Parliamentary questions
Michael Matheson
1,154 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Action for Children reports, Criminally Exploited Children: Shattered Lives, Stolen Futures and I Don’t Want to go Down That Road, what (a) measures it has taken to (i) identify and (ii) support children at risk of criminal exploitation and (b) its position is …
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government welcomes the reports, Criminally Exploited Children: Shattered Lives, Stolen Futures and I Don’t Want to go Down That Road, from Action for Children. We agree that criminally exploited children and young people are victims of chi…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the (a) UK Government, (b) Welsh Government, and (c) Northern Ireland Executive regarding how to respond to the criminal exploitation of children, and whether it is developing a coordinated approach to deal with cross-border issues that have arisen in rela…
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32496 on 10 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-comm…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been identified as victims of criminal exploitation in each of the last five years.
Answer · Angela Constance: Data on the number of children identified as victims of criminal exploitation is drawn from the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The NRM is the UK-wide framework for identifying potential victims of trafficking and ensuring they receive appropriate support …
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it has made of the trends, techniques and approaches used by organised criminal gangs to exploit children criminally; what measures are being taken to respond to these and any emerging threats; how it targets the perpetrators, and how effective this has been.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-32496 on 10 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-comm…
13 Dec 2024 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on developing a route map for delivering approximately 24,000 additional public electric vehicle charge points by 2030.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland has hit the target of 6,000 public electric vehicle charge points two years early.Since 2011 the Scottish Government has invested over £65 million in public electric vehicle charging. As a result of this early investment, and increasing private…
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that NHS boards are appropriately resourced to deliver plans for the implementation of its new model of care, as part of the Best Start programme for maternity and neonatal care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Since implementation of Best Start commenced in 2017 Scottish Government has provided over £30 million of funding to NHS Boards to support implementation of the Best Start recommendations.We continue to provide funding for the ongoing delivery of neonat…
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is committed to ensuring, as part of the Best Start programme for maternity and neonatal care, that the NHS boards leading the plans for the implementation of its new model of care are considering parent support, including ending any separation of parents and babies.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Best Start emphasises parents as key partners in caring for their baby and aims to keep mothers and babies, and families together as much as possible in the crucial early weeks, with services designed around them.The Scottish Government remains committed …
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing guidance for neonatal units, including on the number of parent beds available and other provisions, to enable family integrated care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Best Start (2017) recommended that all neonatal facilities should provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents, with accommodation available nearby for parents of less critically ill babies. We have no plans to introduce guidance on t…
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what minimum standard is used by NHS boards for the number of parent beds available to determine sufficient emergency overnight accommodation for neonatal care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Best Start (2017) recommended all neonatal facilities should provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents, with accommodation available nearby for parents of less critically ill babies. Boards are expected to include provision for thi…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the high-level principles of air departure tax (ADT) will be set out, and by what date a detailed policy development will take place following the publication of these principles.
Answer · Shona Robison: I will set out the high-level principles of Air Departure Tax in due course, following which we will work towards implementation as soon as is practicable. However, this first requires a solution to the Highlands and Islands exemption, and we are working with…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing a route map to a 20% reduction in car kilometres, and when this will be published.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car use published in 2022 outlines our approach to achieving this. A period of engagement and consultation followed publication, and the analysis and consideration of the consultation responses are shaping t…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will take forward a pilot scheme with farms to establish an appropriate uptake of methane suppressing feed products and additives.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: On 18 April 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy made a statement to the Scottish Parliament confirming that the Scottish Government’s ambition and legal commitment to reach net zero by 2045 remains unchanged.In the sta…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the proportion of funding between tiers 1 and 2 of the future agriculture support framework.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Funding certainty and market stability for farmers is absolutely crucial and we want to do all that we can to try to ensure that that is the case in Scotland. As announced at February’s NFU Scotland Conference, Tiers 1 and 2 will receive at least 70% of…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to identify the staffing needs for taking forward the climate change policy package in line with the factsheet that it published on 18 April 2024.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Protecting the planet is a clear government priority which is why we must ensure that resourcing matches the scale of work required to deliver a net zero Scotland by 2045, balancing that with a need to ensure efficiencies in our public services.We continually…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in expanding the Cairngorms Deer Pilot to develop a national scheme to incentivise increased management and investment in the venison supply chain.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is committed to reducing high deer numbers in order to help us to achieve our biodiversity and carbon objectives. In addition to the Cairngorms National Park Authority deer management incentives pilot, NatureScot launched two pilot sch…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to introduce a legislative vehicle to enable aspects of the accelerated climate policy package to be delivered.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Development of climate policy continues on an ongoing basis ahead of the publication of the draft climate change plan. Where any additional policy requires an expedited legislative vehicle, we will actively explore opportunities to do so, whilst ensuring that…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing a route map to having approximately 24,000 additional electric vehicle charge points by 2030.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has now met its target of 6,000 public EV charge points two years early.Since 2011 the Scottish Government has invested over £65 million in public EV charging. As a result of this early investment, and rapidly increasing private …
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to take forward a new assembly or participative process following on from the climate assembly and people panel on climate engagement.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Our Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change (PES) highlights the importance of effective engagement to build support for climate action. The Scottish Government continues to build on outcomes from Scotland’s most recent Climate Assembly, by delive…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in investigating the potential coexistence of re-wetting with continued agricultural activity, and whether any pilot partial re-wetting projects have been identified for investment of up to £1 million.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: With partial rewetting, the water table in peatlands or peaty soils is held deeper underground than with full rewetting or restoration. In theory, this delivers a carbon benefit but also allows certain types of agriculture that may be limited by full rewettin…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when work will begin on developing a just transition plan for Mossmorran.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has committed to the development of a just transition plan for Mossmorran following completion of the just transition plan for Grangemouth in 2025. As with the Grangemouth just transition plan, this work will be co-designed with key st…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to people in (a) rural areas and (b) lower-income groups seeking to transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles in line with its climate change action policy package that was published on 18 April 2024.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 2011 the Scottish Government has provided interest free loans worth over £223 million to individuals and businesses across Scotland to support the transition to zero emission/ultra-low emission vehicles.This financial year we are providing £…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Strategic Transport Projects Review Infrastructure Investment Plan (STPR2 Delivery Plan).
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Development of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) Delivery Plan is underway. This takes account of the current financial climate and is examining existing schemes across all modes in addition to the longer term STPR2 recommendations.The la…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the recommendation of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce to review and publish an analysis of how non-domestic rates relief can better support the ambition to encourage investment in (a) energy efficiency and (b) zero-emission heating systems.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government welcomes the work of the independent Green Heat Finance Taskforce and looks forward to receiving its Part 2 report shortly. Following publication of its Part 2 report, the Scottish Government will formally respond to the Taskforce, set…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified new areas to be covered by regional land use partnerships, and what progress it is making towards establishing these by 2031.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to the long-term delivery of Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs). Having recently concluded a pilot programme in four regions across Scotland, Officials are working to consolidate learning and are co-developing an appro…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing a national integrated ticketing system for the public transport network, and when it will publish the smart ticketing delivery strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments Delivery Strategy 2024 was published in August and is available on the Transport Scotland website.The strategy outlines how the Scottish Government will progress smart and integrated ticketing, including i…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to begin consulting on introducing a carbon land tax on larger landholdings.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to considering options for a carbon land tax, to further incentivise peatland restoration and afforestation.Any potential new measures must be rigorously assessed and based on strong evidence to ensure they serve their obj…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the establishment of a four nations climate response group.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of working closely and collaboratively with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to deliver our net zero targets in a way that is mutually beneficial in economic, environmental and social terms…
6 Nov 2024 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the progress of the Grangemouth Just Transition Plan.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Draft Grangemouth Just Transition Plan has been published today for consultation. The plan sets out the strategic approach to securing a long term and sustainable future for the Grangemouth cluster. I am grateful to all those who have shaped this work to …
30 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in reforming the female custodial estate.
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what further engagement it will have with the UK Government regarding bringing the oil port terminal at Grangemouth into public ownership to support energy security.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Following the announcement by Petroineos to continue supplying fuel via an import terminal at Grangemouth and reflecting the reserved nature of the security of fuel supplies, the Scottish Government has been engaging collaboratively with the UK Government&rsq…