Stewart Stevenson

24 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the early General Election could have on the agreement of a new UK fisheries concordat.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Government has informed the Scottish Government that, subsequent to the commencement, from midnight on Friday 21 April 2017, of the 'election period' and the application of General Election guidance, it does not intend to agree nor bring into effect a …

24 Apr 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its implementation of the SNP manifesto commitment to take forward a consultation to review the regulation of the legal profession and to support a modern and effective legal sector, including new forms of business model.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Scottish Ministers propose to establish an independent review of the regulation of legal services. The purpose of the review will be to make independent recommendations to reform and modernise the statutory framework for the regulation of legal services and c…

13 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to increase tourism in the north east and other rural areas to ensure that these communities benefit from the tourism sector.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of tourism to the economy of the North East of Scotland and other rural areas. Its development is supported through the work of a range of public bodies, for example, VisitScotland's national and interna…

16 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how ScotRail's performance in 2016-17 compares with 2004-05.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: ScotRail’s performance has increased from 83.0% PPM for the full year in 2004-2005 to 90.1% PPM up to period 12 2016-2017, 7.1% improvement.

16 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the performance of ScotRail since the ScotRail improvement plan was introduced.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since ScotRail implemented its Performance Improvement Plan in September performance has improved over the next five consecutive periods, with PPM last period (12) at 93.2% and MAA at 90.3% - MAA up by 0.7% since the improvement plan process. ScotRail has the…

9 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has had from the UK Government regarding the exercise of powers by the Scottish Parliament over justice, agriculture and fisheries following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The UK Government has not provided any assurances over the exercise of powers by the Scottish Parliament following the UK’s exit from the EU. The UK Government has said that “no decisions currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from th…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to set a fisheries' landings target, and what impact it considers that this will have on fishing communities.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has been working with all parts of the fishing industry in Scotland, onshore and offshore, to encourage a voluntary increase in landings of sea fish, and particularly pelagic sea fish, into Scotland. The Government sought a voluntary i…

22 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on the fishing industry of the UK Government considering it a medium priority in its negotiations on leaving the EU, as suggested in a recently-leaked memo.

15 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a response to its request to the UK Government for access to Scottish waters to fishermen from the EU not to be used as a bargaining tool in the Brexit negotiations.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I have raised this issue with UK Ministers on a number of occasions, and on a number of occasions they have declined to give a direct answer. Most recently I wrote to Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Defra on 22nd November. She replied to my letter on …

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made on the implications for jobs and the local economy as a result of Peterhead power station being unable to secure a deal to supply capacity to the UK grid in the recent capacity market auction.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: SSE has said it will be reviewing future options for Peterhead over the coming months and will engage with all stakeholders. During the review the current operations at the station, and the workforce of 90 personnel will not be affected. We are very mindful o…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make representations to the UK Government regarding the higher transmission entry capacity costs faced by Peterhead power station in the recent capacity market auction because of its location in the north east of Scotland, which is believed to have prevented it from secur…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: SSE’s Peterhead power station did not secure an agreement in the 2017 Capacity Market Year-Ahead Auction. The company has attributed this to significantly higher Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) costs than other power stations in the GB electricity …

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it will undertake with SSE over the future of Peterhead power station.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of SSE. We will work closely with SSE as they undertake their review over the coming months and will explore all options for Peterhead to continue providing reliable power for many years to …

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the higher transmission entry capacity costs faced by Peterhead power station in the recent capacity market auction because of its location in the north east of Scotland, which is believed to have prevented it from securing a deal to supply capacity to the …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges for each generator and generation zone are published by National Grid on their website at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/System-charges/Electricity-transmission/Approval-conditions/Cond…

19 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its decision on the recommendation to consolidate the national cleft surgery service on a single site.

Answer · Shona Robison: Having considered the evidence, and stakeholders views, I am approving the recommendation to consolidate cleft surgery on a single site at the Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow, subject to strong conditions being met. My decision is founded on the need to p…

14 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of the UK Government’s energy policies will be on Scotland's efforts to tackle climate change.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This issue was debated earlier in December and found support in the chamber for Scotland’s renewables. Climate change is a global challenge and other countries must step up to match Scotland’s levels of ambition and action. In the area of energy, where many k…

16 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to review the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

7 Nov 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the impact on Scotland of the outcome of the US Presidential election.

26 Oct 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that disabled people are treated fairly when disputing benefit payments when these are devolved.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government will introduce a Scottish social security system that respects the dignity of the individual and their right to be treated fairly at every stage in the process. That means giving people the information they need, ensuring the system is…

3 Oct 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress that it has made in delivering the national CAP loan scheme.

30 Sep 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will conclude the pre-qualifying stage of the tender for the next town centre Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Services contract, which is due to begin in June 2017.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The pre-qualification stage is now complete and we have written to four participants to inform them that they have been successful. This has allowed us to seek confirmation from those participants that they wish to continue with their interest in the competit…

18 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with UK Government regarding the lifting of the ban on overseas trading of skates and rays quotas.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In May and June 2016 I wrote to and spoke with UK Government Ministers about their decision to ban export of certain skates and rays quota from the United Kingdom. This ban had the effect of preventing valuable monkfish quota from being imported into Scotla…

18 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the lifting of the ban on overseas trading of skates and rays quotas will have on fishermen based at (a) Peterhead and (b) other Scottish ports.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01557 on 15 July 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.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

20 Jun 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the sustainable future of dairy production in North East Scotland.

6 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in boosting the delivery of STEM subjects.

Answer · John Swinney: We are making good progress in boosting the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. This financial year we are investing £1.5 million in practical support for teachers for science, technology, and maths through the Scotti…

16 Mar 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that children get the best start in life.

7 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics in schools.

2 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on the culture and traditions of North East Scotland.

24 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to tourism in Aberdeenshire.

15 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the CashBack for Communities programme is having in North East Scotland.

15 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in the common agricultural policy convergence uplift negotiations with the UK Government.