Claudia Beamish

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders were consulted prior to Scottish Natural Heritage granting the lethal control of ravens licence to the Strathbraan Community Collaboration for Waders.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage usually does not consult stakeholders when considering a licence application and did not do so prior to granting the control of ravens licence to the Strathbraan Community Collaboration for Waders.

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many lethal control of ravens licences have been issued by Scottish Natural Heritage in each year since 2016, broken down by the (a) reason for issue and (b) number of ravens covered by each licence.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The detail of raven control licences issued by Scottish Natural Heritage are summarised in the following table. Year Number of Licences Issued Number of Ravens Permitted to be Killed Number of ravens killed Reason 2018 (to end April) 141 1082 N/A (th…

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish Natural Heritage will ensure that the number of ravens killed by the Strathbraan Community Collaboration for Waders does not exceed the figure set out its lethal control licence.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage will monitor work undertaken under the licence to cull ravens granted to the Strathbraan Community Collaboration for Waders throughout the year, including carrying out inspections on the ground.

17 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides local authorities to ensure that they do not commission 15-minute personal care visits.

Answer · Shona Robison: Everyone in Scotland who requires care is entitled to receive a high quality service that is focused on their outcomes. We are supporting local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships in moving away from 'time and task' care towards outcomes-based…

11 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its interpretation of the Ramsar Convention gives wildlife at wetland sites less protection than that provided by the UK Government.

14 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, to avoid serial applications by developers, what provisions there are in the Planning (Scotland) Bill to ensure that communities have an equal right of appeal in planning decisions.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: There are currently some restrictions to serial applications. However we do not intend to introduce significant changes to rights of appeal in the planning system.

12 Mar 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking regarding the transparency of land ownership in Scotland, in light of the recent investigation by The Sunday Post.

23 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will deliver its plan to restore 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2032, in light of reports that, based on the current rate of restoration, this target will not be met.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Climate Change Plan sets out the Scottish Government's intention to support 20,000 hectares of peatland restoration a year. Delivery in individual years may be influenced by external factors such as the weather impacting on the delivery of individual proj…

22 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the analysis of the responses to the consultation on improving the protection of wild mammals in Scotland will be published, and when it will publish its response to the findings.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We received a large number of responses to the Improving the Protection of Wild Mammals in Scotland consultation and will publish those responses for which permission was given later this month. We plan to publish our consultation report this spring and any …

20 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect music services and encourage musical education and interest among young people.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government supports the on-going development of the Music Education Partnership Group led by John Wallace, a former Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2018-19 the Scottish Government are investing £9million in the Youth Music I…

14 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether wetlands sites in Scotland that are covered by the Ramsar Convention are given the same level of protection as those in the rest of the UK.

8 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Scottish social security agency to take on administration and delivery of carers assistance.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We plan to deliver the Carer’s Allowance Supplement by summer 2018, and the Young Carer Grant by autumn 2019. Our priority in taking on full responsibility for all the devolved benefits is a safe and secure transition so that people continue to receive suppor…

24 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason carers assistance is not included in its proposed uprating amendment to the Social Security (Scotland) Bill.

22 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13539 by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 January 2018, what action has been taken, or is planned to be taken, to mitigate the effects on nature conservation, including the protected areas network in Scotland, in the eventuality that Scotland leaves the EU…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government remains of the view that the best approach for Scotland and its environment would be to remain part of the European Union and subject to European environmental legislation, which provides a long-standing and shared basis across the con…

16 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that sporting facilities at Ravenscraig in Motherwell, and others used by people in the South Scotland region, will be maintained in their present form.

9 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in furthering its land reform policies, local community organisations, such as those types referred to in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, are given the first opportunity to buy any Scottish Government-owned land or property,…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: When evaluating options for the treatment of surplus assets, the Scottish Government gives consideration of the acquisition of assets by community bodies, where appropriate. This consideration is also consistent with the principles of Best Value, where wider …

19 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason was for the recent closures of tourist information centres across the South Scotland region, and what alternative arrangements it is considering putting in place.

19 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much has been provided in EU LIFE funding towards maintaining and improving the condition of protected environmental areas since 1992, and whether it plans to provide equivalent funding post-Brexit.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The EU LIFE Projects Database (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/) contains details of funding awarded under every EU LIFE project since 1992, and is searchable by country and region. The Scottish Government believes that Scotland’s publi…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role VisitScotland has in considering (a) economic development and (b) nature conservation matters when providing advice regarding applications for planning permission.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is the responsibility of the relevant planning authority to take into account economic and nature conservation matters when determining a planning application. VisitScotland is not a statutory consultee and is not therefore required to be consulted by a …

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role each of its development agencies has in considering (a) economic development and (b) nature conservation matters when providing advice regarding applications for planning permission.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is the responsibility of the relevant planning authority to take into account any material economic and nature conservation considerations when determining a planning application. The development agencies are not statutory consultees and are therefore not…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Scottish Natural Heritage has in considering (a) economic development and (b) nature conservation matters when providing advice regarding applications for planning permission.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is the responsibility of the relevant planning authority to take into account any material economic and nature conservation considerations when determining a planning application. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a statutory consultee under the terms o…

28 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the Borderlands Growth Deal.

Answer · Keith Brown: I regularly meet UK ministers and most recently discussed the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal with the Secretary of State for Scotland this morning, amongst a range of other issues. We agreed to continue discussions with local authorities to shape a Borderl…

7 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that it can continue to provide its existing level of service.

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make public the legal advice on which its decision to place unconventional oil and gas extraction under an indefinite moratorium was based.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Ministerial Code is clear that Ministers must not divulge either the source or content of legal advice, other than in exceptional circumstances (Section 2.38). However, I am able to confirm to the Member that the Scottish Government has sought ap…

30 Aug 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to ensure that voluntary sector groups are treated as equal partners in the development of integrated health and social care.

17 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10020 by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 August 2017, when the five-month period for analysis of the Talking "Fracking" consultation responses began.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The independent analysis of the responses received to our public consultation on unconventional oil and gas, Talking “Fracking”, was co-ordinated with the closure of the consultation and commenced shortly before it closed on 31 May.

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the information provided at tables 3a and 3b in the Social Security (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum, what the weekly rate will be of (a) carer's allowance, (b) the carer’s allowance supplement and (c) the combined amount in each year to 2022.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government plans to increase Carer’s Allowance to the level of Jobseeker’s Allowance from next year. The following table sets out the anticipated levels of payments based on UK Government policy on annual increases to these benefits (uprating). …

28 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the analysis of the responses to the consultation, Talking Fracking; which independent consultants are carrying out the analysis, and on what date the responses will be published.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government remains committed to a careful, considered and evidence-led approach to unconventional oil and gas, and the commissioning of a thorough and independent analysis of all responses received to our public consultation, Talking “Fracking”, …

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice and support is given to landowners or managers of land where designated features have been reported to have deteriorated.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The detection of a designated natural feature in unfavourable condition through Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Site Condition Monitoring will lead to an identification of the likely pressures and potential remedial actions. Advice will be offered to the r…

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget for improving the condition of natural features has been in each year since 2012.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is no specific annual budget set for improving the condition of natural features on protected areas due to the voluntary approach taken to encouraging management change through applications for funding to the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) …