Sarah Boyack

8 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the potential impact of the reduction to the Just Transition Fund contained in its draft Budget 2024-25 will be on job creation in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Existing Just Transition Fund projects will continue to be funded in 2024-25, supporting projects and communities across the North East and Moray to create jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future. Scotland already outp…

31 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to address potholes on the road network, including what support is available for local authorities to do so, in light of reports that Edinburgh is the second worst city in the UK for potholes.

29 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24884 by Lorna Slater on 29 January 2024, whether it plans to use the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill as the mechanism to ban single-use disposable vapes.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Officials are moving at pace, with the rest of the UK to bring forward the correct mechanisms to ban Single Use Vapes. As this is an area of devolved competence, decisions on whether to act in this area rest with the respective Governments in each part of the…

17 Jan 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with Police Scotland regarding potential station closures in Edinburgh.

17 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much capital funding to NHS boards (a) has been provided in the financial year 2023-24 and (b) will be made available in the financial year 2024-25.

Answer · Neil Gray: The 22 National and Territorial NHS Boards have received a total of £148.8 million of Capital Formula in the year 2023-24. In addition to formula capital, NHS Boards are anticipating further funding of £283.9 million which will allow all major projects in con…

17 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much capital funding to NHS Lothian (a) has been provided in the financial year 2023-24 and (b) will be made available in the financial year 2024-25.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Lothian has received £24.7 million of Capital Formula and the latest forecast indicates that by the year end a further £10.7 million in allocations will be provided for a total of £35.4 million in capital funding in 2023-24. As set out in our draft budge…

17 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22795 by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2023, whether the review of funding availability took place in line with its Budget.  

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24582 on 1 February 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-committ…

17 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has informed NHS boards that capital funding has been frozen for two years as part of its Budget, in light of reports of it putting in place such a freeze.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As set out in the draft Scottish Government budget, the capital funding position is extremely challenging due to the UK Government’s decision to cut our capital budget by nearly 10%. The capital budget settlement allows for Health Boards’ delegated capital b…

17 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact a freeze on capital budgets will have on the building of a new eye hospital in Edinburgh.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24582 on 1 February 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-committ…

15 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund opening for applications on 29 January 2024 to support industrial sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to decarbonise, when it will open the next phase of the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to …

Answer · Gillian Martin: During 2020, Scottish Ministers announced their intention to administer a separate fund to the UK Government's Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and that more funds would be available for Scottish Industries than received as Barnett consequentials. We are…

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated impact of any increase in funding for community eye healthcare will be on patients in (a) Edinburgh and (b) the Lothians.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The 2024-25 draft Scottish Budget document, published on 19 December, set out a budget of £130.1m for community eyecare services. This increase in the budget provision supports national provision of free universal NHS eye examinations, NHS optical vouchers fo…

9 Jan 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss its housing emergency declaration.

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reporting arrangements have been put in place regarding the role of the Deputy First Minister in co-ordinating cross government delivery, as referred to in the cabinet secretary mandate letters for the financial year 2023-24.

Answer · Shona Robison: I receive regular performance delivery updates on the three Policy Prospectus missions of equality, opportunity and community. I also engage regularly with Cabinet Secretaries to support strong collaboration across portfolios and budgets and enable effective …

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the First Minister and/or Deputy First Minister will meet with each cabinet secretary to discuss what progress has been made against the objectives detailed in their mandate letter for the financial year 2023-24.

Answer · George Adam: The 2023-24 mandate letters (published in September) set out the First Minister’s intention to hold six monthly discussions on progress. The First Minister is currently in the process of meeting with each Cabinet Secretary to discuss progress against 2023-24 …

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial working groups there are that are currently in operation across the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio, and whether it will provide a list of any such groups.

Answer · Neil Gray: There are 21 Ministerial Working Groups that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Portfolio which are currently in operation. They are: 1. Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Ministerial Forum 2. Community Wealth Bu…

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial working groups there are that are currently in operation across the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio, and whether it will provide a list of any such groups.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: There are currently 21 ministerial working groups that fall under the remit of the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio. In addition, portfolio Ministers sit on a number of ministerial working groups which are led by other Scottish Government por…

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Cabinet sub-committees are currently in operation, and what the (a) title and (b) membership is of each.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are currently 5 Cabinet Sub-Committees in operation, the titles and membership of which are set out in the following table. Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) Membership CSC on Legislation Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance(Chair) Min…

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the First Minister would take if a cabinet secretary does not meet the objectives set out in their mandate letter for the financial year 2023-24.

Answer · George Adam: The First Minister constantly keeps the performance of cabinet under review and meets regularly with his Cabinet Secretaries to discuss objectives. Should it arise that a mandate letter objective has not been met, the First Minister will hold a discussion wit…

5 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the consultation on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters, what its position is on whether the benefit of any such closures would be considered to be an appropriate compensation measure for offshore wind farm developments that are required to seek derogat…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Ministers will consider the suitability of any measures proposed as compensation as part of a case for derogating from the habitats regulations at the appropriate stage in the process, if and when such a derogation case may be required. This applies …

5 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the consultation on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters, what its position is on whether any such closures would be considered to be an important measure in compensating for the potential environmental impact of offshore wind farms.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer to my answer to question S6W-24369 on 18 January 2024. The suitability of any closure of the sandeel fishery in Scottish waters as a compensatory measure for potential impacts from offshore wind farms will be considered by Scottish Ministers if and wh…

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created to date through its Green Jobs Fund, broken down by the year in which the jobs were created.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: More than 100 projects have received support from the Green Jobs Fund. Jobs created through the Green Jobs Fund are categorised as green jobs if they meet certain criteria including being defined as:Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services t…

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to delivering a Green Jobs Fund of £100 million to the five-year timescale set out in its Programme for Government 2020-21.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Green Jobs Fund was created to support new and increased opportunities for green job creation across Scotland, by providing up to £100 million capital investment over a five year term. Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Sc…

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any allocations made as part of the Green Jobs Fund proposals that were set out in its Programme for Government 2021-22.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The breakdown of the Green Jobs Fund includes actual payments made in financial years 2021-22, 2022-23 and a mix of actual and forecast payments for the 2023-24 financial year, which will be confirmed at the end of this financial year.  Number of projects su…

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to potentially changing the legislative framework to increase flexibility in the management and operation of paths and roads in Holyrood Park.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government delegated the management of Holyrood Park to Historic Environment Scotland as a Property in Care. When considering potential changes to any Property in Care, Historic Environment Scotland ensures that the local community, as well as th…

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to reopen the “Radical Road” in Holyrood Park.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government delegated the management of Holyrood Park to Historic Environment Scotland as a Property in Care. This delegation includes decision-making relating to the ‘Radical Road’ which was closed in 2018 following significant rockfall and it ha…

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consult on potentially changing the status of Holyrood Park so that access restrictions can be changed or removed.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government delegated the management of Holyrood Park to Historic Environment Scotland as a Property in Care. When considering potential changes to any Property in Care, Historic Environment Scotland ensures that the local community, as well as th…

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the legislative and regulatory frameworks associated with Holyrood Park.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The previous Minister for Culture, Neil Gray MSP, and Lorna Slater MSP (in a constituency capacity) met with Historic Environment Scotland in May 2022 to discuss specific issues relating to the management of Holyrood Park around speed limits and car parking. …

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what barriers exist to potentially changing the status of Holyrood Park so that access restrictions can be changed or removed.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Without further information about which status the member is referring to, it is difficult for the Scottish Government to provide any further information about the applicable procedure, as this could range from a statutory procedure set out in the Ancient Mon…

13 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact on island communities of its proposed EPC reforms.

11 Dec 2023 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has made any commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals within its functions, and, if so, what commitments it has made.

Answer · Claire Baker: One of our Strategic Change Objectives outlined in the SPCB Strategic Plan is ‘Adapting for a sustainable future’. This focuses on reducing our carbon emissions and embedding Sustainable Development thinking across the parliament.     Our Sustainable …