Parliamentary questions
Mark Ruskell
1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people with PGCE qualifications obtained in England to access permanent teaching jobs in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: Teachers with PGCE qualifications gained in England are more than welcome to teach in Scotland, as long as they satisfy the criteria for registration set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The GTCS has arrangements in place to register teach…
15 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it plans to take in response to the Clean Air for Scotland review recommendation in relation to reducing smoke pollution as a result of muirburn.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is currently considering the report of the independently led review of the Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy. The conclusions and recommendations from the review will be used to develop a new air quality strategy which will be issued f…
13 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent so-called ghost gear from damaging marine wildlife.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s Marine Litter Strategy promotes better fishing waste management both here and abroad to reduce fishing related marine litter, supporting KIMO and the Global Ghost Gear initiative. In our 2018 Programme for Government we prioritised …
10 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on working with the UK Government to explore whether an incineration tax could be a means to encourage more recycling.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are making progress towards delivering Scotland’s ambitious recycling targets. However, we recognise there is more to do and are working with partners to identify opportunities to accelerate the pace of progress. In December 2019, we hosted a recycling sum…
9 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many early deaths in each NHS board area have been linked to air pollution (a) in each of the last five years and (b) since April 2019.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The relationship between air pollution and health is extremely complex, and it is not possible to say with any certainty what impact air pollution has had on a specific individual. We do know that the very young, the elderly and those with pre-existing health…
9 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many early deaths in each NHS board area have been linked to extreme temperatures (a) in each of the last five years and (b) since April 2019.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The following table presents available data for two ICD-10 codes - X30 and X31 – which represent exposure to excessive natural heat and excessive natural cold. Deaths where the underlying cause was exposure to excessive natural heat or cold, 2014 to 2018,…
7 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when planning permission appeal PPA-240-2032 will be determined.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: This appeal remains on hold pending an indication from the appellant of their intentions following the statement on 3 October setting out the Scottish Government’s final policy position on onshore oil and gas. The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (…
29 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses whether wrasse species are being harvested above or below maximum sustainable yield.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Both statutory and voluntary landings returns are helping to improve our understanding of wrasse stocks and the impact of commercial fishing activity on wrasse species. We manage all quota stocks towards MSY where it is practically possible and in line with …
24 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the Stockholm Declaration, which is to be discussed at the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Road Safety is of paramount importance to this Government. We do support the draft Stockholm Declaration and I intend to represent Scotland at the Conference in February. This will allow me to confer with other Transport Ministers to share the development wor…
13 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a draft Climate Change Plan, and what time period will be allocated for parliamentary scrutiny of this.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Government has committed to laying a draft update to the Climate Change Plan in Parliament by 30 April 2019. Updating the plan within 6 months is a fraction of the time it would take to produce a new Plan, in recognition that there is Global Climate Emerg…
13 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a third round of the Local Rail Development Fund.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are currently assessing project appraisals from the initial round of funding. Once we have made significant progress with that review we will be in a position to give due consideration to the merit or otherwise of opening a third round of applications. We …
11 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how consultation responses to the National Transport Strategy will be used to inform the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer · Michael Matheson: Responses received as part of the consultation on the National Transport Survey (NTS) are being considered as the strategy is finalised. The NTS will inform the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), and many of the challenges identified relate t…
11 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Parliament will be consulted on the draft second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer · Michael Matheson: The second Strategic Transport Projects Review will provide the evidence to support Scottish Ministers transport investment priorities to help deliver the new National Transport Strategy over the next 20 years. Members will have the opportunity to see the in…
11 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what review will take place of outstanding projects in the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) ahead of their potential inclusion in STPR2.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since the publication of the first Strategic Transport Projects Review in 2008, a significant number of its recommendations have been implemented or constructed across Scotland. The first STPR was not a funded delivery plan, it was a set of recommendations wh…
11 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for consultation on the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer · Michael Matheson: Engagement on the Strategic Transport Projects Review, has to date included two rounds of regional workshops across Scotland (42 regional workshops in total since the early summer of 2019), 7 national/thematic workshops and 3 business focussed events and also…
11 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when its review of traffic regulation orders will be complete.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is engaging with a range of stakeholders including the local authority sector, Police Scotland, business and active travel representatives to fully understand the issues being encountered with the various road order processes. This wil…
11 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders it plans to consult as part of its review into traffic regulation orders.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government will engage with a range of stakeholders including the local authority sector, Police Scotland, business and active travel representatives to fully understand the issues being encountered with the various road order processes. This wil…
11 Dec 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 survey is taking place over the Christmas holiday period.
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether trials of kelp dredging that involve the removal of the holdfast are compliant with the Scottish Crown Estate Act 2019.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No trials have been commissioned to mechanically harvest kelp and no trials for commercial use are currently planned The relevant provision of the Scottish Crown Estate Act 2019 is expected to commence in 2020. At that point, Crown Estate Scotland managers w…
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the results of the seaweed harvesting activity mapping exercise will be published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A paper mapping current seaweed harvesting activity was tabled at the 2nd meeting of the Seaweed Review Steering group on 26 September 2019 and is now publicly available at: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/seaweedrev .
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what trials are being commissioned to explore the mechanical harvesting of kelp, and whether these will include examining commercial dredging techniques.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No trials have been commissioned to mechanically harvest kelp. A work programme published following the 2 nd meeting of the seaweed review steering group included a proposed deliverable - Mechanical harvest of seaweed: Undertake desk study of species and act…
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the Strategic Environmental Assessment in relation to seaweed harvesting will be (a) completed and (b) published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: At the 2nd meeting of the Seaweed Review Steering group it was agreed that the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), undertaken in 2016, would provide the basis and inform any Plan or Strategy for the seaweed sector which may arise from the work of the Se…
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what secondary legislation is being developed in relation to kelp harvesting, and by what date this will be introduced.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Officials are currently working on the second commencement regulations, which are expected to be laid as soon as possible in 2020. The current intention is for the regulation that commences the section of the 2019 Act on the restriction on the removal of wild…
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is being reviewed in relation to seaweed harvesting licensing.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Outputs of the review, set out in the published proposed work programme are expected to include:guidance on marine licensing requirements for all types of seaweed harvesting activities;guidance for Crown Estate Scotland managers on kelp licensing provisions u…
6 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are gaps in the legislative and regulatory framework in relation to seaweed harvesting.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The 2nd meeting of the Seaweed Review Steering group on 26 September 2019 considered the suitability of the current regulatory framework for seaweed harvesting. It is important to note that that the marine licensing regime was not developed for seaweed harves…
2 Dec 2019 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the targets set out in the Queensferry Crossing Public Transport Strategy, what its response is to reports that, in the last year, over one million extra vehicle journeys have been made over the crossing.
25 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26389 by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2019, what proportion of the project cost it will meet.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) is providing grant funding of £4.35 million to the project, which includes up to £1 million to Transport Scotland. The remainder of the direct project costs are being met by project partners Stagecoach, …
25 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the participation targets for mature students are regarding programmes for widening access to higher education.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s targets for widening access, as recommended by the Commission on Widening Access, are for all entrants from Scotland’s 20% most deprived areas - regardless of age - and mainly for those entering a full-time first degree course. Matu…
25 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop options for the disposal and recycling of bicycle tyres.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), on behalf of the Scottish Government, has engaged in projects supporting the recycling, reuse and repair of bicycle tyres, mainly via the Circular Economy Investment Fund and its reuse and repair programme. ZWS is also looking to fo…
21 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact its proposed deposit return system will have on climate emissions.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Analysis undertaken for the Scottish Government’s “Deposit Return Scheme: Full Business Case Stage 1” indicates that deposit return will reduce Scotland’s harmful emissions by around 4 million tonnes of CO2eq (carbon dioxide equivalent) over 25 years. This is…