Claudia Beamish

4 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its economic recovery plan in response to the COVID-19 outbreak will gather input on issues related to (a) climate change and (b) the wellbeing economy.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Supporting our climate change targets, delivering inclusive growth and wellbeing economy objectives are core to our response to COVID-19 and our overall economic response and recovery plan. Decision regarding COVID-19 are based on the “4 harms” – the direct h…

12 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of the (a) Green Infrastructure Fund and (b) Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund, and for what reason Scottish Natural Heritage does not expect to reopen applications.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Administration of the Green Infrastructure Fund is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond directly to the member with the information requested.

12 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has requested or will request advice on agricultural and land use policies for Scotland from the UK Committee on Climate Change.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Committee on Climate Change has provided advice on these matters in both statutory Scottish reports and UK-wide reports - most recently in their December 2019 Scottish progress report and January report on ‘Land use: Policies for a Net Zero UK’ which can …

10 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the inter-ministerial group on policy coherence for sustainable development that it announced at Scotland’s International Development Alliance AGM in September 2019.

4 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent petition calling on the First Minister to declare an ecological emergency.

27 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve climate literacy in (a) the agricultural sector and (b) rural areas.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to raising awareness within both our agricultural and wider rural communities. We support the dissemination of high quality information and advice through the likes of the Farm Advisory Services, Farming For a Better Clim…

27 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to apply the principles of the Just Transition to the agriculture and related land-use sector.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We need to ensure that our transition to a low carbon economy is just. That is why we agreed to embed just transition principles into our climate legislation last year and established the independent Just Transition Commission to provide government with pract…

12 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported rural bus route reductions in South Scotland.

6 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many individual members of staff at (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) the Crown Estate Scotland, (c) Scottish Water, (d) the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, (e) the Drinking Water Quality Regulator, (f) the Scottish Land Commission and (g) t…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The information requested is not held centrally. I would suggest going to the Public Bodies directly for this information.

29 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how rural communities can be supported socially, economically and environmentally by a more robust deer management system designed in the public interest.

22 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to third sector organisations that offer social prescribing solutions in rural South Scotland.

7 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed by Scottish Natural Heritage's Site Condition Monitoring programme in each calendar year since 2009.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide details.

7 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Scottish Natural Heritage’s Site Condition Monitoring programme has cost in each calendar year since 2009.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide details .

7 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of designated features have been monitored as part of Scottish Natural Heritage's Site Condition Monitoring programme in each calendar year since 2009, and over what area, in hectares.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table shows the number and proportion of natural features covered annually through Scottish Natural Heritage’s Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) programme since 2009.  2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 SCM complete…

18 Dec 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address the reported crisis in primary care services and lack of GPs in Lanark and other rural areas.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I am aware of recent challenges in recruiting and retaining GPs in Lanark. My officials have been in touch with NHS Lanarkshire and have been assured that a comprehensive programme is in place to support the Woodstock Medical Centre. NHS Lanarkshire is now in…

13 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it first received reports of suspected illegal trawling at St Abbs in an area protected from trawling or dredging, and when Marine Scotland's compliance activity was triggered to investigate these reports.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Intelligence relating to the current fishing season was first identified in April 2019 and this was fed in to our regular risk assessment and tasking session, as well as being passed to the local Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) patrol co-ordinator for con…

4 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the requirements set out in the National Marine Plan, what action it has taken to ensure an ecosystem-based approach to the management of fishing that avoids damage to fragile habitats.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A range of fisheries management measures have been undertaken to avoid damage to fragile habitats, in line with the National Marine Plan. Twenty five marine protected areas (MPAs) have fisheries measures to protect fragile habitats. Fisheries management measu…

4 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the status of the maerl beds in the Wester Ross marine protected area (MPA) has recovered, declined or maintained the same since the MPA status was designated in 2015.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Insufficient surveys have been completed since designation of the MPA to determine if the status of the maerl beds has changed. Marine Scotland has an MPA Monitoring Strategy to support the collection of necessary information from the Scottish MPA network to …

4 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in response to reports of alleged scallop dredging inside the Wester Ross marine protected area (MPA) to ensure that the fisheries regulations are being enforced.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We are aware of the recent suspected incursion into the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area and the publicity that has been generated on both the "One Show" and more recently Channel 4 news. This remains an ongoing investigation and it would therefore not be ap…

4 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £1.5 million announced in October 2018 to modernise monitoring of the inshore fishing fleet has been spent.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Modernisation of the Inshore Fleet programme is currently in Inception and Design Phase being led and delivered by Marine Scotland personnel. This work, whilst complex, has drawn upon internal expertise within Scottish Government and therefore no external…

22 Oct 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to support local authorities to report road kill of protected species, such as badgers, to the relevant conservation bodies.

7 Oct 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, State of Nature 2019 Scotland.

1 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, what immediate environmental governance mechanisms it will put in place.

10 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the poverty gap between the most and least deprived communities.

3 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its funding support for community arts in South Scotland.

17 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been on patients with autism and other learning disabilities at the State Hospital of the lack of supervised leisure that is available due to staff shortages, which was identified by the Mental Welfare Commission in its August 2018 site visit report.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government expects mental health services in Scotland to be delivered to the highest standards. Everyone that accesses mental health services should receive the highest quality of care and must feel safe and supported whilst they use these serv…

17 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further measures it is considering to fulfil the needs of people with autism and learning difficulties who are detained in hospitals.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people and/or those with a learning disability to ensure they live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active c…

17 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Care Quality Commission’s reported concerns regarding the prolonged segregation of people in England with mental health problems, particularly autism, whether it will carry out a review of long-term detention of patients with such conditions at the State Hospital.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Diagnosis of a behavioural disorder itself is certainly not cause for detention and there are significant safeguards where compulsory treatment is necessary, including the right of appeal. Admission to the State hospital is based on diagnosis of mental disord…

17 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area with (a) mental health problems, (b) autism and (c) other learning disabilities are experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to there being no suitable package of care available in a non-hospital setting.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The specific information requested is not held centrally. Information held nationally on delayed discharges does not include diagnosis information and it is therefore not possible to identify people with mental health problems, autism or other learning disabi…

11 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills has made of an initial and transferable skills strategy for meeting the net zero greenhouse gas emissions target.