Stewart Stevenson

11 Mar 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the Deer Working Group’s report.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government response to the Deer Working Group’s report has today been published on the Scottish Government website and can be found on the Deer Working Group page. Effective and sustainable deer management is fundamental to our efforts in tack…

11 Mar 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scotland maximises the potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence, and addresses the associated challenges.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has a vision that Scotland’s data is used systematically to improve decision-making, saving time, money and lives. Data impacts on almost all aspects of human activity and in every sector of the economy, which means that to ignore its…

9 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding managing the economic impacts of Brexit.

5 Mar 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress there has been in implementing its deposit return scheme.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government recognises the unique and significant pressures that COVID-19 and EU Exit have placed on industry over the past year, including the businesses with responsibility for implementing Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Despite this, …

3 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on beef farming in Scotland of a memorandum of understanding with Brazil.

23 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Social Security Scotland Client Survey: 2018-2020.

26 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding retaining the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit.

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the prioritisation of First Responders, who work on the frontline alongside the emergency services as volunteers, in the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Interim Chief Medical Officer. The Jo…

18 Jan 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding compensation for fishing communities, in light of the disruption at ports since the end of the EU exit transition period.

6 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making for its participation in COP26.

18 Dec 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of its Hydrogen Policy Statement and Scottish Hydrogen Assessment report.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Today the Scottish Government will publish its Hydrogen Policy Statement and the report of the Scottish Hydrogen Assessment. The Policy Statement can be accessed at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800045033 The Hydrogen Policy Statement sets out our support …

16 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency to help take families out of poverty.

14 Dec 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the UK Government’s Brexit negotiations and their potential impact on Scotland.

11 Dec 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its Programme for Government to publish a high-level statement on biodiversity before the end of 2020, when it plans to fulfil that commitment.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I am pleased to inform Stewart Stevenson and other MSPs that I have today published a high level Statement of Intent on biodiversity, which is available on the Scottish Government website at the following address: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800044708 .  

11 Dec 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on the North lot of the R100 programme.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I am pleased to advise Parliament that the North lot contract of the Reaching 100% (R100) programme was signed on 11 December, successfully concluding the procurement process and meeting our commitment to do so before the end of this calendar year. Through t…

24 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest engagement has been with the UK Government regarding the funding provided to support the economic recovery from COVID-19.

18 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial and mental health support has been made available to students in further and higher education who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

28 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what welfare funding is being made available to support people facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.

27 Oct 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions it is taking to deliver its target to meet 11% of non-electrical heat demand from renewable sources by 2020.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I can confirm that I have laid a report in Parliament today that provides an update on the actions that the Scottish Government is taking to reach our renewable heat target. The report is now available on the Scottish Government website (at https://www.gov.s…

30 Sep 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to deliver a Future Fisheries Management Strategy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Last year, extensive engagement was held with a wide range of stakeholders to discuss key principles and matters which would inform the development of a Future Fisheries Management Strategy. We received 120 written responses to the discussion paper, and ran a…

14 Aug 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its proposed voucher scheme for access to superfast broadband, which it plans to complement its three R100 programme contracts.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Our new Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) will provide grants to broadband customers in both residential and business premises, offering support to customers to ensure they can access superfast broadband of at least 30 Megabits per second (Mbps). It is…

5 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding the finance secretary will allocate to support people who are looking for work or at risk of redundancy as a result of COVID-19.

10 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to ensure that young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds are not digitally excluded while learning from home.

11 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the trade minister can take if UK trade deals with other countries allow food products that are produced to lower standards to be imported.

20 Feb 2020 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on reports that an increase to the MSP staffing budget this year will not be enough to provide Members’ staff with a similar pay increase to that which is likely for Parliament staff.

12 Feb 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's proposed legislation on fishing and farming and the impact of this on Scotland.

3 Feb 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the Prime Minister's statement that the UK will refuse close alignment with EU rules, whether the Scottish Government will remain aligned with EU environmental standards.

27 Jan 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how a new Scottish visa could address depopulation and skills shortages.

15 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a letter from 27 business groups to MSPs regarding concerns at a proposed amendment to the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, which would remove ministers’ ability to set business rates poundage and automatically end the small business bonus scheme and other bene…

8 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the forestry sector of increased fire hazard due to long-term environmental changes.