Richard Lochhead

24 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00367 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 November 2016, when the University of the Highlands and Islands will provide an equitable funding settlement to Moray College.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The distribution of funding for UHI colleges is a matter for the regional strategic body, UHI. SFC have been in discussion with UHI and have received a Financial Recovery Plan from UHI on behalf of Moray College UHI. SFC have considered the plan and bid for s…

13 Apr 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the introduction of a deposit and return scheme for drinks containers.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In deciding whether such a scheme is right for Scotland, I think it is important to keep an open mind until we have considered the potential costs and benefits in partnership with all of those who would be involved. Zero Waste Scotland - on behalf of the Sc…

22 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to grow Scotland’s food and drink exports.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scotland Food & Drink partnership has developed an export plan which was launched in March 2014 to help the industry achieve export growth and build Scotland’s international reputation as a “Land of Food and Drink” by targeting specific market opportuniti…

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the support provided for the provision of rural bus services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government will provides bus subsidy of £53.5m/year in 2017-18. This subsidy is called the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) and is paid directly to operators and whose aim is to support the overall bus network and help passengers with the cost …

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been given in subsidies to commercially-run local bus services by each local authority in each of the last three years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Local authorities are funded through the block grant to support bus services that they deem socially necessary. Local Government spend on bus support over the last three years was: £59m in 2013-14, £57m in 2014-15 and £59m in 2015-16. Further detail is contai…

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide additional powers to local authorities regarding the (a) regulation and (b) provision of rural bus services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Transport Bill, which we want to introduce during the current Parliament, will aim to strengthen the range of options available to local authorities to improve bus services in their areas, such as through better partnership working with bus operators, set…

8 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what treatment and support is available to chronic pain patients in the NHS Grampian area.

23 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the courts in relation to Section 14 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 have been (a) lodged and (b) approved.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A notice under section 14 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 may be served by an access authority on a landowner. The landowner may appeal the notice to a sheriff. The Scottish Government is aware of seven cases in which there have been applications for …

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides to third sector organisations that provide services for veterans.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government provides funding to a range of third sector organisations that deliver services for veterans. These include the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to support the Community Jobs Scotland programme, Combat Stress for the provis…

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made or commissioned regarding the availability of raw materials for anaerobic digestion and other renewable technologies, and the impact that these additional demands will have on feed stocks for the livestock sector.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Bioenergy can bring a range of benefits as a renewable energy. In our draft Energy Strategy we commit to the development of a whole-system Bioenergy action plan, through this we will work collectively across Scottish Government to focus on the best use of our…

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the campaign to reduce VAT for tourism, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding this.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government values the significant contribution made by the visitor economy and considers that a reduced rate of VAT could bring important benefits for the tourism sector, including enhancing its competitiveness. In March 2016, following a joint M…

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations in the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Succession will be taken forward and, further to its response of 13 July 2009 to the report, whether it will provide an update on its position on the recommendations regarding intestate succession.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government brought forward a number of the recommendations in the Scottish Law Commission’s Report on Succession for change to technical areas of the law in the Succession (Scotland) Act 2016 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/7/contents/en…

1 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how rural deprivation is taken into account in its funding allocations.

25 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding and support it provides to projects that aim to tackle inequalities.

23 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications of devolution are for the Crown Estate's coastal communities fund.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Fiscal Framework Agreement sets out the principle that responsibility for the UK Government's Coastal Communities Fund will be devolved to the Scottish Government. Scottish Ministers have agreed to a further round of funding applications under Round four …

23 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to compulsory purchase privately-owned, vacant high street shop units, and what guidance or assistance is available for this purpose.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Local authority powers to compulsorily acquire land are to be found in various general Acts of Parliament. The purpose for which the authority seeks to acquire land will determine whether it has relevant powers and which power is most appropriate. The 2016 P…

18 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Scottish Land Commission plans to review the effectiveness of access legislation.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I was delighted that the Parliament unanimously approved the appointment of the Land Commissioners in December and I am aware that they are beginning to develop an initial work programme in preparation for the Scottish Land Commission becoming operational in …

11 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in providing the Crown Estate with a social remit as part of the devolution arrangements.

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to provide financial assistance to rural schools that incur additional transportation costs for pupils that attend after-school activities, and to what extent local authorities are obliged to take such needs into account.

Answer · John Swinney: In Scotland local authorities have a duty under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the transport between home and school of pupils residing and attending schools, in their area. In considering these arra…

16 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance is available to support National Galleries Scotland touring programmes to promote access to national arts collections in communities throughout Scotland in and beyond 2017.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The National Galleries receives £12.9m per annum from the Scottish Government in support of its operating costs. While none of this is ring-fenced for touring programmes, I expect the Galleries, and all of the national bodies in receipt of public funding, to …

14 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teaching posts are vacant in each local authority area, listed by ranking, and also broken down by what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school posts this represents.

Answer · John Swinney: The following tables show primary and secondary teacher vacancies at September 2016 in each local authority area, listed by ranking: Primary Teacher Vacancies - at September 2016 Local Authorities Total Primary Vacancies* Aberdeen City 45 South Lana…

14 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support The Moray Council with the recruitment of teachers.

Answer · John Swinney: While it is ultimately the responsibility of local authorities, we are taking a number of actions to help recruit teachers. These include the delivery of our teacher recruitment campaign to encourage more people into the profession, increasing student teacher…

5 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its budget will take account of promoting regional policy.

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on support being made available to increase food and drink exports and develop new international markets.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scotland Food & Drink partnership has developed an Export Plan which was launched in March 2014 to help the industry achieve export growth and build Scotland’s international reputation as a “Land of Food and Drink” by targeting specific market opportuniti…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any assessments it has made of the economic opportunities of increasing food and drink exports.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish food and drink industry has set itself an ambitious target of reaching £7.1billionn in Exports by 2017. The Scotland Food and Drink Partnership is in the process of developing the next industry food and drink growth strategy, which will cover the…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to (a) community groups and (b) social enterprises to promote outdoor learning in nursery and school settings.

Answer · John Swinney: Outdoor Learning is a key component in the delivery of Curriculum of Excellence. The outdoor environment has massive potential for learning and we are keen to see all of our children and young people having positive learning experiences in a variety of settin…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities regarding supporting outdoor learning that aims to improve (a) educational attainment and (b) health and wellbeing.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government wants to see all children and young people having positive outdoor learning experiences in a variety of settings. Education Scotland’s Development Officer for Outdoor Learning and Health and Wellbeing Team support educational establish…

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many speeding enforcement (a) warnings and (b) penalty notices have been issued for speeding offences (i) in towns and (ii) nationally in each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The enforcement of speed limits is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the administration of fines is the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the final report by the European Commission’s Agricultural Markets Task Force.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has welcomed the final report by the European Commission's Agricultural Markets Taskforce as a further attempt to strengthen farmers' position in the food supply chain. We will now consider the recommendations in detail and discuss the…

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what obligations public authorities have to collect waste on privately owned land that is present as a result of illegal fly-tipping.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Private land owners are responsible for the removal of waste from their land. Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 enables a local planning authority to require the owner and occupier of land to take specific steps to remedy the l…