Mark Ruskell

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the proposed licensing of grouse moors, whether it will consider putting in place a system to quantify and publish the number of gamebirds and other quarry species that are shot in Scotland each year.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will: ‘ deliver the recommendations of the Grouse Moor Management Review Group as a matter of urgency, including the licensing of grouse moors. Licensing or further regulation will cover the key areas iden…

26 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for local authorities to ensure there are robust processes in place for the disposal of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) in communities that are outside of healthcare environments.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Local Authorities are responsible and are indeed best placed to make decisions regarding waste services and each authority chooses a collection and management strategy suitable for them. However, we recognise that Covid-19 has impacted the amount of waste cr…

26 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to limit the effect that the littering of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) is having on wildlife.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Preventing litter is essential to protecting wildlife. We have taken steps to address increased litter of PPE as the result of the pandemic. Scottish Government’s “coronavirus (COVID-19): public use of face coverings guidance” also includes information on wea…

26 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed governance structure for when the ScotRail franchise is managed by the Operator of Last Resort from March 2022.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I recently provided the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee with an update on the arrangements to mobilise a wholly owned company to provide ScotRail services within the public sector under Scottish Government control. I intend to keep …

25 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the (a) new draft Rented Sector Strategy and (b) timescale for the deployment of pet-friendly policies in the rented sector.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As we committed to in Housing to 2040, the Scottish Government will shortly be publishing a consultation on a draft rented sector strategy. Our strategy will seek to improve accessibility, affordability and standards across the whole rented sector in Scotland…

25 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ban the (a) sale and (b) use of lead shot.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Shooting with lead shot over wetlands has been banned in Scotland by the Environmental Protection (Restrictions on the use of lead shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004. This was achieved before current GB-wide chemical safety regulations were in place. B…

24 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public inquiry examining the events surrounding the death of Sheku Bayoh.

23 Nov 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will give effect to the commitment in the shared policy programme agreed by it and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group to make more use of translocation of beavers and provide financial and practical support for this.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Having been driven to extinction, beavers are now again an established part of Scotland’s wildlife, and the Scottish Government recognises that they will play an important role in restoring Scotland’s natural environment. Through their creation of wetland hab…

17 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the review of snares will include considering banning their use to trap domestic animals, including cats.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: We are not aware of snares being used to target domestic animals, including cats. We are currently in the process of finalising the full remit and scope of the snaring review under section 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and will include this iss…

17 Nov 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress with implementing the recommendations of the Grouse Moor Management Review Group.

12 Nov 2021 · 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 Draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan for consultation. The Consultation will run until 15 December and can be accessed at https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/heat-networks-delivery-plan …

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prioritise the (a) preservation and (b) restoration of native and ancient woodland fragments in addition to increasing tree and woodland cover.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scottish Government takes the preservation (protection) and restoration of native and ancient woodlands seriously. Protection for all woodland is in place via felling regulations under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, and is also controll…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) action it is taking and (b) funding it is providing to reverse the reported historic deforestation of native woodland ecosystems.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scottish Government a) will increase the annual native woodland creation target from 3000 to 4000 hectares and commit to setting evidence-based targets for both native woodlands and natural regeneration as part of the 2022 Biodiversity Strategy. Scottish Gov…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether sportscotland has provided any funding for the development of a tennis centre at Park of Keir.

Answer · Maree Todd: Sport scotland has not made any award of funding to the development of a tennis facility at Park of Keir. Any decision on whether to award funding to this project will only be taken on completion of a full application by the applicant and following a sport sc…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any applications have been made to sportscotland for funding to support the development of a tennis centre at Park of Keir.

Answer · Maree Todd: I can confirm that sport scotland received a stage 1 application for investment into the Park of Keir site. This was considered in 2019, with a decision on whether to progress the project to full application stage deferred until further information is availab…

1 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ScotRail’s response to the public consultation on the Fit For the Future proposals will be published.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail’s public timetable consultation closed on 1 October 2021 and they are finalising their analysis of responses. Due to the large volume of responses received, this process is anticipated to take some time to conclude.

29 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Scottish Landfill Tax rate (a) biostabilised waste and (b) incinerator bottom ash (IBA) qualifies for.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Landfill Tax (Qualifying Material) Order 2016 sets out the material that qualifies at the lower rate of Scottish Landfill Tax and the qualifying conditions that have to be met. The Order sets out specific circumstances in which incinerator botto…

25 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported adoption of the UNECE Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention decision VII/8s, and whether there are plans to reform judicial expenses in light of the decision.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Government notes that paragraph 1(b) of response VII/8s published by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) endorses the findings of the ACCC's response VI/8k that progress has been made by Scotland. However, the ACCC considers that mo…

23 Oct 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government will be doing to amplify the voices of the Global South at COP26.

23 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a statutory target for re-use.

Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03453 on 21 October 2021. 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-committ…

19 Oct 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the Danish Government regarding the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance.

5 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its planned consultation on live animal transport legislation will include measures to improve the welfare of dogs during transportation.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed in its Programme for Government to start consultations this year on proposals to improve animal transport legislation. It is expected that these consultations will largely relate to the transport of livestock and horses in…

29 Sep 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans for the review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Our primary focus is on reducing waste and increasing the proportion of waste we reuse and recycle. As set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in May 2021 and in the shared policy programme agreed between the Scottish Government an…

29 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of households that have installed interlinked fire alarms in advance of the new legislation coming into force in February 2022; whether it anticipates all households will meet the new standard by this date, and how it is monitoring this.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible to determine exactly how many owner occupied homes have alarms of the prescribed type installed as this information is not currently collected as part of the Scottish House Condition Survey. We consider that, in principle, all houses could…

27 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the World Health Organization (WHO) publication, Global Air Quality Guidelines, on 22 September 2021, and what plans it has to set new targets to meet the new air pollution levels set out by WHO.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government welcomes, and is in the process of carefully considering, the recommendations set out in this important publication. The case for making any changes to air quality targets in Scotland to reflect the new guidelines will be assessed and …

22 Sep 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK and Danish governments on the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Currently, there has been no discussion with the UK and Danish Governments on the newly announced Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. However, Scottish Ministers expect to meet with the Danish Government ahead of COP26 to discuss climate change and other areas of mu…

16 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02688 by Tom Arthur on 16 September 2021, whether it will define the parties that are able to submit contributions on any material changes on the planning application.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The relevant parties are those who opted in and participated in the appeal inquiry as set out in Appendix 1 of the reporter’s report from 22 December 2016. That is the Park of Keir Partnership as appellant, Stirling Council as planning authority, Dunblane and…

16 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates it will achieve its aim of spending 10% of the overall transport budget on active travel.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As highlighted in the 2021-22 Programme for Government, at least £320 million or 10% of the total transport budget will be spent on active travel by 2024-25.    

16 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the projected budget is for active travel in the financial year 2022-23, and whether it will provide a breakdown of how this will be spent.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The 2020-21 Programme for Government (PfG) stated that over £500 million will be invested in active travel over the next 5 years. The 2021-22 PfG states that by 2024-25 at least £320 million or 10% of the total transport budget will be spent on active travel.…

14 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00882 by Mairi Gougeon on 7 July 2021, whether it will provide an update on the number of landings that have been reported by wrasse fishers through (a) their standard reporting requirements and (b) the new weekly reporting required under the point …

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As referenced in my response to S6W-03059 on 28 September 2021 Marine Scotland does not collect information from wrasse fishers on the number of individual landings by creek or aquaculture facility. The data that is collected by Marine Scotland is outlined in…