Parliamentary questions
Michael Russell
1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will apply to bodies or companies seeking to be on the register of letting agents, and whether these will include consideration of public complaints about them.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Part 4 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 requires Scottish Ministers to enter an applicant in the register of letting agents if they are satisfied that: They are a fit and proper person to carry out letting agency work; and they meet such training requirem…
15 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the decision of the reporter for the proposed windfarms at Glenbarr in Kintyre will be published.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The final decision on the proposed windfarms at Glenbarr in Kintyre (Section 36 Creggan Wind Farm application and the Blary Hill Wind Farm planning appeal) will be made by Scottish Ministers, who will consider the reporters’ reports of findings and recommenda…
7 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff NHS Highland employs, and how this compares with September 2006.
Answer · Shona Robison: Under this government the number of staff working in Scotland’s NHS has risen to a record high. As at March 2016, 8,151.2 whole time equivalent staff were employed in NHS Highland – this is an increase of 22.9 per cent since September 2006, and a record high…
31 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions of the new legislation on trafficking will assist the Bangledeshi citizens who experienced conditions akin to slavery when employed at the Stewart Hotel near Appin.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government cannot comment on individual cases. However, we are working in partnership with criminal justice agencies and support organisations to make Scotland a more hostile environment for trafficking and exploitation and to ensure that victim…
31 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to the Bangladeshi citizens who were trafficked and kept in conditions akin to slavery at the Stewart Hotel near Appin by Shamsul Arefin.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government cannot comment on individual cases. However, we are working in partnership with criminal justice agencies and support organisations to make Scotland a more hostile environment for trafficking and exploitation and to ensure that victim…
31 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will add Marine Scotland to the list of public bodies to which a community body could make a participation request under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Angela Constance: As a directorate within the Scottish Government, Marine Scotland is not a public body which could be added to schedule 2 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Communication and engagement with stakeholders is a fundamental principle for Marine Sco…
30 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Isle of Man fishery opening on 1 November 2016, whether it will seek to avoid potential overfishing in the Loch Sunart and the Sound of Jura marine protected area by altering its opening date from 1 October.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to alter the seasonal management measure for the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura marine protected area. However, any proposals which may come for such a change would, of course, be given due consideration.
23 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report commissioned by milk producers in Kintyre, with support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council, on the feasibly of producer-led arrangements for a transfer from First Milk of the creamery at Campbeltown, and whether it will en…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: In December 2015 First Milk dairy producers in Kintyre formed a working group to explore alternate models for the operation of Campbeltown Creamery. Argyll and Bute Council, with support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, funded a study to undertake this …
23 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the grants that it provides to First Milk for the (a) continued operation of and (b) replacement of equipment at the creamery in Campbelton are conditional and, if so, what these conditions are.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: All grant awards made by Scottish Ministers to First Milk to support the upgrading of Campbeltown creamery are subject to stringent conditions. I shall write to the member setting out the conditions in full.
23 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with First Milk regarding the sustainability of the creamery at Campbeltown.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government, working closely with Scottish Enterprise, Argyll and Bute Council and other agencies engage regularly with First Milk and receive updates from the company regarding Campbeltown creamery. We recognise the importance of the creamery …
23 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when application forms for air gun licences will be available to the public.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Air Weapons Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016 No. 188) prescribe the application forms for air weapon certificates, police permits, visitor permits, event permits and air weapon club approvals. The instrument, which is subject to the negativ…
23 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish guidelines for applicants for air gun licences.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information is already available at: www.airweapon.scot. We will continue to develop this website up to and beyond 1 July 2016, when people can start to make advance applications to Police Scotland. In addition, we are developing guidance to the police regard…
23 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what target time it has set for the police to issue air gun licences and whether Police Scotland is sufficiently resourced to deal with this matter efficiently and effectively.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions about resourcing the firearms licensing system, including the licensing of air weapons, rest with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland. The Scottish Government has not set targets for the operation of the system. We have, however, w…
18 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT regarding the reported dissatisfaction among communities in Argyll and Bute regarding the availability of superfast broadband and the provision of information about this to the public.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government regularly liaises with stakeholders, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT, regarding the delivery of broadband services. The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband project in the Highlands and Islands remains on track to del…
18 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of reports that communities in Argyll and Bute have not been fully advised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT regarding the timescale for the rollout of superfast broadband.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to being as transparent as possible in relation to the roll-out of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme. An indicative roll-out timescale for each local authority has been available since the start of the pro…
18 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that a definitive timescale is published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT for the rollout of superfast broadband across each community in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are committed to providing the public with the most accurate rollout information possible in relation to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband project. A definitive view of which premises will re…
18 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to give BT a role in delivering its commitment to provide 100% superfast broadband coverage across the country and, if so, what consideration it has given to the reported criticism of the company's performance in the rollout in Argyll and Bute and the service it provides…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is currently working with BT to deliver the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme, which will provide fibre broadband to at least 95% of premises in Scotland by the end of 2017. Any new public investment to deliver the 100%…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that mobile blood donation centres are used in the Argyll islands, if necessary by making special arrangements for transportation with Caledonian MacBrayne.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it will make to allow people who live on Islay to make blood donations.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Marine Scotland has taken to (a) regulate and (b) manage the South Arran Marine Protected Area.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00063 on 25 May 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a significant increase in the number of creels being placed in the South Arran Marine Protected Area following its designation and what proposals it has to regulate any overfishing.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The South Arran Marine Conservation Order 2015 has in effect created a static gear only fishing area with regard to demersal fisheries. This has caused an increase in creel fishing. There is no evidence of over fishing, and creel fishing has a much lower envi…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what regulation it plans to put in place for the South Arran Marine Protected Area.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The South Arran Marine Protected Area (MPA) was designated on 07 August 2014. Since that date the MPA has been regulated through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 via section 83 in relation to licensing decisions by public authorities, and the general protective…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will examine the burden of charity regulation on small charities with no full-time or part-time staff.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00061 on 24 May 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proposals it has to reduce the burden of charity regulation on small charities.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 is intended to support, and bring greater transparency to, the charitable sector in Scotland, whilst reassuring the public that their money is being used effectively and efficiently. The legislation is …
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any proposals by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to enhance the availability of Tiree Airport by installing permanent or demountable lighting.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd is currently exploring the potential of introducing portable Precision Approach Path Indicators at Tiree Airport. The viability of this proposal will be evaluated once the safety case and associated work has been undertaken.…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any proposal by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to withdraw security screening at Tiree Airport.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Aviation security is reserved to the UK Government. We are not aware of any proposal to withdraw security screening at Tiree Airport. Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd complies with current security requirements and will continue to do so, working with the r…
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further regulate fishing for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has no specific plans to further regulate fishing for razor clams. The government has conducted scientific studies into whether razor clams could be harvested safely with the use of electricity.
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many licences there are for fishing for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are presently a total of 30 active razor clam licences issued across Scotland but this figure varies seasonally. Each licensee may fish for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.
12 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what permissions are required to fish for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 18 August 2014 specific authorisation has been required to fish for, carry or land razor fish in Scotland. This is given in the form of a separate razor fish licence, which is available on application and physical inspection of the vessel. Electrofish…
8 Mar 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the International Development Small Grants Programme funding round for 2016-17.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I am pleased to announce that funding amounting to a total of £464,774 will be provided to 14 organisations (see following link), from our Small Grants Programme 2016-2017, for work to commence in April 2016. Total amount of recommended funding – Programme Y…