Lewis Macdonald

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost would be of terminating the time charter with Seatruck for MV Helliar and MV Hildasay before April 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not charter the Seatruck vessels MV Hildasay and MV Helliar – these vessels are chartered by Serco Northlink Ferries. As such the cost of any possible termination of the time charter for the use of the MV Helliar and MV Hildasay o…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its time charter of the Seatruck vessels MV Hildasay and MV Helliar for services on publicly subsidised Northern Isles ferry routes is due to expire.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not charter the Seatruck vessels MV Hildasay and MV Helliar – these vessels are chartered by Serco Northlink Ferries.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland would continue to adhere to EU-wide medicines regulation post-Brexit.

Answer · Shona Robison: Regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) who operate on a UK wide basis.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland would continue to participate in EU-wide health initiatives post-Brexit.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03158 on 7 October 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/parliamentarybusiness/…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of Brexit will be on the recruitment and retention of NHS staff in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: The impact of Brexit on the NHSScotland workforce will depend on the precise form of withdrawal from the EU. The free movement of people from the EU/EEA allows skilled and experienced health professionals to work in our NHS. The Scottish Government is commi…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of NHS employees in Scotland are (a) UK citizens, (b) EU citizens and (c) from other countries.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government assures EU and non-EU citizens working in Scotland that we want them here, we value their contribution, and we will be doing everything we can to make sure they can continue with us without detriment. Information on how many NHS staff…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of Brexit would be on professional sport in Scotland.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government greatly values the contribution that EU migrants bring to our economy and society. We also value the freedom of movement including the right to live, study and work in all EU countries and benefit from their healthcare and social secur…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether mutual recognition of medical qualifications across the EU will continue post-Brexit.

Answer · Shona Robison: Parity of professional qualifications underpins the system of mutual recognition that currently facilitates professional mobility between EU Member States. The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2016 were laid by the Depa…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how academics living and working in Scotland will be supported to travel to EU countries and higher education institutions to participate in learning and research opportunities post-Brexit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government’s starting point is to protect our relationship with, and place in, the European Union. We are considering all possible options and we will work with others across the political divide to try to save the UK as a whole from the fate of …

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that students from Scotland will continue to be able to participate in the Erasmus programme post-Brexit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scotland’s participation in Erasmus+, the EU’s 2014-2020 Education, Training, Youth and Sport Programme, is in line with our aims to promote Scotland as a learning nation and to increase student and staff mobility, and brings strong educational, employability…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that universities continue to have access to EU funding post-Brexit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scotland is an active and valued partner in European research collaborations. Higher Education Institutions in Scotland have secured a total of 185 million and Research Institutions secured 18 million under Horizon 2020 (up to July 2016) based on our world-cl…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which EU laws it will convert into Scots Law in advance of the UK Government's Great Repeal Bill.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04327 on 15 November 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…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of which EU laws can be converted into Scots Law in advance of the UK Government's Great Repeal Bill.

Answer · Michael Russell: Consideration of the impact on Scots law is a key element of the Scottish Government’s work on the options for Scotland’s future relationship with the EU and the rest of the UK following the EU referendum. The Scottish Government recognises that the potential…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has received from the UK Government regarding its Great Repeal Bill in order to assess any impacts on Scotland, and whether it will publish this.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not yet received any information from the UK Government regarding its Great Repeal Bill. While giving evidence at the European and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament, the Secretary of State for Scotland confirm…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact of State Aid restrictions on its ability to intervene to support particular industries or regions (a) following the outcome of the EU referendum, (b) after Article 50 is triggered and (c) post-Brexit.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to protecting Scotland’s relationship with the EU, including state aid rules, following Scotland’s unequivocal vote to retain the wide range of economic and social benefits membership provides. We are considering all possi…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much EU legislation it will convert into Scots Law in advance of the UK Government's Great Repeal Bill.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04327 on 15 November 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…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector providers of immigration advice in Scotland since the EU referendum result, and what assessment it has made of their capacity to provide such advice.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has met with the CoSLA Strategic Migration Partnership, the Scottish Migrant Network, Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMnet), Migrant Voice, Feniks, PKAVS Minority Communities Hub and Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) …

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe has discussed with the Prime Minister proposals to reassure EU nationals about their residency status post-Brexit.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has repeatedly requested assurances from the UK Government that immigration status and rights of EU nationals currently living in Scotland will not change in the future. The First Minister and I attended the Joint Ministerial Committee…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for the UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe has had with the UK Government regarding whether people from Scotland will need to apply for visas to travel to the EU post-Brexit.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04214 on 23 November 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/parliamentarybusines…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made or plans to carry out an assessment of the viability of Scotland having a bespoke migration system and, if so, whether it will publish this.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government have consistently lobbied the UK Government for a flexible approach to immigration across the UK. With an ageing population and demand for skilled workers outstripping the local workforce in some sectors, our demographic and workforc…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for the UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe has had with the UK Government regarding people from the rest of the EU who live in Scotland having the right to remain in the country post-Brexit.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04214 on 23 November 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/parliamentarybusines…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immigration advice it has provided since the EU referendum result to people from the rest of the EU who are resident in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not provide immigration advice. Immigration advice is available from immigration advisers regulated by and under the supervision of the immigration advice regulator (OISC). A list of registered immigration advisors registered with…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of employees in the food and drink sector in Scotland are (a) UK citizens, (b) EU citizens and (c) from elsewhere.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We estimate that there are 116,000 people employed in the food and drink sector in Scotland. By applying ONS estimates which determine that approximately 30% of the wider UK food and drink sector are other EU citizens then we estimate that a figure of around …

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the EU regarding Scottish independence.

Answer · Michael Russell: Since the EU referendum result, Ministers have undertaken a number of engagements with EU partners. These engagements are to ensure there is awareness of the vote in Scotland for Remain in the referendum, and to explain that the First Minister has said the go…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the introduction of tariffs on raw construction materials following the Brexit vote, and what impact this would have on public infrastructure projects, including housing.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not estimated the specific impact of the introduction of tariffs on raw construction materials following the Brexit vote. As the UK Government has not yet set out its approach to trade post Brexit, it is not possible to make any me…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of investor confidence in the energy market following the Brexit vote.

Answer · Keith Brown: Since the EU referendum, we have been engaging regularly with energy stakeholders to understand the implications of the vote, including the impact on investor confidence. The Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy has had a series of one-to-one meetin…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of the impact of Brexit on productivity in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04281 on 16 November 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/parliamentarybusin…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which Scottish foods have protected geographical indication under EU law, and what estimates it has made of the revenue impact should this protected status be lost.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scotland currently has 14 products that are registered under the EU Protected Food Name Scheme:- Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop Cheese Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Stornoway Black Pudding Scottish Wild Salmon Shetland Lamb Orkney Beef Orkney Lamb Scott…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether Scottish businesses will be able to roll out 5G by 2025 post-Brexit.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: 5G is the next generation of mobile technology which is currently being developed by the mobile industry - on a global basis - and which is expected to be rolled out commercially by the mobile operators in the UK from around 2020. A key aim of our World Class…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the removal of the EU regulations on food and plant safety.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will do all it can to protect Scotland’s interests; I met Angela Leadsom on 3 November in Edinburgh and George Eustace on 8 November in Cardiff to emphasise the importance of maintaining appropriate regulations that bring benefits incl…