Parliamentary questions

Mark Ruskell

1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on holding an inquiry into animal welfare in the horseracing industry in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Horse racing in Scotland is governed and regulated by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) ( http://www.britishhorseracing.com ). The BHA ensures racehorse welfare, including compliance with all aspects of the 2006 Act, through its Rules of Racing, the l…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies have responsibility for overseeing the welfare of racehorses in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Horse racing in Scotland is governed and regulated by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). The BHA ensures racehorse welfare, including compliance with all aspects of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) 2006 Act, through its Rules of Racing, the lice…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposal to introduce and reform the licensing of animal activities, including their use in public displays or performances, will apply to (a) horse and (b) greyhound racing.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In the 2018-19 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to continue work to introduce and reform licensing of animal activities including animal sanctuaries, rehoming centres, breeding and the use of animals in public display or performance…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the British Horseracing Authority’s investigation into the deaths of several horses at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, and what action it has taken to apply the recommendations made by this to race courses in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is aware of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) review of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival and the recommendations included in their report. The regulation of racecourses and horseracing in Scotland is the responsibility of the BHA. Th…

25 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the opinion of the Court of Session regarding the appeal for a major development at Airthrey Kerse.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: On 23 January 2019, the Court of Session quashed the Scottish Ministers’ decision of 18 June 2018 to refuse planning permission in principle for a housing development at Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan, Stirling. The case will in due course be returned to the…

25 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce legislation to underpin the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government intends to bring forward the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill early in 2019 and in advance of the Parliament's Easter recess. The Bill will underpin the establishment of the Scottish National Investment Bank, with the aim of the …

23 Jan 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how commuters' views inform ScotRail timetabling changes.

9 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Scottish Environment Link's 10 principles for future land management support in Scotland.

20 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the breakdown is for the Energy line in the draft Budget.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The breakdown of the Energy line in the draft Budget is available from the infrastructure and connectivity portfolio section which can be addressed on the Parliament website via the following link: http://www.parliament.scot/FinancialScrutiny/2019-20_budget_L…

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with its plans to introduce legislation to give the Eurasian beaver protected species status, in light of its previous commitment that it would introduce legislation on this during the first half of 2018, and what the impact could be on the species if such legi…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage have been working closely with farming and other land management and conservation stakeholders to develop an approach for the management of beavers including, where necessary, their licensed control once t…

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on meeting its commitment in the Road Safety Framework to introduce speed awareness courses in Scotland, similar to those that operate in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 contains the commitment by road safety partners to consider if the introduction of a Speed Awareness Scheme focused on speeding would be an appropriate contribution to road safety in Scotland. Police Scotland has submi…

17 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the consultation paper on its Good Food Nation Bill.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The consultation on "Good Food Nation Proposals for Legislation” was published on 21 December 2018. The consultation can be found at https://consult.gov.scot/food-and-drink/good-food-nation/ .

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the EU adopting the European Commission’s proposals for a climate-neutral EU by 2050, and whether it considers that this is beneficial to the net-zero section of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government welcomes the European Commission’s proposals for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy by 2050. We contributed to the consultation on this strategy, sharing our experience and urging the EU to maintain its leade…

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to take any steps to encourage the European Council to support the European Commission’s proposals for a climate-neutral EU by 2050 at the European Council meeting in May 2019.

28 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the levels of the pollutant, bisphenol A, are (a) at potential point sources such as landfill, sewage and paper sludge sites and (b) elsewhere in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Data on Bisphenol A is not required to be routinely collected. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has, however, included BPA analysis of groundwater and fresh and marine surface waters alongside other substances routinely monitored for the purp…

28 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Marine Scotland has not responded to the formal notifications made on 15 August and 7 September 2018 by Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland and the Garynahine Estate, pursuant to Regulation 14 of the Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009, requesting action …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The letter issued by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on 20 September 2018 in response to the communications from Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland outlined our joint consideration, acknowledging that SNH are the competent authority under ELR in relation …

22 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Cross Tay Link Road not being included in the final list of funded projects under the Tay Cities Deal, whether it will provide alternative funding to allow the link road to be built.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Tay Cities Deal includes several Scottish Government commitments to support connectivity across the region in the coming years. It will lead to investment in low carbon and active travel hubs, better integration of public transport in Perth and developing…

16 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the second Strategic Transport Projects Review will be (a) completed and (b) published.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Procurement for the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) is ongoing, it is expected that consultants will be appointed before the end of the calendar year. The Scottish Government has committed to complete the STPR2 during the lifetime of this P…

15 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce which projects are included in the pipeline for rail enhancements beginning in Control Period 6.

Answer · Michael Matheson: An announcement on which projects will form the first part of the Control Period 6 portfolio will be made by the end of March 2019. In line with our published Rail Enhancements & Capital Investment Strategy, Transport Scotland continues to work closely with N…

14 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Waste Market Study referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform in Parliament on 14 November 2018 (Official Report, c.8).

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The report is currently being finalised by the study contractor. We will publish the findings as soon as possible, once the report has been considered by the study’s steering group, which includes representation from COSLA and the local authority waste manage…

7 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected demand will be for the incineration of waste following the ban on sending biodegradable waste to landfill in 2021.

26 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response to the legal opinion that has been published by the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association, which disputes some of the conclusions of the Scottish Natural Heritage-commissioned report, Analyses of the fates of satellite tracked golden eagles in Scotland, and, in light of thi…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is satisfied that the Scottish Natural Heritage report, “Analyses of the fates of satellite tracked golden eagles in Scotland”, was produced and peer-reviewed in line with accepted scientific standards. The Scottish Government has no p…

26 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the sites of the sudden disappearances of satellite-tagged golden eagles and other birds of prey, which were identified in Scottish Natural Heritage-commissioned report, Analyses of the fates of satellite tracked golden eagles in Scotland, as being "suspicious" are not in…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAW Scotland) raptor crime hotspot maps and accompanying figures relate to incidents confirmed as crimes by Police Scotland. Unexplained disappearances of satellite-tagged golden eagles do not meet t…

24 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide in response to the reported increase in rent arrears among Universal Credit recipients in the Mid Scotland and Fife region.

16 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact Sir Lewis Ritchie’s review of out-of-hours primary care has had on the delivery of these services.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Sir Lewis’ review Pulling together: transforming urgent care for the people of Scotland published in 2015 has provided a focus for Boards and their delivery partners to help them develop and deliver out of hours services that are sustainable and resilient. As…

10 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19084 by Michael Matheson on 10 October 2018, whether it will provide the information requested, broken down by (a) station and (b) platform number.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table shows the extent of accessibility at each of the railway stations in Mid Scotland and Fife. Station Platform accessible by stairs only Burntisland Platform 2 Cowdenbeath Both platforms - severe steep ramps Crianlarich Island platfo…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what revenues it has received from motor vehicle speeding fines as a consequence of the Scotland Act 1998 (Designation of Receipts) Order 2009.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government retained no motor vehicle speeding fines as a consequence of the Scotland Act 1998 (Designation of Receipts) Order 2009 as such fines were remitted to HM Treasury. The Scottish Government has retained motor vehicle speeding fines since…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will contribute to the UK Government's Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government is engaging with stakeholders in Scotland and with the Department for International Development (DfID) to ensure Scotland’s approach to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is reflected in the Voluntary National Review process. Scottis…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) process considers the social, cultural, environmental and economic impact of options.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The appraisal of transport options in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) includes the appraisal of the impacts of the options against five pre-determined Criteria: Accessibility and Social Inclusion; Economy; Environment; Integration; and …

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it engages with the Network of Institutions for Future Generations.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is aware of the Network of Institutions for Future Generations, and its Chair Sophie Howe – in her capacity as the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales – gave a keynote speech at the international conference launching Scotland’s r…