Mark Ruskell

28 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether completed appraisal work on the project to reopen the Levenmouth rail line has fully met the Governance for Railway Investment Projects stage 3 requirements.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study report, prepared by Fife Council, has been undertaken in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and not the Governance for Railway Projects (GRIP). The evidence from a completed and robust …

28 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) the Office of Rail and Road and (b) HM Treasury has in the (i) design, (ii) commissioning and (iii) build of new rail (A) lines and (B) stations in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under devolved powers, the Scottish Government commissions new rail lines or stations to be built on Scotland’s main rail network. Network Rail is responsible for the design and construction of the majority of new railway infrastructure. The ORR is currentl…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) secretarial support it provides to (a) the National Council of Rural Advisers and (b) its agriculture champions.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government provides secretariat support to both the National Council of Rural Advisers and the Agriculture Champions. The Champions, their working groups and the National Council members do not receive any remuneration for their services other th…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how stakeholders in rural and remote areas can contact (a) the National Council of Rural Advisers and (b) its agriculture champions to submit evidence.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: a) In July 2017 I wrote to over 200 rural stakeholders inviting them to submit views and evidence to the National Council of Rural Advisers. In addition, anyone can contact the National Council via the mailbox [email protected]. Contact details are published on t…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times (a) the National Council of Rural Advisers and (b) its agriculture champions have met (i) the Scottish Land Commission, (ii) Scottish Environment Link, (iii) Forestry Commission Scotland, (iv) the NFU Scotland and (v) other stakeholders; what the agenda was, and whether (A…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: While it is for the National Council of Rural Advisers and for each of the Agricultural Champions, and their groups to determine which organisations and individuals they wish to meet and engage with, we would expect both the National Council of Rural Advisers…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07899 by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2017, by what date the findings of the agriculture review group will be published.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Review group chaired by Professor Russel Griggs was tasked with considering the detailed implementation arrangements for the planned changes to 2018 greening rules, announced in February. The Group has provided its advice on these changes and that has bee…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the recommendations of the National Council of Rural Advisers will be published.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The National Council of Rural Advisers will provide an interim report on the implications of Brexit before the end of 2017. Their final recommendations report on policy and principles for future rural support will be published in late spring 2018.

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many agroforestry grants have been awarded each year by the Forestry Grant Scheme, and what the total amount awarded under the category each year has been.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date, two agroforestry applications have been submitted through the Forestry Grant Scheme. Both schemes were subsequently withdrawn and therefore no grant money for agroforestry has been awarded. Efforts continue to engage with the agricultural sector to p…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the identities of persons served with General License restrictions by Scottish Natural Heritage have been withheld.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage withheld the identity of the person served with a General Licence Restriction on 15 September 2017, as they determined that release of such information into the public domain would breach the Data Protection Act 1998.

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its rail enhancements and capital investments strategy will be published.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Ministers expect to publish the rail enhancements and capital investment strategy before the end of 2017.

6 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the transport appraisal working group for the Edinburgh city region deal will feed into the consultation process for the next Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Heads of Terms for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal were signed on 20 July 2017 and we will continue to work with partners to establish the details with a view to setting these out in the final Deal document. The arrangements for the…

30 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for the delivery of its land use strategy, and how much it has allocated toward the (a) second phase of pilot projects and (b) establishment of regional land use partnerships.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Getting the Best From Our land: A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2020 is a cross-portfolio policy and is taken forward by a number of policy areas across the Scottish Government, using existing budgets rather than a specific budget for implementing the s…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on Scotland of proposals to reduce air pollution by ending the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Programme for Government sets a bold new ambition on ultra-low emission vehicles, including electric cars and vans, with a target to phase out the need for petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032. This will have a positive impact on air quality by significantl…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to receive through the Barnett formula as a result of the £255 million Implementation Fund announced by the UK Government in the document, UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, which was published in July 2017.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Around £200m of the £255m announced by the UK Government is expected to result in an increase to Whitehall departmental allocations, on which there should be Barnett Consequentials. The remaining £55m was previously announced at the 2015 UK Spending Review an…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07630 by Humza Yousaf on 14 March 2017, which states that “work to identify and set up the first low emission zone by 2018 is currently underway”, what progress it has made, and what resources it will make available to local authorities to implement…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, will introduce low emission zones into Scotland's four biggest cities between 2018 and 2020. The location of the first low emission zone will be announced shortly, and we are working closely with…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce regulations to permit the use of electric shock training collars on dogs.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is in discussion with a wide range of stakeholders from the veterinary profession, pet industry, animal training and animal welfare sectors with a view to bringing in tough new regulations on the use of electronic training collars for …

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made establishing a national ecological network.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10045 on 26 July 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/28…

29 Aug 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Principles for Just Trade deals established by the Trade Justice Scotland Coalition.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Principles for Just Trade state that trade should be democratic, work in the public interest and do good. This is consistent with the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy. The UK Government and the European Commission that trade agreement…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing an environmental court to deal with civil environmental matters.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government response to the consultation on Developments in Environmental Justice will issue on 29 September 2017.

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the creation of an energy and natural resources court.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government response to the consultation on Developments in Environmental Justice will issue on 29 September 2017.

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the designation of specialist environmental judges to hear relevant cases in the Sheriff and Sheriff Appeal courts.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Judicial specialisation is a matter for the Lord President of the Court of Session.

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the (a) jurisdiction and (b) resourcing of the (i) Scottish Land Court and (ii) Lands Tribunal for Scotland.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government response to the consultation on Developments in Environmental Justice will issue on 29 September 2017.

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will create a new environmental tribunal under the Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government response to the consultation on Developments in Environmental Justice will issue on 29 September 2017.

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to creating a specialist environmental stream within criminal courts.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government response to the consultation on Developments in Environmental Justice will issue on 29 September.

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when a final decision on the Tay Cities Deal will be announced.

Answer · Keith Brown: Tripartite discussions have already begun between SG, UKG and partners to refine and prioritise the Tay Cities Region Deal proposals. Any plan must fit within the overall framework of Scotland’s Economic Strategy – making a clear and measurable significant lo…

24 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Apprenticeship Levy can be used to support upskilling of an existing workforce.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Through the Scottish block grant, Scottish Government will receive £221m in 2017-2018 as consequentials from the UK Apprenticeship Levy representing a per capita share for Scotland. As public sector organisations will pay an estimated £73m to the Levy in 2017…

24 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the establishment and reporting of the Transport Appraisal Working Group for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Heads of Terms for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal were signed on 20 July 2017 and we will continue to work with partners to establish the details with a view to setting these out in the final Deal document. The arrangements for the…

23 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the recommendations of The Hansford Review: Unlocking Rail Investment - Building Confidence, Reducing Costs will have on the delivery and workings of the Scotrail Alliance.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Ministers welcome the aims of the Hansford Review to facilitate investment and improve efficiency of infrastructure delivery, and are considering how these could apply in Scotland. We will continue to work with the rail industry in Scotland, includin…

22 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made with the consultation for the Good Food Nation Bill.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Food Commission are holding a Summit on 28 September to seek stakeholders views on the content of the consultation for the Bill. The consultation is on track to be published as planned at the end of 2017.

21 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long it takes on average to determine planning appeals.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The time taken to deal with planning appeals is largely dependent on a number of factors including the volume of information submitted and the complexities that need to be addressed as part of the consideration. The average weeks taken for planning appeal …