Parliamentary questions

Mark Ruskell

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

14 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to argue the case that Scotland's concerns are taken into account in relation to the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement.

12 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the implementation of the living wage for private sector care workers delivering services for local authorities can be sustained beyond 2017-18.

Answer · Shona Robison: As part of the 2017-18 draft budget, we have shown our commitment to the social care sector by announcing a further £100 million to be made available to Integration Authorities to support sustainability in the sector and continued delivery of the Living Wage …

12 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the leaders of Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils to discuss the City Deal bid.

Answer · Keith Brown: I recently responded to a letter from Stirling Council and Clackmannanshire Council and I am keen to meet with them at the earliest opportunity to discuss their City Region Deal proposals.

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03348 by Keith Brown on 16 November 2016, what information it has on the outcome of the work between the EU Commission and Canada regarding the parameters of the Investor Court System in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and wha…

Answer · Keith Brown: refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05292 on 13 December 2016. 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/parliamentarybusine…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03348 by Keith Brown on 16 November 2016, whether it will publish the response from the UK Government regarding why it has not put forward any Protected Food Names for inclusion in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to give Scotti…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03348 by Keith Brown on 16 November 2016, what measures it will take, in addition to writing to the Secretary of State for International Trade, to ensure that NHS Scotland is listed as exempt from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA…

Answer · Keith Brown: As indicated in response to S5W-00972 on 12 July 2016 and S5W-03348 on 16 November 2016, the Scottish Government carried out an initial assessment of the Section D provisions of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and considered it unlikely that th…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03348 by Keith Brown on 16 November 2016, whether it has received a response from the UK Government regarding the request for NHS Scotland to be listed as exempt from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and, if so, whether it will …

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05292 on 13 December 2016. 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/parliamentarybusine…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its initial assessment of the implications of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and what impact the agreement will have on jobs creation in Scotland.

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that new fish farms do not undermine the conservation objectives of the marine protected area network.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is a duty on all public authorities to comply with section 83 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 when making decisions on whether to permit activities that could affect a nature conservation Marine Protected Area within Scottish territorial Waters. The p…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 supports participatory planning for coastal communities in relation to the development of fish farms, and what impact the proposals in the Islands Bill would have.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Each new fish farm site is dealt with on its merits by local authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, taking account of advice from statutory consultees plus any representations from other interested parties, including the general …

30 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has access to the information and systems that are needed to exercise its powers to top-up reserved benefits.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have made a number of commitments to using our new powers including abolishing the bedroom tax, reinstating housing support for 18-21 year olds, introducing a top up to the Carer’s Allowance to the same rate as the Jobseeker’s Allowance, introducing a new …

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04978 by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 November 2016, by what date it will complete the (a) Strategic Environmental and (b) Habitats Regulations Assessment, and how it will protect the welfare of the beavers while this is being carried out.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of our proposed plan to allow beavers to remain in Scotland is expected to be completed in January 2017. We are also required to consider whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required. The approach to…

23 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04594 by Fergus Ewing on 17 November 2016, where and by whom containers of diseased salmon morts are checked for biosecurity compliance during their journey from farm to final disposal, and how many such journeys have taken place in each of the last…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Vehicles used for transporting salmon morts to a disposal site must be approved or registered under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 (ABPR). The operators of these vehicles must ensure that salmon morts be collected and transpo…

23 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the impact of air pollution on health inequalities in Mid Scotland and Fife.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government supports a number of measures, both local and national, to successfully tackle air pollution and its impacts on health. These measures include the promotion of active travel and modal shift to low and zero emission transport, supportin…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports have been made to the Food Standards Scotland Scottish Food Crime Hotline, also broken down by how many referred to the suspected mislabelling of beef products.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Food Crime Hotline, launched by Food Standards Scotland in partnership with Crimestoppers, is a free telephone number where members of the public or those working within the food and drink sector can contact Food Standards Scotland’s Scottish Foo…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is (a) consistent and (b) accurate labelling of beef products.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Labelling for Beef produces have strict guidelines within regulation EU1760/2000. Information must be provided on country of birth, rearing and slaughtering at Member State level. Our meat inspectors do spot check visits at abattoirs and cutting plants to en…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports of the suspected mislabelling of beef products have been made to the Scottish Food Crimes and Incidents Unit, and how many have led to official investigations.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit is the investigations and intelligence gathering arm of Food Standards Scotland (FSS). The Unit has a dedicated intelligence office which analyses, develops and deals with information received from members of the pub…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the objectives of the Political Declaration on Energy Cooperation between the North Seas Countries; what involvement it will have in delivering its aims; what contribution it is making to its work programme, and whether it is taking action to ensure that the decla…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government supports the objectives of the Political Declaration on Energy Cooperation between the North Sea Countries – to roll out a regionally optimised North Sea Grid that will enable electricity trading and the integration of offshore renewab…

16 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to schools regarding how the money raised through its council tax reforms can be spent to raise attainment levels.

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what precautions are taken to ensure that there is no leakage of disease contaminated waste into bodies of water containing wild fish when salmon that have been killed by disease are transported from the Highlands and Islands for incineration in England.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Transporters of animal by-products are required to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). When transporting Animal By-Products (ABPs) transporters must ensure that they; Use vehicles and containers that are covered and leak-proof Clean, di…

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted a safety and welfare review of use of the Thermolicer device in salmon farms.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: No safety and welfare review of the use of the Thermolicer has been carried out by Scottish Government. The aquaculture industry is responsible for overseeing the use of treatments for disease and/ or parasites. The health and welfare of the fish on site are …

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Thermolicer is licensed for use in Scotland and, if not, what information it has regarding whether Marine Harvest had a Home Office licence to carry out experiments using the device.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Thermolicer is a commercially available treatment system for sea lice control. The use of the Thermolicer is not part of an experiment and as such does not require a Home Office Licence for operation.

3 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent ruling in the High Court of Justice in the case between ClientEarth (No.2) and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting good air quality and meeting our EU obligations. The Scottish Government is currently considering the High Court judgement and will discuss its implications with other UK Governments.

3 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not participate in the recent case in the High Court of Justice between ClientEarth (No.2) and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting good air quality and meeting our EU obligations. The Scottish Government did not participate in the recent High Court case as the Scottish Government was not identified as a defendant by ClientEarth.

2 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is classifying solar cell and panels as plant and machinery to allow them to be exempt from business rates on a permanent basis in order to support growth in the sector, and what discussions it has had or plans with the UK Government regarding this.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Plant and machinery for any power generation is already excluded from rating valuation where the power is mainly for distribution for sale to consumers. Notwithstanding that, plant and machinery for micro-generation relying on a solar power source has since 2…

2 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on exempting microgeneration from business rates on a permanent basis in order to support the development of small-scale renewables.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Plant and machinery for micro-generation (as defined in the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006) has since 2009 been exempted from rating valuation in Scotland.

2 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to third sector organisations that seek to build a case for the reopening of rail lines and stations.

1 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines it produces for local authorities when they are assessing individuals for the Blue Badge scheme.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland provides general, non-statutory guidance to local authorities about how they can go about administering the blue badge scheme. It is for local authorities, however, to ensure that they are adhering to the statutory criteria for obtaining a …

1 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review allowing local authorities to charge people a fee for Blue Badge scheme applications.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 gave local authorities the discretion to charge a fee not exceeding £20 for the issue or re-issue of a blue badge. A charge may only be made only when an application is suc…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date nature conservation marine protected areas for (a) the Sea of Hebrides, (b) North East Lewis, (c) Shiant East Bank and (d) Southern Trench will be designated, and for what reason their designation has been delayed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01496 on 27 July 2016. 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…