Sarah Boyack

30 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is allocating funding from its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to its partner country, Pakistan, following the severe flooding that has reportedly left one third of the country under water.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are all shocked by the devastating effects of the floods in Pakistan, with children reported to be the most vulnerable; UNICEF has reported that some 17,566 schools nationwide have been damaged or destroyed. The Scottish Government has made £500,000 in fun…

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to financially supporting third sector organisations with rising utility bills.

Answer · Shona Robison: We recognise the challenges faced by the third sector in the current cost crisis and we will ensure the sector is not excluded from any financial support made available to the public or private sectors. We have asked the UK Government to take key actions wit…

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards the realisation of National Towns of Culture.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is working with Creative Scotland to consider options for a National Towns of Culture scheme to build upon the Government’s strong track record of place-based cultural policy making. In developing options, the Government will consult w…

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in relation to the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy 2018 to 2022, and how the impact of the strategy is being monitored.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The New Scots refugee integration strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council, and involves a wide range of partners across different sectors. The strategy provides a clear framew…

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are taken to incorporate theatrical performances and other cultural activities in prisons and young offender institutions, in light of reported research highlighting the positive impact of arts interventions for people in custody.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Theatrical performances and cultural activities are embedded within each local establishment regime. However, the level of engagement …

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to primary schools and nurseries in low-income areas to allow them to participate in the Theatre in Schools Scotland upcoming productions.

Answer · Neil Gray: Theatre in Schools Scotland is an initiative managed by Imaginate and National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) to develop the provision of theatre and dance performances available for nursery and primary schools to host for their pupils. In the first three years, …

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many towns will be designated as National Towns of Culture.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to answer S6W-10572 on 6 September 2022 which sets out what progress is being made towards the realisation of National Towns of Culture. Any decisions taken, including those related to the number of towns designated as National Towns of Cul…

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards meeting the recommendations in the 2011 report, Inspiring Change.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The six recommendations of the 2011 report, ‘Inspiring change’ were embedded in the SPS transformational review ‘Unlocking Potential –…

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported benefits of theatre education experiences for children and young people, how many pupils have been able to watch a theatrical performance in school or as part of a field trip in each of the last five years.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold figures on the total number of pupils that have been able to watch to a theatrical performance. However, the five National Performing companies have provided the following data of pupil attendance in-person at performance…

15 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09692 by Angus Robertson on 26 July 2022, whether it will address the issue raised in the question on how much it has budgeted for regarding the cost associated with the referral to the Supreme Court of whether the question for a referendum on Scott…

Answer · Angus Robertson: As the litigation is ongoing, and the costs may be affected by a number of factors, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the total costs, but as mentioned in my previous answer to question S6W-09692 we will publish external costs on a regular basis.

20 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Lothian has submitted a full business case for the new eye pavilion in Edinburgh, and, if so, on what date it was submitted, and by what date the Scottish Government will respond.

Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Lothian is currently refreshing the Outline Business Case for the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion replacement project and will subsequently submit a Full Business Case to the Scottish Government. The FBC will undergo the usual scrutiny and approval processes for i…

20 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07530 by Humza Yousaf on 11 April 2022, whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made on replacing the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Boards are required to provide regular updates to the Scottish Government on the status and progress of National Treatment Centre projects. NHS Lothian is currently refreshing the Outline Business Case for the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion replacement project an…

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects the referral to the Supreme Court of whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence contained in the proposed referendum Bill relates to reserved matters to cost.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Litigation is ongoing and external costs will be published on a regular basis. We will publish initial data on spending in September, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, until the conclusion of the litigation.

6 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has budgeted for regarding the cost associated with the referral to the Supreme Court of whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence contained in the proposed referendum Bill relates to reserved matters.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Litigation is ongoing and external costs will be published on a regular basis. We will publish initial data on spending in September, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, until the conclusion of the litigation.

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the introduction in 2014 of the prior notification process for hill tracks constructed for agriculture or forestry succeeded in preventing harmful environmental impacts.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The prior notification and approval process introduced in 2014 enables planning authorities to consider the impacts of agricultural and forestry private ways (sometimes referred to as hill tracks) on the environment and local amenity. Through this process, th…

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to any environmental impact of hill tracks constructed on peatland under permitted development rights, in light of Policy 33 in the draft fourth National Planning Framework.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The current permitted development rights for agricultural and forestry private ways (sometimes referred to as hill tracks) are subject to a prior notification and approval process, through which the planning authority can require changes to the design, manner…

24 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase spending on active travel in Edinburgh.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Spending on active travel will increase throughout Scotland as we realise the Programme for Government commitment to increase the active travel budget to at least £320 million or 10% of the transport budget from 2024-25 onwards. The detail of how that signifi…

24 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the value engineering exercise will have on the proposed Roseburn to Union Canal Path Link.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As the programme managers and project owners, the details of any such exercises lie with Sustrans and City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). We understand that a value engineering exercise was undertaken by CEC and Sustrans in view of escalating cost pressures and …

24 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it plans to spend on active travel projects in Edinburgh over the next four years.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Scottish Government funding for active travel in Edinburgh and other local authority areas is channelled through a number of programmes overseen by Transport Scotland. The single biggest programme is the Places for Everyone (PfE) programme, run by Sustrans wi…

22 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its cross-government Covid Recovery policies will take account of the recommendations of its COVID-19 Ventilation Short-Life Working Group.

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on establishing a Scottish City of Refuge.

Answer · Shona Robison: Work to develop the establishment of Scottish Cities of Refuge will start later in this Parliamentary term. The development of Cities of Refuge will align with the approach of our New Scots refugee integration strategy, which sets out the vision of a welcomi…

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not yet drafted the Voluntary Code of Practice on dismissing and replacing land-owning maintenance companies, following the Justice Committee’s inquiry in 2013 and the Scottish Government’s response to it.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Government has prepared a draft Voluntary Code of Practice on dismissing and replacing land-owning land maintenance companies. To ensure that the draft Code is fair and workable for all users we will seek views from consumer facing bodies and l…

30 May 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what her position is on whether Scotland’s Census 2022 has been a credible exercise.

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many times and (b) on what dates it has been represented at meetings of the specialised committees established under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, also broken down by which committees it was represented at, and what information it has regarding how this compares with…

Answer · Angus Robertson: There have been two Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) specialised committee meetings so far this year:The Specialised Committee on Energy, on 30 March 2022The Specialised Committee on Fisheries, on 27 April 2022 Scottish Government officials accepted inv…

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many times and (b) on what dates its ministers have attended meetings of the Partnership Council established under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and what information it has regarding how this compares with the overall (i) number and (ii) dates of meetings of this bod…

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Partnership Council has met once to date, on 9 June 2021. Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth MSP attended the meeting as an observer to the UK delegation.

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of pharmacy provision in Roswell, Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Gorebridge.

Answer · Maree Todd: Ensuring sufficient community pharmacy provision is the responsibility of NHS Health Boards in their local areas. Arrangements are set out in the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and decisions regarding pharmacy provision are made thr…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure pharmacy capacity is increased in areas of high population growth.

Answer · Maree Todd: The provision of community pharmacy pharmaceutical services are made according to arrangements set out in the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. Under this, decisions are a matter for NHS Health Boards, through their Pharmacy Practices…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the (a) maximum and (b) minimum number of patients for a pharmacy practice should be.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not stipulate the maximum or minimum number of patients that can access a community pharmacy. Health Boards are responsible for the provision of pharmaceutical care services within their areas, taking into consideration neighbourh…

24 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support college and university students impacted by the cost of living crisis.

18 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications for Scotland of the potential awarding of the fourth National Lottery licence to Allwyn, in light of its reported links to Russia and its potential role in raising funds to be distributed to charities and local community groups in Scotland …

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Lottery is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government were advised that the Gambling Commission’s board had named Allwyn Entertainment Ltd as the preferred applicant in March 2022. In accordance with relevant legislation, this decis…