Mark Ruskell

8 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicle trips it estimates have been made on each day since 9 March 2020, broken down by the percentage of vehicles making these trips that it estimates travelled above the speed limit.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland maintains a number of automatic traffic count sites across the motorway and trunk road network that are able to record vehicle speeds. The following table presents the total recorded number of vehicles that passed this group of sites from 9…

4 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that vulnerable people can get access to retailer home delivery slots.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland have put in place a system to support the shielded population; that is those that are high clinical risk living in Scotland. This service is being provided by two food distribution companies – Brakes and Bi…

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what relief from charges it can introduce for charities that present waste at council facilities.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Waste charges are the responsibility of individual local authorities and therefore any relief from charges for depositing waste at council facilities is a matter for local authorities to decide upon.

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will promote reuse, in light of its decision to not introduce a Circular Economy Bill.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government remains committed to developing the circular economy in Scotland, including opportunities to promote reuse. We are continuing to pursue a number of key initiatives including the Circular Economy Investment Fund to stimulate business in…

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available for the community resources sector during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Across Scottish Government we are working with partners to support people and communities, including the community resources sector throughout this crisis. On 18 March 2020 the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government announced an additional £3…

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects a new date for COP26 to be agreed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We welcome the common sense decision to postpone COP26. Given the global health and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that hosting an international conference in November would be difficult if not impossible. The decision also means …

30 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend rates relief to estate agents.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government is determined to support businesses during this time, and we are offering a package of support worth £2.2 billion for businesses who can now claim rates relief and apply for one-off grants to help them deal with the impact of the coron…

27 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reducing speed limits during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to achieving safer road travel in Scotland for all. We note that traffic flows have greatly reduced since non-essential travel was prohibited during the COVID-19 outbreak and therefore the Scottish Government has not consi…

19 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on Scotland's preparedness for COP26.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Preparations for COP26 are well underway, but significant adaptation to how we engage with partners and stakeholders has been made to reflect the public health emergency that we now find ourselves in the midst of. The situation is having serious implications …

18 Mar 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a right to food will be incorporated into its Good Food Nation Bill.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Our consultation on the Bill did not recommend inclusion of a right to food but proposed that Scottish Ministers should be obliged to have regard to international obligations, which are wider than just the right to food, when developing statements of policy o…

18 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with universities about ensuring best practice and consistency across institutions in relation to exams and awards in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · John Swinney: As autonomous institutions, universities do not have to follow the same pattern for exams. However, we know there is considerable engagement across the sector at this time, as institutions try to work together to deal with the range of issues arising from the…

11 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what restorative justice processes are available for people convicted of animal cruelty.

8 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to a parliamentary delegation from Malawi seeking to attend COP26.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government looks forward to welcoming the world to Glasgow for COP26 – a critical moment in the global fight against climate change. It is important that COP26 is inclusive and has representatives from the Global South, who play a key role in tac…

3 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many (a) farmed salmon and (b) cleaner fish have been killed because of the use of (i) thermolicers, (ii) optilicers and (iii) hydrolicers in each year since 2016.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The figures recorded as involving thermal treatments in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are shown in the following table.  2016 2017 2018 2019 Hydrolicer 89,466 115,445 7,516 57,247 Thermolicer 47,982 52,798 35,841 40,980 Optilicer - - 15,610 59,…

3 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of thermolicers on salmon farms and, in light of recent scientific evidence, including from the Director of Bioveterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, which suggests that welfare problems can arise from their operation, whether it will consider …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously, including that of farmed salmon. We are supporting a research project to explore the impact of the use of thermal treatments for sea lice which is being undertaken by the Scottish Aquaculture Innova…

3 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding streams it makes available for refugee support organisations, and what the timescale is for (a) applying for funding from these and (b) their delivery.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has a wide range of funding streams that refugee support organisations can apply to for appropriate projects. Through the equality budget, the Scottish Government allocated over £2.7 million to organisations supporting refugees and pe…

3 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to remain aligned to EU environmental regulations at the end of the EU transition period, whether it plans to continue to play a role in the Natura 2000 network for protected areas.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The question of continued alignment with the Natura 2000 network (and any other European Union policy mechanisms) has yet to be determined, pending the outcome of negotiations between the EU and the UK Government. The Scottish Government’s position remains th…

3 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on 29 October 2019 (Official Report, c. 19), whether it will provide an update on the status of the six live Scottish envir…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Following the end of the EU implementation period, any ongoing infringement cases will remain within the jurisdiction of the EU. Infringement proceedings can be brought against the UK with respect to actions before the end of the transition period, for up to …

14 Feb 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons have been learned from the recent closure of the Queensferry Crossing.

12 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the establishment of free ports could have on alignment with the EU.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government wants to align with EU standards given our shared values and the socio-economic benefits that membership brings. This approach protects environmental standards and working conditions, and it also makes it easier for Scottish businesses…

29 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the environment secretary last met communities living near the natural gas and ethylene plants at Mossmorran.

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, excluding the Gleneagles junction, when it will upgrade each of the junctions on the A9 between Dunblane and Perth.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As you are aware, we are committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness, which was a recommendation of the first Strategic Transport Review, published in 2008. Work to dual the A9 north of Perth is now moving forward, however, there are currently no…

25 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role its agencies play in working with UK Export Finance.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Development International, Scottish Investment Bank and Scottish Enterprise meet regularly with officials of UK Export Finance to discuss ways of supporting Scotland's exporters.  

25 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many Scotland-based oil and gas sector companies have received support from UK Export Finance.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. UK Export Finance should be approached for details of the companies they support.  

24 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to reduce the volume of traffic on the A85 through Crieff.

Answer · Michael Matheson: From the data we have available traffic levels on the A85 to and from Crieff have been reasonably stable over the last three years. Our second National Transport Strategy (NTS2) sets out a compelling vision for the kind of transport system we want for Scotla…

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) development work and (b) stakeholder engagement has taken place regarding the strategic research programme on agriculture, environment, food and land.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The current Strategic Research Programme will conclude on 31 March 2021 and the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a project to develop a commissioning brief for the next funding cycle beyond 2021, and will be seeking stakeholder input as part of th…

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will align the strategic research programme on agriculture, environment, food and land with (a) the climate change plan, (b) the declaration of a climate emergency, (c) its proposed Good Food Nation Bill and (d) its proposed Agriculture Bill.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s portfolio of strategic scientific research and related activities supports the development and delivery of rural and environmental policy, and the achievement of the Government’s single purpose and wider objectives as set out in the …

22 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its planning policy is guiding the siting of thermal electricity generating capacity under 50MW.

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total financial value will be of the carbon offset deals that are (a) in place and (b) under discussion. 

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The total financial value of the carbon offset deal with Shell that is in place is £5.0M. Any further investments will be announced as appropriate and Parliament will be advised accordingly.

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what carbon offset deals between it and private sector actors are (a) in place and (b) under discussion, broken down by (i) the time period for each and (ii) how much CO2 will be offset.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is one agreement in place with Shell UK, which covers tree planting and peatland restoration during the five years from 2019, and maintenance thereafter. This will capture at least 250,000 tonnes of carbon. Any further investments will be announced as …