Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Nov 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether decisions regarding Highlands and Islands Enterprise economic development and social support spending will be made locally by people who live and work in the area.
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will complete the full business case review on a new hospital to replace St Brendan's Hospital in Barra.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Western Isles are in the process of finalising the outline business case and will shortly meet with Scottish Government to discuss the proposal. Once the business case is finalised, then it will be submitted to the NHS Capital Investment Group for review.
15 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-04347, which received a holding response on 14 November 2016.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04347 on 16 November 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
10 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to participate in mediation with tenant farmers and landowners who face eviction as a result of the outcome of the Salvesen v Riddell case.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The service established and funded by the Scottish Government provides for mediation between those tenant farmers and landlords affected by the outcome of the Salvesen v Riddell case and who are presently involved in litigation. Mediation is a private matte…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its winter preparedness plans.
Answer · John Swinney: The variability in Scotland’s weather means that we must be prepared to manage the impacts of a variety of severe weather conditions throughout the year. In the face of such changeability, the Scottish Government works closely with local authorities and key r…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) at-sea boardings and (b) port inspections in each year since 2014 were carried out in order to meet its landing obligation monitoring requirements, and how many infringements were detected.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: All inspections carried out with regard to pelagic species (from 2015 onwards) and with regard to pelagic and demersal species (2016 onwards) are undertaken with a view to detecting infringements, including landing obligation infringements. The figures for …
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the phased-in landing obligation requirements (a) overall and (b) for North Sea cod in 2017 to ensure that no illegal discarding or high grading is occurring, also broken down by the amount of (i) observer and (ii) electronic monitoring coverage it plans.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: In Scottish waters responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Landing Obligation (LO) rests with Marine Scotland, working with Defra and the UK’s other Devolved Administrations to ensure compliance across the UK. After an advisory period, and for the ves…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of fishing (i) trips and (ii) hauls in each year since 2014 were (A) electronically monitored by cameras and (B) accompanied by fisheries observers.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The number of vessels that have participated in the remote electronic monitoring (REM) fully documented fisheries schemes operated by Marine Scotland across the years 2014 to 2016 are shown in the following table. Year Vessels Trips 2014 32 1123 2015 …
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to re-advertise the post of chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), what the period of appointment will be and whether an HIE board will be constituted.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Following the announcement of an Enterprise and Skills Review by the First Minister on 25 May 2016 Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) appointed an interim Chief Executive. This followed the departure of Alex Paterson and was agreed pending the outcome of …
28 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been consulted by Rio Tinto regarding the sale of the Lochaber smelter.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have maintained dialogue with Rio Tinto throughout the Lochaber strategic review with a view to securing the best outcome for the workers and local community. We are hopeful that Lochaber smelter …
28 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Rio Tinto has provided it with information regarding its consultation with (a) stakeholders of and (b) staff at Kinlochleven power station.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have maintained dialogue with Rio Tinto throughout the Lochaber strategic review and continue to engage with a range of stakeholders and staff representatives, including the Joint Working Grou…
28 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who it has met from Rio Tinto in connection with the sale of some or all of the company’s Highland estate and assets, and whether it has offered the company (a) financial and (b) other support.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has met with a range of representatives of Rio Tinto, both from the Lochaber business (Rio Tinto Alcan) and from the parent company. In discussions with Rio Tinto the Government has signalled its willingness to explore options of assis…
28 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity last spoke with officials of Rio Tinto regarding the sale of some or all of the company’s Highland estate and assets.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity met with senior representatives of Rio Tinto regarding the company’s Lochaber strategic review on 4 October 2016. Subsequently on 21 October, Rio Tinto announced to its Lochaber workforce that the c…
28 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) ministers and (b) officials have attended the meetings of the Regional Economic Development Joint Working Group set up by Rio Tinto to examine economic development opportunities in the Fort William area; whether it has been given sight of the group’s minutes; when the group las…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government, through is agencies Highlands and Island Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland, has been represented at the meetings of the Regional Economic Development Joint Working Group set up by Rio Tinto, to examine economic development op…
28 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many bidders are being considered by Rio Tinto to buy some or all of the company’s Highland estate and assets and whether it has information regarding what the status is of any talks between the company and the bidders.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and Rio Tinto’s Lochaber workforce were informed on 21 October 2016 that as an outcome of the strategic review the Rio Tinto Board had agreed to consider a sale of its Lochaber assets and that discussions with a potential buyer would b…
25 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much will be invested by Network Rail in the Far North Line between 2014 and 2019, broken down by individual project and their related costs.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As part of the Scottish Government`s wider £5 billion programme of transformative investment in Scotland`s railways over the five-year control period to March 2019, Network Rail are investing over £30 million to maintain, renew and enhance the rail infrastruc…
25 Oct 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity will next visit Lochaber.
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of land approved for woodland expansion is (a) agricultural, (b) BAP priority open habitat and (c) an other category of land.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Between 2007 – 2014 the Scotland Rural Development Programme Rural Priorities Grant Scheme, approved 37,718 hectares for woodland creation, of which 33,808 hectares were eligible for farmland premium. Therefore approximately 90% of woodland expansion was on a…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how suitable areas for woodland expansion are (a) identified and (b) prioritised.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Local Authorities publish Forest and Woodland Strategies which are used to identify suitable areas for woodland expansion. Applications for woodland expansion are prioritised using target areas and scoring criteria contained within the Forestry Grant…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment criteria and procedures are used before consent for new woodland planting is issued to ensure that significant negative environmental effects will not arise.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999, states the Selection Criteria for Projects having significant effects on the environment – this includes the characteristics and location of the project. The procedures …
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many woodland expansion proposals have been consented without an approved environmental impact assessment by each Forestry Commission Scotland conservancy since 2010 for new woodland planting on (a) sensitive and (b) non-sensitive sites.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: All applications that require Environmental Impact Assessment consent need to submit a full Environmental Statement. Therefore, since 2010 no woodland planting on sensitive and non-sensitive sites have been consented without an approved environmental impact a…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is for approval of a new woodland creation scheme from submission.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The average time for approval of woodland creation schemes is 17.7 weeks from submission of the grant application to final approved scheme.
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for activities that require to be screened in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 have been (a) received and (b) approved by each Forestry Commission Conservancy office in each year since 2012.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2012 the number of applications received for activities that required screening in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 was 979. The number received by each Forestry Commission Scotland Conservancy i…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what environmental checks are in place for woodland planting schemes that do not require an environmental impact assessment.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: All woodland planting applications are screened against the Environmental Impact Assessment legislation. Those that do not require an Environmental Impact Assessment but are seeking grant funding are carefully assessed to ensure compliance with the UK Forestr…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for updating the forestry consultation process.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: An independent assessment of the forestry approval process is underway and a final report should be submitted to Scottish Ministers by the end of October 2016. The finding of this assessment will inform the review of the current processes, including the fores…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of tree felling licenses are issued with a condition to restock.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The proportion of conditional stand-alone felling licenses which contain a restocking condition issued since 1 April 2012 is 97%. In addition 100% of forest plans which include a felling license have a requirement to restock.
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is in place to ensure that new woodland planting schemes are delivering biodiversity outcomes.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government requires that all new woodland planting schemes, funded under the Scottish Rural Development Programme Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS), comply with the UK Forestry Standard and its Forest and Biodiversity Guidelines. Under the FGS applican…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry Commission Scotland staff involved in determining screening applications under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 are required to hold chartered forester status and, if not, how their competence to assess such applications is assur…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland does not require staff involved in determining screening applications under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 to hold chartered forester status. Forestry Commission Scotland staff are appo…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the (a) site and (b) cumulative environmental impacts for proposals for woodland expansion.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland assesses the site of proposals for woodland expansion and their environmental impacts using the Selection Criteria (stated in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999) and the inform…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for reviewing and updating the Scottish Forestry Strategy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has stated its commitment to reviewing the Scottish Forestry Strategy (SFS) during the period of the current Land Use Strategy (2016-2021). The review will aim to ensure the SFS reflects changing priorities and aligns with that key Str…