Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the findings of the study, A96 Dualling East of Huntly to Aberdeen: Online at Inverurie – Dualling Feasibility and Appraisal, which was carried out by Amey Arup on behalf of Transport Scotland in July 2018.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The A96 Dualling East of Huntly to Aberdeen: Online at Inverurie – Dualling Feasibility and Appraisal report is available to view from the A96 Dualling pages of Transport Scotland's website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a96-dualling-inverness-to…
26 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist (a) osteoporosis nurse and (b) radiographer positions in each NHS board area are (i) filled and (ii) vacant.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Nurses are not classified by specialty, unless they are Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS). However, there is no osteoporosis specialty, so this data is not available. CNS data is published annually but the September 2018 data was incomplete. ISD’s position is…
20 Mar 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that enough has been done to address workforce concerns regarding helicopter safety in the North Sea since the disaster 10 years ago this week.
20 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Scottish Natural Heritage is taking to implement the recommendations of phase one of the 2016 Special Protection Area (SPA) Review, including the designation of internationally important curlew breeding sites as SPAs.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22272 on 3 April 2019. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
19 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a wader sensitivity map for woodland expansion to help guide forestry planting decisions and protect sensitive areas for globally threatened species, such as curlew.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A collaborative project involving Forestry Commission Scotland, the British Trust for Ornithology, Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB Scotland will generate spatial information on the key hotspot locations for curlew populations in Scotland. An initial report…
19 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recommendations it has received regarding the protection of the curlew under phase one of the 2016 Special Protection Area Review, and how it has taken these forward.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Further to the answer to question S5W-18706 answered on 26 September 2018, the 2016 UK Special Protection Area (SPA) Review recommended that ‘consideration of the need for and provision of, additional conservation measures (outwith this SPA review) is require…
19 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the conservation of curlew is made a priority when it updates the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) is a high level strategy document that focuses on the delivery of biodiversity across all of Scotland. It sets out the principles and approaches, rather than listing the wide range of actions, policies, strategies and …
19 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent (a) conifer and (b) other non-native tree species spreading to non-forestry land outwith their native range, including open habitat that supports breeding waders.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Forestry Commission Scotland has published guidance which sets out the responsibilities of forest owners and managers to control the spread of non-native species in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard. The guidance is available via the following web link…
19 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it is providing towards the conservation of wading birds in 2018-19, and plans to provide in (a) 2019-20 an (b) 2020-21.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Funding committed by the Scottish Government under the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) options for (i) wader grazed grassland and (ii) wader and wildlife mown grassland is provided in the following table. AECS 2018 2019 2020 2021 £ Committed 5,7…
19 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to implement an action plan for the protection of curlew since the 2018 conference, the Status and Future of Curlew in Scotland; whether it will publish this plan, and what the timetable is for its completion.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is party to the UK Government’s commitment, as a signatory to the African and Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, to the implementation of the International Single Species Action Plan for the conservation of the Eurasian Curlew. The Action P…
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its decision not to support a public inquiry regarding the safety of helicopter operations in the UK Continental Shelf, in light of reports that the current regulatory agency reviews will not involve consultation with the offshore workforce and trade unions.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: While we remain sympathetic to the underlying concerns of the offshore workforce, we do not believe a public inquiry into helicopter safety would, at this time, add to the significant work done by the CAA, Unions, operators and other stakeholders in developin…
30 Jan 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to consult on setting a target for all homes to have at least a C energy performance certificate rating.
23 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations have received funding from the Brexit Stakeholder Engagement Fund; how much each has received, and what information it has regarding how they are using the support.
Answer · Michael Russell: £140,321 has been given out from the fund to support 11 organisations discussing the impact of Brexit on their local community and sectors. Funding amounts range from £1,500 to £25,000, with the average amount received being £12,756. The following organisati…
23 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet Welsh Government ministers and what matters will be discussed.
17 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out on the impact of increasing the Additional Dwelling Supplement from 3% to 4% on the (a) property and (b) private rental market.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government’s assessment of the effects of increasing the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) from 3 per cent to 4 per cent was informed by independent analysis by the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC). The SFC assessed the impact on housing marke…
17 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work on 15 January 2019 (Official Report, c. 66), how many of the 3,600 people who have been supported through the Transition Training Fund have gone on to full-time employment
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As of Sunday 20 January, the latest figures show that 3748 people have had applications approved. By 11 November 2018 the customer survey carried out by SDS showed that there were approximately 3,070 customers who had their applications approved at least 6 mo…
17 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work on 15 January 2019 (Official Report, c. 66), how many of the 3,600 people who have been supported through the Transition Training Fund have said that it improved their job prospects.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As of 20 January, the latest figures show that 3748 people have had applications approved. By 11 November 2018 the customer survey carried out by SDS showed that there were approximately 3,070 customers who had their applications approved at least 6 months be…
9 Jan 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will fulfil the commitment made by the then cabinet secretary for infrastructure in January 2016 to double-track key pinch points on the east coast railway line between Aberdeen and the central belt.
19 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what general revenue funding it plans to provide to Aberdeen City Council in 2019-20.
12 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what part it believes housing policy should play in tackling social isolation.
12 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of rates of pay for workers in the offshore (a) wind and (b) decommissioning industry.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Specific rates of pay for workers in the offshore wind and decommissioning industries are a commercial matter and the Scottish Government has no powers to compel employers to provide such data, as employment law is a specifically reserved under the Scotland A…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding employment levels for Scotland's seafarers in the (a) offshore wind sector and (b) vessels that supply and support the offshore wind and oil and gas industries.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with the UK Government regarding the number of seafarers who are resident in Scotland and employed in the offshore wind and oil and gas industries. Although the impact of Brexit on Scottish domicile…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the effect on jobs for Scotland's workers of immigration waivers issued to employers in the offshore wind sector.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We have had no recent discussions with the UK Government on this matter following its publication of the latest guidance in May 2018. Scottish Ministers have written to the Home Secretary following publication of our further powers paper, Scotland’s Populati…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with UK Government regarding employment levels for Scotland's seafarers in the (a) passenger and (b) freight ferry sector.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government regarding the number of seafarers who are resident in Scotland and employed on passenger or freight ferries. Please see the reply to S5W-20563 on 20 December 2018 for details of corres…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the application of the national minimum wage for seafarers working on merchant vessels operating from Scotland's ports.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers last wrote to the UK Government on 27 September 2018 following the UK Government’s publication of corresponding revised guidance; " Guide to the application of the Equality Act 2010 and National Minimum Wage for seafarers". Scottish Ministe…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to recruit more pharmacists in (a) general practice and (b) community pharmacy.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has invested £20.4m over the three year period 2015-2018 from the Primary Care Fund to recruit pharmacists in to GP practices. All Health Boards are making progress in recruiting these pharmacists and to date Boards have indicated they…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many students have enrolled on a MPharm undergraduate degree in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The following table shows the number of students enrolling on to the MPharm undergraduate degree in the first year at the two schools of pharmacy in Scotland. Year No of Students enrolling on MPharm in First Year 2014-15 251 2015-16 255 2016-17 262…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will recruit pharmacists in both community pharmacy and general practice to (a) sustain the existing workforce and (b) meet the demand for growth within the new pharmacotherapy service.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We continue to support NHS Boards to put pharmacy teams in to GP practices. The Programme for Government commitment is to ensure every GP practice has access to a pharmacist with advanced clinical skills by 2021, and throughout this year we will continue to m…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many newly-qualified pharmacists it expects to enter the workforce in each year from 2019 to 2024.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The number of newly qualified pharmacists entering the workforce is difficult to predict as pharmacists can come to work in Scotland from other parts of the UK as well as other countries. However through the NES Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) appro…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trains were (a) cancelled and (b) delayed on the Aberdeen- (i) Glasgow and (ii) Edinburgh route on 2 December 2018, which was the day that ScotRail's new timetable came into force, also broken down by the reason for the disruption; whether ScotRail's performance target for the s…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The new timetable came into force on 9 December 2018. On that day, there were 19 services between Glasgow & Aberdeen and 11 between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with no cancellations on either service group. The PPM on that day for these services was 56.7%. The …