Tim Eagle

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to its consultation on managing deer for climate and nature.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Managing Deer for Climate and Nature: Consultation Analysis report was published on the Scottish Government website on 9 September 2024.

16 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make changes to the ways in which it collects data, in light of the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit's 2024 Inequality Landscape report, which reportedly states that important information necessary to assess the effectiveness of policies aimed at tackling poverty and …

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is committed to improved data collection and analysis to accurately assess the impact of policies to ensure greatest impact can be achieved.Data collection methodologies and approaches are kept under constant review to ensure not only …

16 Sep 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that Transport Scotland has spent more than £16 million on consultancy fees in relation to the A83 Rest and Be Thankful project.

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Stornoway to Benbecula public service obligation flight service is funded by Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar rather than Transport Scotland.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: It is longstanding Scottish Government policy that the provision of an air service wholly within a local authority boundary is a matter for that local authority.The Scottish Government provides indirect support to the Benbecula to Stornoway service through ou…

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of every public service obligation flight service that is funded by (a) it and (b) local authorities.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government funds the Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra air services.Dundee City Council funds the Dundee to London Heathrow air service with financial contributions from the Scottish Government and the UK Government.Highland Council funds t…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any senior civil servants have received a non-consolidated performance payment and a pay increase in the same year since 2023, and what the total amount was of any such payments.

Answer · Shona Robison: In line with Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy, the Scottish Government does not pay non-consolidated performance payments to any staff, including Senior Civil Servants. Therefore, I can confirm that no Scottish Government Senior Civil Servants have received …

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) taskforces and (b) working groups it has (i) established and (ii) disbanded in each year since 2021, and whether it will provide details of these.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24570 on 29 January 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-committe…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost was of tunnelling in relation to its consideration of a long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, and how this compared with the option it chose of constructing a debris flow shelter.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to an infrastructure solution to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and shares the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route.During the Route…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29031 by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024, whether it will provide the specific number of occasions that it has met with the leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in each year since 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engage…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that bus services in rural communities remain (a) accessible and (b) affordable.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Bus services in Scotland were deregulated by the then Conservative UK Government under the Transport Act of 1985 and are mostly provided by private operators.Our commitment to bus travel includes investment of over £370 million to support concessionary …

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many chief executives of non-departmental public bodies have received a non-consolidated performance payment and a pay increase in the same year since 2021, and what the total amount was of any such payments.

Answer · Shona Robison: Non-consolidated performance payments for chief executives continue to be suspended. There is a presumption against provision for non-consolidated performance payments in all new Chief Executive contracts or following a review. There are 71 public bodies cove…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29028 by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024, whether it will provide the specific number of occasions that it has met with the leader of Orkney Islands Council in each year since 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engage…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the planned HMP Highland remains on track to be delivered by 2026.

Answer · Angela Constance: Following the award of the construction contract for HMP Highland in April this year, the construction is progressing to plan on site and is scheduled to complete in 2026.

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any senior civil servants have received a non-consolidated performance payment without a pay increase in the same year since 2023, and what the total amount was of any such payments.

Answer · Shona Robison: In line with Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy, the Scottish Government does not pay non-consolidated performance payments to any staff, including Senior Civil Servants. Therefore, I can confirm that no Scottish Government Senior Civil Servants have received …

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24400 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 January 2024, whether it will provide an update on any recent discussions that it has had with the UK Government on enabling pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Following the appointment of Lord Cameron of Lochiel as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Scotland Office, I wrote to him on 17 April 2024 seeking an update on the proposed Order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998.Alister Jack, the then Se…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29026 by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024, whether it will provide the specific number of occasions that it has met with the leader of Highland Council in each year since 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engage…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29029 by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024, whether it will provide the specific number of occasions that it has met with the leader of Shetland Islands Council in each year since 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engage…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it discounted the use of underground tunnelling as part of its long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to an infrastructure solution to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and shares the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route.As part of the c…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) ministers and (b) civil servants from its Constitution Directorate have spent on (i) domestic and (ii) foreign travel in each year since 2021.

Answer · Angus Robertson: a) Ministerial travel costs are routinely published online three months in arrears and in line with the Scottish Ministerial Code: 2018 edition - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) This can be found at: Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29027 by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024, whether it will provide the specific number of occasions that it has met with the leader of Argyll and Bute Council in each year since 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engage…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it remains the position of Historic Environment Scotland to oversea the "managed decline" of any of the properties that it manages, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Historic Environment Scotland will continue to consider all options available to sustain and enhance the sites across its estate as it develops its Properties in Care strategy. However, it is important that we recognise climate change effects have been accele…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that two captive-bred wildcats died after their release into Cairngorms National Park.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Although the deaths of the two captive-bred wildcats, who died after their release into Cairngorms National Park, is disappointing, these deaths need to be set in context. They bring the total deaths to date to three from a release of 28 wildcats since last y…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29267 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 September 2024, for what reason it is allocating a third vessel to the Sound of Harris and Sound of Barra routes as part of phase 2 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, as opposed to allocating it to an alternative r…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Small Vessels Replacement Programme (SVRP) Phase 2 will primarily focus on the Berneray–Leverburgh and Barra–Eriskay routes with a vessel on each of these routes. The third vessel’s deployment is still to be confirmed and is subject to f…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the budget to deliver the planned HMP Highland will be reduced, in light of the wider budgetary pressures highlighted in its fiscal statement on 3 September 2024.

Answer · Angela Constance: The price for HMP Highland is set in the construction contract which was awarded in April 2024. While there remains a risk of extension of time (and associated costs) due to extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances, it is expected that the agreed pri…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many chief executives of non-departmental public bodies have received a non-consolidated performance payment without a pay increase in the same year since 2021, and what the total amount was of any such payments.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29878 on 27 September 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-…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29030 by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024, whether it will provide the specific number of occasions that it has met with the leader of Moray Council in each year since 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: Details of every external meeting all Ministers have undertaken since 2016 can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This currently shows engagements up until May of this year, however information on engage…

10 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an official from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was present at the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence of Ireland on 6 Septe…

Answer · Angus Robertson: In line with agreed practice, an FCDO official was not present at this meeting.

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles has identified £4.5 million of high-priority and high-cost works, "but has received a grant of just £1.29 million from the Scottish Government" for the works in 2024-25.

Answer · Neil Gray: As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles has designated the refurbishment of Medical Ward 2 at the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway as high priority, but that this work is reportedly unaffordable in the current financial year.

Answer · Neil Gray: As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles has designated the acquisition of automated medicine cabinets as high priority, but that this is reportedly unaffordable in the current financial year.

Answer · Neil Gray: As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system…