Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to (a) raise public awareness of sepsis and (b) ensure that GPs and other medical professionals receive the necessary training to identify the symptoms of sepsis.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and promoting work around public awareness of sepsis. The Scottish Government currently works closely with NHS Scotland and the Fiona Elizabeth Agnew Trust (FEAT), supporting the Sock it to Sepsis campaign an…
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the establishment of marine protected areas for the minke whale, and what the timescale is.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: SNH provided the basic advice for two Marine Protected Area (MPA) proposals for minke whale in 2014. The Scottish Government intends to consider the suitability of these proposals in 2018. Minke whale are a highly protected species in Scottish Waters and as …
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to (a) BT and (b) other providers regarding broadband customers with slower speeds paying the same as those with faster speeds.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is for Ofcom as the telecommunications market regulator to monitor matters such as pricing. However, the Scottish Government is working hard to ensure that Ofcom takes into account the particular challenges facing Scotland and is also encouraging it to de…
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it determines the cumulative impact of onshore wind farms.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: When assessing applications for onshore wind, Scottish Ministers have regard to the cumulative impact of the proposed development which forms the subject of the application, other constructed and consented projects, or proposed developments which are also in …
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether projects involving renewable energy technologies other than wind should pay community benefit.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government's position is outlined in our Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments, which states we would wish to see community benefits promoted across all renewable technologies. The Good Practic…
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has the power to make renewable energy generators declare the amount of community benefit they are paying.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has no powers to make renewable energy generators declare the amount of community benefit payments committed to or paid out. However to ensure openness and transparency into the process we established a Community Benefit register and e…
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the top 50 onshore wind farms are in terms of installed capacity, broken down by the (a) amount of community benefit paid per MW, (b) local authority in which each is based, (c) date from which community benefit has been paid and (d) amount of community benefit paid to date.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Local Energy Scotland who deliver our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) maintain a voluntary register of community benefits payments. All developers of renewable energy developments and local communities in receipt of community benefit payments ar…
8 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what level of community benefit must be paid by renewable energy generators to qualify for rates relief.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Renewables energy generation relief up to 100% may be available if a scheme has arrangements in place that entitle one or more community organisations to: at least 15% of the annual profit, or so much of the annual profit as is attributable to 1 megawatt of…
6 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the open letter of 22 June 2017 from the Scottish Guidance Association regarding the impact of teacher workload on its members.
Answer · John Swinney: The letter was answered on 12 July 2017, full text attached: Dear Members of the Committee Thank you for your e mail of 22 June 2017, addressed to John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and enclosing an open l…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of shortages of (a) chefs and (b) other hospitality-related skills (i) generally and (ii) in rural areas and, if so, what action it is taking to help address these.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Tourism Skills Investment Plan, published on 29 September 2016, highlights current skills issues, and shortages in some key roles, facing the tourism sector. A copy may be obtained using this URL http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/42345/tou…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the Bank of Scotland regarding the plan to reduce branch counter services for businesses, which is to be implemented on 2 November 2017, including the impact that this could have in rural areas.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs & Fair Work and I raised the issue of branch closures with representatives of Scotland’s financial sector at the last meeting of the Financial Services Advisory Board on 10 May 2017. I was pleased to see a recognition f…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the BBC to ensure that the economic and employment benefits arising from the new digital channel are spread to all parts of Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 23 February I met with the BBC Director-General Lord Hall and welcomed the commitment to create 80 new journalism jobs, which the BBC has said will be based across Scotland. Further representations were made on 13 July in the Scottish Government’s respons…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a one-stop-shop or user-friendly gateway that offers advice, assistance and details of the options available to (a) communities and (b) households that are seeking connection to superfast broadband.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme has a dedicated website (www.scotlandsuperfast.com) that provides advice and up-to-date information on the current roll-out of superfast broadband across Scotland. The website covers all the options availab…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on rural communities of the recent closures of high street bank branches; what representations it has made to the UK Government on this matter, and what response it has received.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The regulation of banking remains reserved to Westminster and the Scottish Government cannot directly compel banks to maintain a branch presence where they have taken the commercial decision to close. Banks who are closing branches in and across Scotland, mu…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to carry out an analysis of the impact of reported discriminatory parcel delivery charges that disadvantage rural communities, including those with IV postcodes.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is supportive of the research Citizens Advice Scotland and Ofcom are doing in relation to this issue. I am also reassured to note that the UK Consumer Protection Partnership, which is chaired by the UK Government’s Department for Busin…
31 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of discriminatory parcel delivery charges being imposed that disadvantage rural communities, including those with IV postcodes; what steps it is taking to tackle this; whether it will name the companies that make such charges; what representations it has m…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I recognise the longstanding concerns about parcel deliveries to rural and remote areas of Scotland. The Scottish Government worked with partners to develop a Statement of Principles for parcel deliveries which was launched by the former Minister for Energy, …
30 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is provided to the Moray Council in relation to rural education needs (a) overall and (b) per pupil, and how this is calculated.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The vast majority of funding the Scottish Government provides to Moray Council is through the annual local government settlement, including funding for rural education needs. This funding is being provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility o…
22 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to encourage colleges to employ tutors from the deaf community to teach British Sign Language.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Colleges wishing to employ tutors from the deaf community to teach British Sign Language can do so by utilising the Access and Inclusion Fund which is worth a total of £50.5m. Colleges are expected to use this fund to ensure that their college is inclusive an…
22 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to encourage people to acquire teaching qualifications in British Sign Language, and whether it provides additional or specific assistance toward the training of tutors from the deaf community.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will publish Scotland’s first British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan - as required by the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 – later this year. The plan has been developed alongside Deaf and Deafblind BSL users and includes a range of actions …
22 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to support the teaching of British Sign Language in colleges.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: British Sign Language courses are taught across a range of levels at college and university. The funding for the college courses comes from the core teaching allocation provided by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council.
31 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a reduction in the level of service delivered locally for children in Moray with diabetes, and what its position is on the relevant staffing levels at Dr Gray’s Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Boards and Health & Social Care Partnerships are responsible for the planning and provision of services, including workforce, that meet the needs of their local populations. NHS Grampian, in response to recruitment difficulties across the Board, have be…
17 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that consultation events organised by (a) it and (b) its agencies take account of the needs of people who are visually and/or hearing impaired.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: A Step-by-Step Guide on developing consultations, which includes advice on ensuring that consultations are accessible, is available on Saltire (the Scottish Government intranet) and advice is also provided in the Scottish Government publication Principles of …
17 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what obligations cinemas and other public places have in terms of being autism-friendly.
Answer · Maureen Watt: We want Scotland to be an open, accessible place for autistic people. It is crucial that autistic people are able to access social and leisure activities, cinemas and other public places and that reasonable adjustments are in place to enable them to access th…
17 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are expected to have autism partnership boards, and to what extent these are monitored.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of people with autism through the Scottish Strategy for Autism. There is no legal requirement placed upon Local Authorities to have specific autism partnership boards. It is up to the local system h…
12 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact withdrawal from Euratom by the UK could have on the availability of the radioactive isotopes that are used in Scotland for cancer treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: As medical radioisotopes are not special fissile nuclear material and are not subject to international nuclear safeguards, their availability should not be impacted by the UK’s exit from Euratom. However, the Scottish Government is committed to maintaining r…
30 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can take steps to prevent the Port of Cromarty Firth from issuing a license for ship-to-ship oil transfers, in light of the concerns expressed by local communities.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Port of Cromarty Firth is not the competent authority for issuing licences for ship to ship oil transfers. That role is reserved to the UK Government under the Merchant Shipping (Ship to Ship) Regulations 2010, as amended. If invited to be a formal consul…
19 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the devolution of powers to communities, and whether it plans to allow communities to have a greater say regarding the impact of major infrastructure projects.
5 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allow (a) British Association for Immediate Care, Scotland (BASICS) and (b) other emergency responders to have the same authority as doctors to act as green light responders, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government, or any other authority, do not issue permission to drive under green lights. Anyone wishing to do so must follow the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989. These Regulations are clear that green lights are only to be used by medica…
15 May 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the Good Food Nation Bill and whether it will include addressing the health implications of multi-buys.
28 Apr 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had on tackling the volume of plastics in seas around Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has been involved in discussions with the international commission OSPAR, of which the UK is a contracting partner. The OSPAR objective is to substantially reduce marine litter in the North East Atlantic over the period of 2010-2020. T…