Rhoda Grant

23 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on preserving biodiversity in farmland landscapes in each year since 2014.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The following table outlines annual expenditure (in approved applications per claim year) on biodiversity-related commitments under Rural Priorities and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) from 2014 to 2019. £m Scheme 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2…

23 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) ensure the health of and (b) maintain farmland biodiversity, and how it will ensure that this work will be able to meet the expected scale of future biodiversity challenge.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In response to the recent report by the UN Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on the state of global biodiversity, the Scottish Government has committed to carrying out a thorough analysis of the report…

23 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the biodiversity that is dependent on farmland landscapes.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is in the process of tendering a contract for the ‘Evaluation of the Biodiversity outcomes of the 2014-20 Scottish Rural Development Programme Agri-Environment Climate Scheme through a selection of case studies’. Scheduled to c…

15 May 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support health services in rural areas.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The new GP contract, developed in partnership with the BMA, is helping cut doctors' workload and make general practice a more attractive career in rural and urban practices. It enhances the GP role as Expert Medical Generalists supported by multidisciplinar…

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-03146 by Michael Matheson on 25 April 2019 (Official Report, c. 4), how many subsequent requests have been submitted by Loganair to depart using the special procedure to depart with fire cover only since the incident at Kirkwall Airport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: None.

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it made changes to the mapping process for single farm payments applications so close to the deadline for submitting them.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There has been no change to the mapping process/arrangements for applicants submitting Single Applications Forms (SAF) in 2019 for land based support including Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS). Map changes requested by …

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the delays in it processing land inspection information from 2018.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We have been working across multiple systems to process land inspection findings. The opportunity arose to apply some land changes required to complete 2018 land inspections. The purpose of providing land inspection information is to provide additional assura…

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the deadline for applications for single farm payments where mapping changes have recently been advised.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The closing date of 15 May has now passed and was not extended. Staff in offices across the country have provided support to producers with questions on mapping and other related issues allowing the timeous submission of some 19,500 Single Application Forms (…

30 Apr 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many families in the Highlands and Islands have been awarded a Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment since December 2018, and how many have had their applications rejected.

17 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited regarding the incident on 5 April 2019 when a plane left Kirkwall Airport without air traffic control clearance.

1 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when double-tracking will be installed on the railway line north of Dalwhinnie to prevent blockages, such as that caused by the breakdown of a freight train on 11 March 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Currently there are no plans to double track the Highland Mainline North of Dalwhinnie. The completion, on 25 March 2019, of phase 2 of the Highland Mainline enhancements programme on time and under budget has delivered new infrastructure which provides an i…

1 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rail services were (a) cancelled or (b) delayed, broken down by minutes delayed, following the breakdown of a freight train on the single track north of Dalwhinnie on 11 March 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland does not hold this information as the Franchise Agreement with Abellio does not obligate them to provide this information to the level requested.

22 Mar 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent BBC investigation, what action it is taking regarding its dealings with Natural Retreats and CairnGorm Mountain Limited.

20 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs will be (a) directly and (b) indirectly lost because of the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) remote towers project, also broken down by the total value in salaries lost, and what the economic impact will be on each community affected.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The project is in its infancy and at this stage job losses are not anticipated as a result of HIAL’s Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy.

20 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an islands impact assessment of the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) remote towers project and, if so, whether it will publish the findings.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Any Islands Impact Assessment in relation to HIAL’s Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy is a matter for HIAL.

19 Mar 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to Orkney and Shetland island councils to continue to operate inter-islands ferries services.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government understands the significant financial challenges that can fall on individual local authorities and remains committed to the principle of fair funding in the provision of ferry services and infrastructure. As part of this commitment, t…

12 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how many hours on-call ambulance drivers can safely work in addition to their dayshift.

1 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-03014 by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 January 2019 (Official Report, c. 16), whether it held any discussions with Talk Talk when it announced the planned closure of the call centre and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and our economic development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), are in continuous contact with HIE and TalkTalk with a view to mitigating against job loss, and exploring what support we can offer staff affected. I have wr…

30 Jan 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish the Forestry Strategy, and by what means it will be laid before the Parliament.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: A new Forestry Strategy for Scotland was published on 5 February 2019, following my statement to Parliament. It sets out our 50-year vision for Scotland’s forests. Through a 10-year framework, we will seek to deliver even greater economic, social and environm…

28 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to provide a continuous level of rural payments for farmers after 2020.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Rural payments for farmers will stay the same until 2021. Between 2021 and 2024, broadly the same CAP system will be in place with changes to simplify and streamline where appropriate. These changes are currently being developed by the Simplification Taskfor…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to fulfil the commitment that was made by the then First Minister in August 2008, following a Cabinet meeting in Inverness, to reduce train journey times between Inverness and Edinburgh to at least two hours 45 minutes, and an average of three hours, with the aim…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan, published in 2011, stated that the Highland Main Line Rail Improvement project would be completed in phases between 2014 and 2025. Phase one was delivered as planned in December 2012, increasing servi…

17 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the funding for the Berriedale Braes road improvement scheme will become available, and by what date construction will start.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The funding for the A9 Berriedale Braes Improvements is already available. I am pleased to advise that the successful and unsuccessful tenderers were notified on 20 December 2018 and, subject to a 10 day mandatory standstill period, my officials intend to awa…

29 Nov 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to CairnGorm Mountain Limited entering administration.

27 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional apprenticeships have been funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.

21 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a trunk road review of the route between Dingwall and Uig via the A890 and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not carried out a specific review of the route between Dingwall and Uig. However, the trunk road network is kept under continual review in line with statutory requirements, and the status of this route will be kept under review alo…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increase in tourism traffic using the route, what its position is on making the A890 Stromeferry bypass a trunk road.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no plans to trunk the A890.  

19 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make a submission to the UK Government regarding the consultation on the restriction of the sale of fireworks, and what information it has regarding the timeline of the consultation.

Answer · Ash Denham: In September I wrote to the UK Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility to request an update on any actions being taken on Fireworks at Westminster. I was advised that while the Office for Product Safety and Standards are reviewing …

19 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many engines the MV Loch Seaforth has, also broken down by how many have a separate cooling system.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The MV Loch Seaforth has a single cooling system covering two main engines and three generators. All of these can be isolated individually. There are also additional pumps which are on standby in case of failure. This arrangement is common on ferries and simi…

19 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it, (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and (c) any of its agencies were advised of a design fault with the cooling system and engine capacity of the MV Loch Seaforth when the vessel was being built and, if so, when.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government, including its agencies, and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), are not aware of any design fault with the MV Loch Seaforth’s water cooling system or of any engine capacity issues. The new vessel which was commissioned by Caledoni…

19 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many sailings of the MV Loch Seaforth have been cancelled since January 2018 due to mechanical defect, broken down by type of defect.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since 1 January 2018 to 31 October 2018, four of 1,649 (0.2%) sailings scheduled by the MV Loch Seaforth have been cancelled due to mechanical problems. Two of these cancellations were due to issues with the bow doors, one an issue with the engine cooling sys…