Questions · Mark Ruskell

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09030 by Aileen Campbell on 10 May 2017, how it assesses NHS board performance against policies and frameworks relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Responsibility for monitoring Performance against the Neurological Health Services Standards (HIS,2009) is a matter for NHS Boards. These standards are currently under redevelopment by HIS. From 1st April 2018 the Health and Social Care standards will be ta…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met to discuss the results of the SNH scoping exercise on an uplands vision, and when a decision will be made on when to develop an uplands vision.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The results of the scoping exercise carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage, which was a proposal in the Land Use Strategy 2016 – 2021, were published in July 2017. We are currently considering the results, including the recommendations made, and will take a…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the development of the detailed reporting framework for the Land Use Strategy that was reportedly due in December 2016; which policies and proposals due to be completed by the end of 2017 have not been achieved, and when the reporting framework will be publ…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Publishing the detailed reporting framework for the Land Use Strategy has been delayed following the result of the EU referendum. The Scottish Government is looking to integrate work on future strategic policy for the environment and agriculture with the next…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that future farm subsidy support will deliver sustainable land management, and what advice and support will be given to farmers to ensure they can access funding.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government appointed four external agriculture champions in January 2017 to provide advice and recommendations on a future agriculture strategy for Scotland. The Champions recently published an interim discussion document which identified six str…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether commercial fishing for sand eel takes place within the Scottish zone, and whether it has made an assessment of the impact of any such fishing on sand eel-dependent predators, including breeding seabirds.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Commercial fishing for sandeel does take place within the Scottish zone, although only a small (< 5000 tonnes) monitoring fishery is permitted within the North east UK sandeel closure that was imposed in 2000, in response to advice from the International Coun…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the school building estate is fitted with fire alarms, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. As fire safety is a responsibility of local authorities, this information may be available by contacting local Authorities directly and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. However, I wrote …

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many farmed salmon have died in each year since 2012.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government does not record farmed salmon mortalities by year but does maintain and publish the percentage of fish harvested from each year class in the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey; http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish/FHI/surveys…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date will it introduce regulations to grant the European beaver protected status.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to questions S5W-13047 and S5W-13048 on 11 December 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parli…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Rural Development Programme can be used to support the integration of the European beaver into catchment land management regimes.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: At this late stage in the life time of the scheme, it is unlikely that it will be worth amending the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) to incorporate beaver management payments. The Scottish Government will consider whether beaver management that be…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many dead European beavers have been found since May 2016, also broken down by how many were sent to Scottish Natural Heritage for autopsy.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage has been advised of four dead beavers in the wild since May 2016. It appeared that one was killed on a railway line, one was killed on a road, and one was presumed to be drowned. The decomposed remains of a young animal were also fou…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the welfare implications are of the delay in granting protected status to the European beaver.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not accept there has been a delay in granting beavers protected species status. A process is being followed as was set out in the decision of 22 November 2016. That decision stated that Scottish Ministers were minded that the beav…

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates the proposals in the Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill will have.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Clause 1 of the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and the Recognition of Sentience) Bill is intended to require Ministers of the Crown to have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings when formulating and implementing government policy. This w…

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the principle of animal sentience is reflected in its legislation after the UK leaves the EU.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I can assure Parliament the Scottish Government fully accepts the principle of animal sentience and will take all appropriate action to safeguard animal welfare standards. Animal sentience has been recognised in Scottish legislation for over a century, most r…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress Scottish Natural Heritage is making with the development of the national ecological network.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish National Heritage is continuing its work, including with stakeholders through a workshop in September, on a paper on a national ecological network for Scotland. This is in the context of the commitment in the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversit…

10 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a national framework for providing treatment for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09030 on 10 May 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/288…

10 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of support provided for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09030 on 10 May 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/288…

10 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the service offered by the specialist nurse-led service for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) at Ladybank compares with services elsewhere in the country.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local Boards, taki…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, should the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994be reviewed, whether a public consultation would be held on this and what the timescales for this would be.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11940 on 2 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found athttp://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a review of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and, if so, (a) what the purpose of such a review would be, (b) whether a public consultation would be held on this and (c) what the timescale would be for this.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 are the principal instrument transposing the EU Habitats Directive into Scots Law. Scottish Ministers have no current plans to review or consolidate the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulation…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how amendments to, or consolidation of, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 would ensure an at least equivalent level of protection as is currently provided by legislation in relation to species and habitats.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11940 on 2 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found athttp://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

9 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Dogs Trust report, Puppy Smuggling: A Tragedy Ignored, and what steps are being taken at ports to tackle the smuggling of (a) puppies and (b) other animals.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has noted the findings of the Dogs Trust report ‘Puppy Smuggling- A Tragedy Ignored’ and the recommendations contained therein. It is particularly concerning that the report indicates that there are veterinarians in some Member States …

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will determine the planning appeal PPA-390-2043 at Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Ministers received the report and recommendations from the reporter on this planning proposal on 1 June 2017. Ministers are currently giving full and proper consideration to it.

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were received for round 7 of the Scottish Green Bus Fund, and how many were approved.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Four applications were received for round 7 of the Scottish Green Bus Fund. All were successful. Scottish Green Bus Fund award details are published on the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/buses/scottish-green-bus…