Sarah Boyack

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its current decision-making criteria are for international development spending.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government's decision making criteria for international development spending are as set out in our 2016 Strategy available at Global Citizenship: Scotland's International Development Strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). However, we are currently…

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding for the Youth Music Initiative will be secure after March 2023.

Answer · Neil Gray: Funding decisions will be set out in the 2023-24 Scottish Budget later this year.

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the planned annual budget and FTE staffing expectation is for the Talent Attraction and Migration Service.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Talent Attraction and Migration Service will play a key role in attracting and retaining people who chose to move to Scotland. The investment in the service will match our commitment to ensuring people are attracted to, and want to stay in, Scotland. The …

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the decision was taken to pause the Youth Music Initiative’s funding as part of the cost of living emergency budget review.

Answer · Neil Gray: The announcement of the emergency budget review, as noted in the response to question S6W-11144 on 19 October 2022, confirmed a pause to all non-contracted spend, which included the remaining Youth Music Initiative budget. All answers to written Parliamentar…

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the decision was taken to include the Youth Music Initiative’s funding as part of the cost of living emergency budget review.

Answer · Neil Gray: Non-contracted spend, including the remaining Youth Music Initiative budget, was considered as part of the cost of living emergency budget review following the announcement of the review by the First Minister on 11 August, which was further outlined in the De…

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when in 2023 it plans to launch the Talent Attraction and Migration Service.

Answer · Neil Gray: The UK immigration system is not working for Scotland’s economy, our public services or our communities. While responsibility for immigration rests with the UK Government, the Scottish Government will do all we can to attract and retain people in Scotland. Th…

21 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the decision was taken for the Youth Music Initiative’s funding to be secure as part of the cost of living emergency budget review.

Answer · Neil Gray: This decision was taken on 14 September.

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the contract, Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management 2, which was awarded to the company, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), on 9 August 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management 2, which was awarded to the company, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), is a call off from a Crown Commercial Services framework and the original framework documentation is available from the Crown C…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people working on the MS Victoria in Leith and MS Ambition in Glasgow are being paid at least the real Living Wage.

Answer · Neil Gray: The crew of the MS Ambition and MS Victoria are paid by the charter company that CTM chartered on the Scottish Government’s behalf. CTM have confirmed that all crew operating on both vessels are at a minimum being paid in line with the National Minimum Wage a…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to continue to support national museums and galleries in order to ensure they remain free to access, during the current cost of living crisis, what support it is providing to smaller organisations that face rising costs and falling incomes.

Answer · Neil Gray: While funding for the national collections is a direct responsibility of the Scottish Government, other museums and galleries are core funded from a variety of sources including local government. The Scottish Government is in discussion with Museums Galleries…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of increased hotel and other accommodation costs on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on 29 September 2022. 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-commi…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether PVG checks have been carried out on people working on the MS Victoria in Leith and MS Ambition in Glasgow.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government officials regularly meet with local authority staff and ship senior management to ensure the wellbeing and safety of those arriving from Ukraine are central to the provision. This includes work to ensure that all staff are adequately quali…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of inflation on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on? 29 September 2022. 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-comm…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on? 29 September 2022. 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-comm…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of rail strikes on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on 29 September 2022. 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-commi…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates it will publish its remaining Building a New Scotland papers.

Answer · Angus Robertson: A number of papers covering the opportunities of independence will be published over the coming months as part of the Building a New Scotland prospectus series. The series will be published in good time before an independence referendum takes place, to allow …

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many letters the First Minister has sent to the new Prime Minister; on what date each was sent, and what issues were raised in each.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The First Minister has written once to the new Prime Minister. The letter, dated 6 September 2022 and focusing on the cost crisis, was published on the Scottish Government website and a link is provided below. Cost crisis: letter to new Prime Minister - gov…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to consult on its Programme for Government commitment to establish a Future Generations Commissioner.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: In the 2022-23 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government renewed its commitment to explore how to ensure the interests of future generations are considered in decisions made today. Ministers and officials have been engaging with a wide range of organ…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment to continue to support national museums and galleries to ensure they remain free to access, in light of the cost of living crisis, whether it will provide more detail on how it will do so.

Answer · Neil Gray: The National Collections are an important part of Scotland’s culture. As part of setting and reviewing annual budgets for grant in aid, the Scottish Government maintains close contact with National Museums Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland about…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to monitor and evaluate the performance of the company, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), which was awarded the procurement contract on Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management, and whether it will specify any criteria and standards against whic…

Answer · Neil Gray: The performance of Corporate Travel Management (CTM) is robustly monitored by the Scottish Government. This is carried out through regular progress reporting and meetings, rigorous financial monitoring, and through identifying continuous improvements includin…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose scheduling a ministerial statement on the planned review of the National Outcomes.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Ministers are required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to review the National Outcomes within five years of their previous publication. The 2015 Act stipulates the consultation requirements, including its period, consultees, and requ…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the rising cost of living on Edinburgh festivals in 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: As detailed in our Programme for Government, we recognise the profound impact the current cost crisis is having across Scotland. Within this, we are acutely aware of the various challenges festivals have faced in 2022, including the ongoing effects of COVID-1…

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that ticket sales for Edinburgh festivals were down by 25% in 2022, compared with 2019.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government would like to congratulate all the artists, venues, production members and organisers of Edinburgh’s festivals this year. We recognise that overall 2022 was perceived as a ‘recovery year’ for the festivals and was key in bringing back …

20 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it took to ensure the maximum number of bidders for the procurement contract on Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management.

Answer · Neil Gray: Corporate Travel Management (CTM) won the contract for the Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management 2, through fair and open competition. Due to the urgency of the requirement, the Scottish Government utilised the Crown Commercial Services fram…

7 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many National Records of Scotland (NRS) service users are able to access the Historical Search Room at any one time, and on how many occasions in the last month the NRS safety guidance capacity of 14 persons has been achieved.

Answer · Angus Robertson: In the Historical Search Room situated in General Register House, the current occupancy is set at 8 desks for consulting original records, 3 desks for use of NRS on site PCs and 1 reception desk for use by 3 staff members. Appointments are offered on a daily …

7 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the National Records of Scotland regarding access to the Historical Search Room and any service users' requests for a new transparently-established users group.

Answer · Angus Robertson: There have been no recent discussions between Scottish Government and National Records of Scotland regarding access to the Historical Search Room and no discussions regarding service user requests for a new transparently-established users group.

7 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is for historical researchers and other National Records of Scotland service users to gain access to the Historical Search Room, from the time that a request has been made to when access is granted to the facility.

Answer · Angus Robertson: From 24 October 2022, the requirement to book seats in the Historical Search Room has been removed. No further requests are being taken for bookings and all currently active requests will be allocated a booking prior to? 24 October 2022. The maximum current w…

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the earliest date will be for local authorities to implement a Local Visitor Levy, subject to parliamentary approval of its proposed Local Visitor Levy Bill.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The earliest date for implementation of this bill, as with all other bills, is wholly dependent on the agreed bill process and how quickly that can be completed, and meet Parliament’s as well as the Scottish Government’s requirements for appropriate bill scru…

6 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its proposed Local Visitor Levy Bill.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As set out in the Programme for Government 2022-23, a Local Visitor Levy Bill will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament this parliamentary year.  

31 Aug 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it is providing to third sector organisations in the Lothians that are supporting refugees from Ukraine.