system at the former landfill site at Tarbolton Moss, to prevent the ongoing discharges of landfill leachate to neig…

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding additional support for care homes to help with rising energy prices.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government holds regular meetings with COSLA covering a number of issues. The increasing energy costs are a concern across a number of businesses in Scotland. Scottish Ministers are clear that the powers and resources needed to tackle this emerg…

31 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to match displaced people from Ukraine with households in Scotland, in light of reports that more than half of those who planned to host Ukrainian people in Scotland have dropped out of the scheme.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scotland is providing a place of safety to more displaced people per head of population than any other part of the UK. The Scottish Government’s priority is to ensure that displaced people from Ukraine are able to stay in appropriate temporary accommodation a…

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of Ukrainians who have arrived in Scotland under the various settlement schemes who have been waiting longer than (a) one month, (b) two months and (c) three months in temporary accommodation.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is clear that we do not want to see people spending more time in temporary accommodation than is absolutely necessary. Our priority is to ensure that people who have already arrived, and will arrive from Ukraine, are able to stay in a…

18 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the section 36 application limit for windfarm proposals remains at 50MW, in light of this reportedly directly limiting windfarm proposals decided by local authorities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No review of the 50MW threshold set within the Electricity Act 1989 has been undertaken. I wrote to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy at the UK Government and am currently pursuing Electricity Act devolution and Habitats Regu…

18 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has an exclusive arrangement with ScottishPower Renewables for the development of windfarms on the Scottish forest estate through Forestry Land Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) do not have an exclusive agreement with Scottish Power Renewables for development of windfarms on Scotland’s national forests and Land. Scottish Power Renewables are one of a number of developers that FLS are working with in …

18 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason windfarm developers can reportedly continue to submit new applications in areas where previous applications have been rejected.

Answer · Michael Matheson: When an applicant submits an application for a wind farm proposal it is considered on a case by case basis. Any wind farm application is assessed on its own merits against the relevant policy. Under the Electricity Act 1989 an applicant can submit a new app…

18 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on excluding low frequency noise from environmental assessments for windfarm developments with larger turbines.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The assessment of low frequency noise for a wind farm proposal is considered on a case by case basis. Onshore wind turbine: planning advice (May 2014) sets out the policy position for assessing the effects of noise for wind turbine developments and requires p…

16 Aug 2022 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provides funding to Advice Direct Scotland to deliver telephone and digital advice services including debt and consumer advice. Spend on external consultants is an operational matter and I direct the member to Advice Direct Scotland’s …

9 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many displaced persons from Ukraine who have been successful in a visa application through the Super Sponsor scheme to date (a) have (i) arrived, (ii) been placed in accommodation and (b) are awaiting placement in accommodation, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Neil Gray: Under the current constitutional arrangements in the United Kingdom the application process for all immigration routes is fully reserved to the UK Government and is dealt with by the Home Office. The following link contains visa data and arrivals for the fou…

8 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of which NHS boards provide free incontinence pads upon referral.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not collect this information but expects all NHS Boards to provide free incontinence pads where a patient has been assessed and deemed as requiring incontinence products. These products are provided by local NHS Boards continence …

8 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to spend on the A77 in each of the next five years.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Current investment for A77 Trunk Road Maintenance is allocated on a rolling 1 and 3 year programme. Our programmes currently indicate an allocation of £7,03m for this financial year as well as a provisional maintenance spend for 2023/24 and 2024/25 of £5.4m a…

27 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland have donated organs, having registered their wish not to do so on the NHS Organ Donor Register website, following a healthcare staff consultation with their family.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. However, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) have confirmed that, since the opt-out option was included on the NHS Organ Donation Register in 2015/16, no donations have proceeded in Scotland where a potenti…

12 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent consideration it has given to the issue of incontinence poverty.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Boards regularly assess continence patients' needs, with the assessments undertaken by dedicated Bladder and Bowel Teams or community nursing staff. This ensures that patients' needs are met, either through treatment or through provision of appropriate co…

30 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that burial chambers are checked throughout Scotland, and what can SEPA do to assist regarding the situation at Ayr and Troon cemeteries.

Answer · Maree Todd: Responsibility for the maintenance, upkeep and management of burial grounds in Scotland rests with the relevant burial authority: in the case of Ayr and Troon cemeteries, this is South Ayrshire Council. The Scottish Government has no locus to become involved …

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times Scotland Office ministers have requested a meeting with the Minister for Transport regarding the A77 and A75, and how many such meetings have taken place.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Ministers meet regularly with UK Government Ministers on a range of topics, however there have been no specific requests from Scotland Office Ministers to meet regarding the A75 and A77, therefore no meetings on this specific topic have taken place.

27 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further upgrades it has planned for the A77 in 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to improving safety on our trunk roads including the A77. While there are no road improvement schemes or upgrades planned for the A77 in 2022, £6.75m has been allocated for the A77 through our provisional road maintenance …

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) encourage applications and (b) make an application itself for Scottish sites to feature on a new tentative list of natural, cultural and mixed sites for potential nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises the great value of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, and the impact which this celebrated international recognition can offer to both individual sites, as well as to the wider national natural, culture and heritage secto…

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools in Scotland chose (a) not to opt in and (b) to opt in to receive a copy of the Platinum Jubilee book, Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government do not hold this information. The idea for this book was instigated by the UK Government. The Scottish Government is not involved with the opt-in process being carried out by the UK Government with Education Authorities.

14 Jun 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is putting in place to mitigate the impact of industrial action by rail workers, including on the night-time economy.

14 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of planned industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions, what its current assessment is of the potential impact that any such action could have on theatres and the wider night-time and cultural economies.

Answer · Neil Gray: I recognise the potential impact of industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions on the culture sector at a time when it has been seeking to recover from the Covid19 pandemic. Officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, including through enga…