Mark Ruskell

11 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the independently-chaired taskforce established to consider whether the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals should be given extra powers to investigate wildlife crime, which it announced on 17 June 2020.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Susan Davies FRSB, Chief Executive of The Scottish Seabird Centre was appointed to lead the taskforce on 15 June 2022. Susan will work with representatives from Police Scotland, Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service and Scottish Government policy officials.…

8 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the reports on the four themes of the National Partnership for Culture.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09029 on 20 June 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-committees…

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding each (a) local authority and (b) National Park will receive from its Edinburgh Process Fund.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Under the Edinburgh Process strand of the Nature Restoration Fund, Local Authorities have been allocated a share of £5 Million for 2022-23, using a formula based on the area of urban greenspace and local nature reserves, as set out in the following table: Lo…

7 Jun 2022 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, as an employer located in the zone, how it will help to meet the objectives of the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone.

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Electric Vehicle Loan applications made in advance of the 1 December 2021 deadline are pending (a) completion and (b) delivery of an electric vehicle to the applicant.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government provide annual funding to the Energy Saving Trust to manage and administer the Low Carbon Transport Loan (LCTL). There are no applications submitted before the 1 December 2021 pending completion. 74 applications are currently awaiting …

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the seasonal worker employment sponsor agencies in relation to supporting Ukrainian nationals on seasonal work visas in Scotland to access the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

Answer · Neil Gray: As immigration is reserved to the UK Government, the Home Office is responsible for the operation of visa schemes and application processing. The Home Office has been supporting approved labour providers for the Seasonal Worker Scheme to complete applications…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the support needs of Ukrainian nationals on seasonal work visas in Scotland following the introduction by the UK Government of the Ukraine Extension Scheme on 3 May 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: Agricultural workers from Ukraine are critical in the production of soft fruit and vegetables in Scotland. As a result of the conflict, there are significant concerns about the needs of these workers and JustRight Scotland's new Worker Support Centre, support…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any correspondence with the UK Government in relation to providing routes to permanent settlement for Ukrainian nationals who have arrived in Scotland with limited leave to remain, through the Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension …

Answer · Neil Gray: The UK Government's response to the Ukraine crisis is predicated upon complex, bureaucratic, short-term visas, not humanitarian need. Inordinate time and effort has been required to patch this broken system. Scotland's super-sponsor scheme seeks to do just th…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of Ukrainian nationals on seasonal work visas who are currently resident in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: Agricultural workers from Ukraine are critical in the production of soft fruit and vegetables in Scotland. The seasonal worker Labour Providers have a contractual and data sharing agreement with the Home Office. Numbers relating to Seasonal Workers are only s…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many journeys have been completed by young people using a free bus pass through the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme, based on the latest information available.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: At close of business 20 June 2022 there had been a total of 11,122,501 journeys made under the Young Persons Scheme (YPS).

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with CrossCrountry Trains in relation to the cancellation of services to and from Fife following the introduction of the operator’s new timetable on 15 May 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CrossCountry is a cross-border rail operator responsible to the DfT. Whilst the Scottish Government has not had recent direct correspondence with them we are aware that six Fife station calls were removed as part of a Covid timetable ‘derogation’ process by t…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include project proposals from Local Rail Development Fund grantees as part of its consideration of rail infrastructure investment in Control Period 7.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Local Rail Development Fund projects are currently undergoing various stages of the appraisal process and will be considered on a case-by-case basis as per STAG guidelines. Projects will be considered subject to the Scottish Government’s investment priori…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when local authorities will receive funding to support the development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: COSLA leaders and Ministers have now agreed the funding package to support the development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) for the 2022-23 financial year. This funding package will be treated as a redetermination of the General Revenue …

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its proposals as part of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan to electrify the rail route between Perth and Dundee.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As set out in the Transport Scotland Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, it is planned to electrify between Dundee and Perth by 2035. As decarbonisation of the line between Dundee and Perth forms a later phase of the rolling programme. Therefore it is…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07866 by Jenny Gilruth on 3 May 2022, whether it will provide updated figures on how many young people have now received a free bus pass through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme, broken down by age range, based on the latest inf…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) have been unable to supply us with a breakdown of cards issued by age ranges. We are working with our delivery partners to have this data available. NECPO support the 32 local authorities by assisting wi…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the deadline for the Local Rail Development Fund in order that current grantees can complete their appraisals.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Local Rail Development Fund has already been extended until the end of the 22-23 financial year on a case by case basis. The fund is not open for new applicants, but committed funds will be honoured, subject to progress being made in line with grant agree…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07866 by Jenny Gilruth on 3 May 2022, whether it will provide updated figures on how many young people have now received a free bus pass through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme, broken down by local authority, based on the late…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The following table shows the number of cards issued under the Young Persons Scheme (YPS) as at close of business on 20 June 2022, broken down to local authority level. This information includes number of passes collected from the Transport Scot Pass Collect …

16 May 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what further talks the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government about future oil and gas fields off the coast of Scotland.

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult animal welfare charities on the content of the mandatory training course proposed in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ash Regan: The mandatory training course will include information on important practical safety elements to consider when purchasing and using fireworks, including what is permitted under relevant fireworks legislation, as well as how to be a considerate and responsible…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations by the Dogs Trust, and with the aim of reducing the potential likelihood of stockpiling, whether it will consider limiting the sale of fireworks to one transaction per licence holder for each of the fireworks periods proposed in the Fireworks and Pyrotech…

Answer · Ash Regan: All of the measures within the Bill, including the licensing system, have been developed following a significant programme of consultation, engagement and evidence gathering. This includes the work of the independent advisory Firework Review Group, who consid…

9 May 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We have published the Report of the independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy. The Report is available at: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804353912/documents/ Dr Colin Church submitted his Report to Ministers on 13 April. Given t…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Lynx to Scotland project report.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government recognises the role that re-introductions of native species can play in nature restoration, but has no current plans to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivore species into Scotland. We welcome the publication of the ‘Lynx to Sc…

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted into oxo-degradable plastics and their inclusion in Scotland's single-use plastic ban.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government is committed to align with or exceed the standards of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive including banning oxo-degradable plastics under Article 5 of that Directive. Oxo-degradable plastics were included in the suite of impact asses…

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hill tracks constructed under permitted development rights have been built on peatland since 2014.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions between 2014 and 2021 (a) prior notification has been submitted, (b) prior approval has been granted and (c) planning authorities have required full applications to be made for the construction of hill tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to consult on amending permitted development rights in relation to hill tracks, and what the scope of its consultation will be.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of its wider planning reform programme. The review is being taken forward on a phased basis, with each phase focussing on specific types of development. W…

27 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions the social justice secretary has had with the transport minister regarding the possibility of extending free bus travel in Scotland to people seeking asylum.

30 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact on Scotland of the International Energy Agency's publication, 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the IEA’s 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use as a useful contribution to ongoing global policy development on net zero and energy sector volatility. It contains a range of actions which can be taken by consumers, …

30 Mar 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Heat Networks Delivery Plan.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has today published its Heat Networks Delivery Plan which can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804352366 . This plan fulfils the requirement of section 93 of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 to publish and lay before…

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to address deaths and serious injuries in police custody or after police contact.

Answer · Keith Brown: There are already significant safeguards in place around deaths in police custody in Scotland. Police Scotland must refer deaths in custody to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and a fatal accident inquiry must be held, unless the Lord Advocat…