Parliamentary questions
Tim Eagle
1,493 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, on several occasions, CalMac’s booking system stated that a ferry service was fully booked when it was not.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31682 on 9 December 2024. 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-co…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scotland Office regarding whether it has plans to bring forward an order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 on UK consequential legislation with respect to plans to enable pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I stated in my previous answer to S6W-29868 on 24 September 2024, I wrote to the new Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, on 12 August 2024 seeking his in-principle agreement to proceed with this section 104 Order. I have still not received a re…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27329 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 May 2024, whether it will provide an update on progress with the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on Dunoon-Gourock services provided by (a) CalMac Ferries and (b) Western Ferries, in light of the conclusion o…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The draft Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) Strategic Approach paper said that we would take forward detailed consideration of a number of fares proposals.The consultation and engagement report and our initial responses were published on 3 September and are ava…
20 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many houses have been built in rural communities, as a direct result of funding from the Rural and Islands Housing Fund, since the fund was established.
18 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to address the reportedly prohibitive costs associated with the application process for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme, and, if so, whether it can provide details of such plans.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: To ensure the delivery of the intended environmental outcomes and value for public money, applicants are required to provide a level of evidence when applying to the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).Funding is available for certain aspects of the applic…
18 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make any changes to the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in light of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024, and, if so, whether it will provide details of such changes.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: As set out in the Agricultural Route Map, the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is expected to continue until at least 2026 to deliver elements of Tier 3 of the new framework until the Elective Support is implemented from 2027.The Route Map is a living d…
18 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it (a) monitors and (b) recognises the work carried out by (i) farmers, (ii) crofters and (iii) other land managers to undertake measures to reduce their carbon output.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We report emissions from across the economy on an annual basis in the Section A. Introduction to Greenhouse Gases - Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2022 - gov.scot. The contribution of farmers, crofters and land managers to reduce emissions and sequester c…
18 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04853 by Mairi Gougeon on 14 December 2021, how many of the Fixed Penalty Notices issued since 25 January 2019 remain unpaid, and, of those, how many have been (a) referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and (b) proceeded in the c…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since 25 January 2019 until 13 October 2021, the period covered by S6W-03688 on 29 October 2021 and S6W-04853 on 14 December 2021, there have been 19 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) unpaid prior to referral to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, comp…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how priorities identified for land use in each regional land use framework align with national climate and environmental targets.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Following extensive engagement across the regions, each Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) captured a range of views from farmers, land owners, land managers and communities, on the regional priorities for land use.Many of these priorities recognised the ro…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline any progress that it has made on establishing regional land use frameworks across Scotland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has supported four pilot regions in the development of bespoke Regional Land Use Frameworks (RLUFs). This work was taken forward through a co-development approach with a range of stakeholders. It tested a natural capital-led approach t…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Rural Support Plan.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31439 on 22 November 2024. 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-c…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has (a) set out and (b) acted upon for consultation on the Rural Support Plan.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31439 on 22 November 2024. 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-c…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what priorities for land use each regional land use framework has identified.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Regional Land Us Frameworks (RLUFs) developed as part of the Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUPs) pilot programme have captured a range of land use priorities for each region including, but not limited to, native woodland expansion, flood mitigation and …
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what formal steps it has taken to develop the Rural Support Plan.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 requires Scottish Ministers to publish a five-year Rural Support Plan. The plan will build upon for the Vision for Scottish Agriculture and the Agricultural Reform Route Map and outline the phased tran…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what action it is taking to increase the number of so-called earn as you learn opportunities.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government are currently funding a dedicated resource in NHS Education for Scotland to scope the current skills landscape and identify where earn as you learn programmes could be expanded and where further development work is required with aim of…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what action it is taking to address the reported declining proportion of NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) funding for rural NHS boards.
Answer · Neil Gray: The NRAC formula is an objective measure of the need for health care services across Scotland.Under the existing formula the additional cost of providing health services in remote and rural areas is factored within one of the key components in determining fun…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses' residences are currently available in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian, and how many bedrooms each residence has.
Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not held centrally and is a matter for the Health Boards referred to in the question.
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of frontline healthcare staff currently employed by NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian are due to retire in the next (i) year and (ii) five years.
Answer · Neil Gray: The requested information on what percentage of frontline healthcare staff currently employed by NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian are due to retire in the next (i) year and (ii) five years is not centrally held.
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices within NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian have chosen to end a so-called 17J contract with their NHS board in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.NHS Boards are responsible for managing their contracts with GP practices, whether General Medical Services contracts (referred to in the question as “17J contracts”) or Primary Medical Servic…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, in what ways it will work with (a) local residents, (b) property owners and (c) tourist accommodation providers to offer temporary accommodation to health workers …
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government’s approach to the planning and delivery of affordable housing is focussed on providing the right homes in the right places.We remain committed to delivering 110,000 permanent affordable homes by 2032 with at least 70% for social …
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, how many people training in allied health professional roles it estimates have been required to move out of rural and remote areas to complete their training, in each yea…
Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many qualified childminders are currently registered in the (a) Argyll and Bute Council, (b) Highland Council, (c) Moray Council, (d) Orkney Islands Council, (e) Shetland Islands Council and (f) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar area.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold this information, however the data can be found by contacting the Care Inspectorate directly or searching the Care Inspectorate datastore.Scottish Government is committed to supporting and growing our childminding sector,…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what steps it is taking to repurpose vacant (a) local authority and (b) NHS properties for use as accommodation for healthcare workers.
Answer · Paul McLennan: Local authorities, as statutory housing authorities, working with The Empty Homes Partnership continue to tackle empty homes as a priority, bringing more homes back to use as warm, safe and secure permanent housing. Our investment of £3.7 million invest…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the number of travelling consultants within NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.
Answer · Neil Gray: Whilst the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters including staffing requirements are in the first instance the responsibility of the relevant Health Board. As such, recruitment is a matter for Hea…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what steps it will take to ensure that people training in allied health professional roles within rural and remote settings are able to remain in their place of wo…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with partners including Higher Education Institutions, Health Boards, Skills Development Scotland, and the Scottish Funding Council on skills development, employability and widening access to NHS Scotland care…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what action it will take to improve the (a) availability, (b) suitability and (c) flexibility of local (i) training and (ii) development opportunities in remote an…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Education for Scotland (NES), to identify and deliver training opportunities for health and social care workers in rural and island areas. Through the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care, ho…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19806 by Michael Matheson on 31 July 2023, whether it will provide an update on how many GPs have been recruited by NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian through the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)…
Answer · Neil Gray: The first cohort of 52 ScotGEM students graduated in summer 2022 after completing the four year course. Of these, 45 undertook Foundation training in Scotland with 42 completing their required foundation year 2 (FY2) in August 2024; a small number opted to go…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, whether it plans to review the existing policy for reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs for patients in remote and rural areas accessing healthcare, and…
Answer · Neil Gray: While the Scottish Government provides the overarching guidance/framework for patient travel expenses reimbursement, NHS Boards are responsible for developing local policy to best meet the needs to their populations, and for assessing eligibly for financial s…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of three- to five-year-olds within (a) Argyll and Bute Council, (b) Highland Council, (c) Moray Council, (d) Orkney Islands Council, (e) Shetland Islands Council, (f) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and (g) Scotland have received 1,140 hours of funded (i) early learning and (ii…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Information on the proportion of eligible children accessing funded ELC, both nationally and by local authority, is published each year in the ELC census. This includes uptake rates for all 3-4 year olds, and deferred registrations. The census does not record…
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what its response is to the statement that the current GP contract is “impossible for remote and rural practices to deliver and was not geared towards supporting th…
Answer · Neil Gray: The 2018 GP contract included a programme of service redesign to ensure that arrangements for GP services better met the needs of the whole system and the needs of communities; it makes no new requirements of remote and rural GP practices. The 2018 GP contrac…