Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to set up a new entrants scheme for fishermen.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to taking steps to encourage new entrants into the fishing industry. The Government expects to make an announcement about its quota allocation policy in the coming months, which will include new steps to pursue this object…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with representatives of the Scottish fishing industry on the phased implementation of the discard ban.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: My officials last met with our Scottish Discards Steering Group on 24 June 2016 to discuss the discard ban, including the continued phased implementation of the ban in 2017. Further discussions on phasing will take place with the fishing industry when develop…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with the UK Government relating to releasing CAP convergence funds to Scottish farmers.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I raised the issue of releasing CAP convergence funds to Scottish farmers in a letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, on 24 June 2016. Despite this, and assurances earlier this year from Defra Minister, George Eustice, that Defra would…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to appoint the national chef referred to on page 26 of the 2016 SNP manifesto.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are currently considering options to deliver the commitment to appoint a National Chef. In doing so we will consult with stakeholders including the Scottish Food Commission who have a key role in advocating the importance of good food to Scotland’s health …
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment at page 26 of the SNP manifesto, what stage it has reached in taking forward the recommendations of the report, Building on Success: Deepening Collaboration, Food and Drink in Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The board of Scotland Food and Drink, the industry leadership body, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations contained with the collaboration report to ensure they align and support the development of the new food and drink indu…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the details of its plans to introduce the joint food industry supply-chain and public sector procurement taskforce referred to at page 26 of the SNP manifesto, including how the group will be constituted.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02216 on 9 September 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/parliamentarybusine…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a Scottish landings target will be set for fishermen.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The government will establish a Scottish landings target after discussion with fishermen, representatives of processors in Scotland and others with an interest. Government officials have in particular commenced discussions with pelagic fishermen and processin…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that the Scottish fishing quota is retained by active fishermen.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to taking steps to ensure that Scottish fish quota is held only by persons that have an contemporary and positive link to the fishing industry, whether directly or as part of a wider structure of support. The Government ex…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in establishing a dairy farmers' crisis task force to address challenges facing the sector.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Government has been working with key stakeholders to consider the most effective means to support the dairy sector. It has been decided that the Dairy Growth board will address the challenges facing the sector moving forward.
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all farmers applying for CAP funding in 2017-18 receive the correct materials to carry out the required mapping processes.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government proactively review mapping information utilising Aerial Photography, information from Ordinance Survey and data gathered from land inspections as part of the claim validation process. In addition claimants of CAP funding have for a num…
18 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recent announcement by the UK Government that EU structural and investment fund projects signed before the Autumn Statement will be guaranteed after the UK leaves the EU, applies equally to Scotland, and which schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme are covered…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The announcement by the HM Treasury does apply to Scotland, and includes all CAP Pillar two schemes under Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). However, it fails to provide comprehensive, long-term guarantees for any SRDP commitments after the UK Gover…
18 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recent announcement by the UK Government, in relation to leaving the EU, to continue agricultural funding to 2020 applies equally to Scotland, and which CAP payments are covered by this announcement.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The recent announcement from HM Treasury provides some reassurance, particularly in relation to the continuation of common agricultural policy (CAP) Pillar 1 funding until the end of the Multiannual Financial Framework in 2020.However, it fails to provide com…
9 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the pay of a (a) cook, (b) chief steward and (c) worker on the 1B pay scale by CalMac compares with the equivalent by Marine Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Marine Scotland and Caledonian MacBrayne perform different functions, and operate under different terms and conditions. This means that rates of pay are not directly comparable. Different arrangements for pensions, levels of leave and National Insurance also …
9 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since April 2016 Marine Scotland vessels have sailed without a full complement of crew, also broken down by the members of crew who were absent.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since April 2016 Marine Scotland vessels have sailed with less than the full complement of mariners on three occasions. 8 May 2016 - Cook/Steward absent 30 May2016 - Seaman absent 18 July 2016 - Seaman absent. In addition, over that same period, there we…
20 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that the system that will replace the common agricultural policy after the UK leaves the EU will tie direct payments to delivering wider social and environmental aims.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Tying direct payments to delivering environmental benefits is currently included as part of the common agricultural policy through the greening element, that requires farmers and crofters to deliver measures beneficial for the climate and the environment. F…
20 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with the UK Government to ensure that the "greening” element of the common agricultural policy will not be weakened before the UK leaves the EU.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The approach to the greening element of the common agricultural policy(CAP) in Scotland is a matter for Scottish Ministers. The European Commission has recently published proposals for simplifying the greening measures, and we are currently engaging with key…
20 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to protect the funding that is currently provided to land managers carrying out agri-environment scheme work under pillar two of the common agricultural policy after the UK leaves the EU.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am engaging in discussions with key stakeholders to emphasise that we are still firmly in the EU and EU funded investment in Scotland continues, and I will be seeking clarity from UK Government on the funding of EU projects following a UK exit from the EU.…
23 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for women’s aid services in supporting the victims of domestic abuse.
Answer · Angela Constance: In 2016-17, the Scottish Government has committed around £11.8 million to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls, which includes over £5.8 million for women's aid services.
22 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to address homelessness in rural areas.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Preventing homelessness across Scotland is a priority for the Scottish Government and we don’t want anyone to be homeless. We have unrivalled rights for homeless people and these apply in rural areas as well as across Scotland. We are radically increasing the…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to formalise and record nationally the number of young people bullied in schools.
Answer · John Swinney: This government wants every child and young person in Scotland to grow up free from bullying and to develop respectful, responsible and confident relationships. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be addressed quickly, whenever it arises. Recordin…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the appointment of a Scottish anti-bullying "tsar".
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government takes the issue of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace very seriously. However, the Scottish Government is not currently considering the appointment of a Scottish anti-bullying “tsar”.
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make bullying a specific offence.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government takes the issue of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace very seriously. That is one of the reasons that the Independent Fair Work Convention was set up in April 2015 bringing together trade unions, the private secto…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £65.5 million budget for the less favoured area support scheme for 2016 has been spent; how much has been projected to be spent in the remainder of the year, and whether it plans to reduce payments in 2016.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: None of the £65.5 million budget available for the less favoured area support scheme (LFASS) 2015 or 2016 has been spent. However, in April 2016, we made available £55 million of national funding to those who had claimed LFASS between March and June 2015, and…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers and crofters have received support from the less favoured area support scheme since January 2015 who were refused support between 2010 and 2014, broken down by month.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Less favoured area support scheme 2015 claims have not yet been processed because the IT functionality, currently being developed, is not yet available. Once complete, this automated process will determine those who are eligible and due to be paid; and also t…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that new community landowners are not financially disadvantaged by registering as the new landlord of crofts on their community-owned estate.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is developing a delivery plan for all crofting manifesto commitments. We will work with crofting stakeholders on this matter, including the Crofting Commission, Registers of Scotland and community landowners.
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on modernising crofting law.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Crofters have long been concerned at overly complicated and outdated legislation. The Scottish Government intends to modernise crofting law and make it more transparent, understandable and workable in practice, and will do so in the lifetime of this Parliamen…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will reintroduce the croft house loan scheme.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A number of options are currently being explored in relation to providing additional support for croft housing beyond the current croft housing grant scheme.
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national development plan for crofting.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is currently working on a national development plan for crofting and will publish it in due course.
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce a new entrants' scheme for crofters.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Currently there is a wide range of support and schemes available to new entrants to farming and crofting. As shown below: Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) Support: The SRDP 2014 to 2020 made available £8 million of support to help new entrants st…
20 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to explore mechanisms to make more publicly owned land available to new entrants into farming and crofting.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: In line with our manifesto commitment, work is already underway to examine the potential to allow more starter opportunities for farmers and crofters on publicly owned land.