Parliamentary questions
Mark Ruskell
1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
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, how many wild wrasse landings there have been at each (a) creek and (b) aquaculture facility in each week since 1 May 2021, broken down by species and weight.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Between 1 May 2021 and 31 August 2021, there were 336 landings of wrasse, weighing a total of 36,363kg, recorded by 43 Scottish vessels into Scottish ports. Unfortunately, due to the small number of vessels involved, it is not possible to supply information b…
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 details of the (a) number and (b) weight of individual fish, broken down by species, of the 1,700kg of wild wrasse landed between 1 May and 19 June 2021.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Between 1 May 2021 and 19 June 2021 Marine Scotland received landing notifications of 18,557 Ballan, 255 Corkwing, 13 Cuckoo, 720 Goldsinny and 274 Rock Cook wrasses. Licence conditions dictate that landings of wrasse are recorded in terms of number of wrasse…
8 Sep 2021 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is on the proposed timetable changes set out by ScotRail in its Fit for the Future consultation.
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ensuring greater adherence to the legally-binding air quality limit values that apply in the EU.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to maintain or exceed EU standards, including air quality limit values, following the UK's departure from the European Union (EU). This commitment includes ensuring that EU environmental principles continu…
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when its modelling estimates that all Air Quality Objectives that apply in Scotland will be met.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: All air quality limit and target values that apply under the Ambient Air Quality Directive are currently being met in Scotland, other than nitrogen dioxide. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02787 on 23 September 2021 for information on complia…
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what oversight the Minister for Transport will have over the delivery of the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 (CAFS 2) strategy.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Minister for Transport will have oversight of Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 actions which are within his portfolio responsibilities.
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it estimates Scotland will meet the legally-binding nitrogen dioxide limit values in the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, and how this estimate was calculated.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The most recently available projections, published in 2020, suggest that Scotland will be fully compliant with the nitrogen dioxide limit values by 2023. Compliance projections are calculated based on a combination of data from the UK wide air quality monitor…
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 (CAFS 2) Ministerial Group will have oversight of transport policies that are not mentioned in the CAFS 2 strategy but which could deliver air quality benefits.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The purpose of the Ministerial Group will be to oversee at a strategic level implementation of the actions set out in Cleaner Air for Scotland 2(CAFS 2) and the accompanying delivery plan. The transport section of CAFS 2 sets out current Scottish Government t…
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the membership of the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 (CAFS 2) Delivery Group.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Work to establish the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 Delivery Group is currently in progress. Membership will be announced shortly.
19 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address (a) the threat of (i) rhododendron ponticum invasion and (ii) overgrazing and (b) other key threats to native woodland condition.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The management of deer and invasive non-native species are fundamental to our efforts in tackling the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Action to address threats to native woodland condition is being taken on a number of fronts, in part…
19 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on bringing deer management into closer alignment with Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Woodland creation is central to our meeting Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets. Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase woodland cover to 21% of the total area of Scotland by 2032 and robus…
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what reasonable adjustments it has put in place to support disabled people applying for the STEM teacher education bursary, and whether it will consider introducing an extenuating circumstances policy as part of the application process.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: To ensure that a policy, project or scheme does not unlawfully discriminate against any protected characteristic, the Scottish Government develops an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) at the onset of each policy. The 2021 STEM bursary EQIA can be found at the…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the hand-dived scallop sector is represented on the Scottish Scallop Sector Working Group.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Fishing associations with members who are hand-dive operators regularly attend the SSSWG. Our national Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG) network is also strongly represented at the SSSWG and we continue to welcome the involvement of the hand-dive sector…
1 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for land managers to manage beavers through (a) lethal control and (b) translocation.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government does not provide direct support to land managers to manage beavers through either lethal control or translocation. However, NatureScot, through the Scottish Beaver Mitigation Scheme, offers free advice and support to land managers and…
29 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue with its approach of aligning with or exceeding EU environmental standards, and what its response is, regarding the potential impact on Scotland, to the UK Government’s reported proposals to change the application of the Conservation of Habitats and Species R…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to maintain or exceed environmental standards in place upon EU exit, and to maintain alignment with developing EU standards, as far as possible. We have legislated under the UK Withdrawal from the European…
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wild wrasse fishing vessel catches have been inspected by Marine Scotland Compliance since 1 May 2021, and what infringements of licence derogation conditions have been identified.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Between 1 May 2021 and 30 June 2021, Marine Scotland have inspected 11 Wrasse fishing vessel catches and found no infringements of the license derogation conditions.
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wild wrasse landings there have been at each (a) creek and (b) aquaculture facility in each week since 1 May 2021, broken down by weight, and how many were reported by the wrasse fishers through (i) their standard reporting requirements and (ii) the new weekly reporting required…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Under new arrangements that came into place on 1 May 2021, fishing licences were varied prohibiting vessels from fishing for wrasse unless they were awarded a Letter of Derogation from Marine Scotland and signed up to fish in line with certain mandatory condi…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Ministers will publish the findings of the gateway review into the deposit return scheme for drinks containers in full, prior to making a decision on whether to accept its recommendations.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are carefully considering the findings of the Gateway Review, as well as listening to wider stakeholder views, and will provide an update to Parliament and businesses following summer recess.
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference are for the gateway review into the deposit return scheme for drinks containers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A Gateway Review 0: Strategic Assessment is a programme-only review that sets the programme in the wider policy or corporate context. This review investigates the direction and planned outcomes of the programme, together with the progress of its constituent p…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisation is conducting the gateway review into the deposit return scheme for drinks containers, as announced by the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment in March 2021.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Gateway Review into Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was carried out by two external advisers accredited by the Infrastructure Projects Authority, part of the Cabinet Office, to lead Gateway Reviews. The external advisers are independent of the Scottish G…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the gateway review into the deposit return scheme for drinks containers will conclude its work.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Gateway Review team concluded its work and submitted its report on 25 June 2021.
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the announcement that a deposit return system for cans and bottles will launch in Ireland by the end of September 2022, whether it has contacted the Irish Government to ask for advice on setting up such a system efficiently, given the significant delays to the deposit return s…
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have not engaged with the Irish Government on this subject.
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on its Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy, and whether any delays are anticipated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure the Marine Fund Scotland does not add to overcapacity in (a) the scallop dredge and (b) other fisheries.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The governance applied to the Marine Fund Scotland will deliver on the Future of Fisheries Management policy document published last December. This will provide a clear framework to manage fisheries, balancing environmental, social and economic interests, ado…
3 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the resolution of the Parliament on the debate on motion S5M-15096 on 11 December 2018, what progress it has made on delivering remote electronic monitoring for all of Scotland's fishing vessels, and when this will be fully rolled out.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy, published in December 2020, sets out a clear vision for delivering accountability and confidence in our sea fishing activities, and in ensuring that we have the right data and knowledge available on whi…
31 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy 2018, and whether it anticipates any delays in its implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland continues to make good progress on the 2018 Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy, having introduced smart interoperability, exceeded smart journey targets, established the Mobility as Service Investment Fund and continuing to support operators…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when updated guidance on live music under COVID-19 protection levels will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As live music takes place in a variety of settings, different guidance is applicable for different scenarios. The guidance for the performing arts and venues sector was most recently updated on 1 June 2021 and that for the events sector on 26 May 2021. Perf…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government at which COVID-19 protection level (a) live music and (b) dancing will be permitted at weddings.
Answer · Ivan McKee: We continue to keep all measures under close review. Live background music is currently permitted at wedding receptions operating at 1 metre physical distancing from level 2, but full live band entertainment is only permitted in settings operating under perfo…
27 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many independently verified livestock predation incidents have been recorded by independent veterinary post-mortem testing in each of the last five years.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government and its agencies do not collate or hold information on independently verified livestock predation incidents. However, as I stated in my answer to S6W-00189 on 11 June 2021, NatureScot has published a report on the predation of lambs b…
27 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to incorporate Sea Eagle Management Scheme payments into wider agricultural support payments post-Brexit.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: A decision on a future round of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme will be taken following the current round which is due to close in June of this year. In line with the Scottish Government’s “Stability and Simplicity” approach set out in its June 2018 consu…