Dr Alasdair Allan

6 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide to fishers in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency who have reportedly expressed concern about their livelihoods and the future of their communities in light of the potential economic and cultural impact Highly Protected Marine Areas may have on coastal and is…

15 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding concerns over the potential impact in Scotland of the proposed Illegal Migration Bill.

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review its working location policy to consider whether more civil service jobs (a) in general and (b) that impact public services in the Highlands and Islands, can be decentralised.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Workforce numbers and locations are regularly reviewed to ensure that the organisation is delivering for the people of Scotland as efficiently and effectively as possible. We undertake workforce planning in line with Scottish Government priorities. In additi…

27 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on turnout at future Scottish Parliament and local authority elections of the introduction by the UK Government of voter ID requirements for elections to the UK Parliament. 

23 Feb 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the proposed consultation on merging UHI Outer Hebrides College, UHI West Highland College and UHI North Highland College will be published.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The consultation has been published today and is available on the Scottish Government’s Consultation Hub, Citizen Space https://consult.gov.scot/lifelong-learning-and-skills/rural-and-islands-college-merger-proposal It seeks views on the proposals put forw…

14 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS Western Isles’ recruitment of a new permanent GP and hospital doctor for the islands of Barra and Vatersay.

7 Dec 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project.

7 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to facilitating postal deliveries of prescriptions for people in rural areas who are housebound and have no access to a community pharmacy.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government is not currently considering the introduction of a home delivery service for Community Pharmacy. A large number of community pharmacies provide a free home delivery service and where they don't, patients are encouraged to use approaches su…

30 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the education secretary has had with ministerial colleagues in relation to the automatic provision by public service bodies of easy read formats to accommodate the needs of people who are neurodiverse.

22 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the timetable for the awarding of the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: My officials in Transport Scotland are currently considering the most appropriate route for continuity of these services. I will consider this advice as soon as I receive it. The most important factor for passengers and staff will be seamless provision, irres…

15 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to EE regarding the reported significant phone signal and broadband disruption for the area of Uig in the Isle of Lewis, which is now reportedly entering its second month of severe issues, and what consideration has been given to such recurring problems d…

Answer · Ivan McKee: Despite the area of telecommunications being wholly reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Government has asked BT and EE to do all it can to resolve the matter on Uig as quickly as possible, given the vital importance of reliable digital connectivity fo…

2 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the implications for its housing strategy to the latest Registers of Scotland UK House Price Index figures, which were published on 19 October 2022.

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns over low blood stocks, whether the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service will consider resuming donations from the Western Isles which were suspended in 2017.

Answer · Maree Todd: Blood stocks in Scotland are assessed as adequate to meet current clinical demand, but will continue to be monitored. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has no plans at present to resume providing blood donation sessions in the Western Isles, due…

26 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Covid Recovery Strategy is supporting rural and island tourism businesses.

25 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that Island Communities Impact Assessments (ICIAs) are required to be carried out in relation to areas that are near to proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas, and, if it is the case, whether any such ICIAs have been conducted to date.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is currently considering ICIAs in relation to proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas. Engagement with local stakeholders will be carried out during the process where appropriate. We will begin site selection next spring and will active…

30 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to the UK Government regarding any reduction in access to skilled crew fishing vessels in the Western Isles from 1 November 2022 as a result of the UK Government's reported plan to strictly implement existing transit visa regulations with regards to non-E…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is aware of Home Office plans to issue amended immigration rules to prohibit all forms of activity within UK territorial waters or onshore by crew employed using transit visas. Following representations from the Scottish Government and…

26 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the issue of absenteeism in crofting.

22 Jul 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the Lord Advocate’s reference to the Supreme Court on whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence relates to reserved matters.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: I have decided to publish the written case in the matter of my Reference under paragraph 34 of schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998 in relation to whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence contained in the proposed Bill relates to reserved…

15 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to (a) Ofgem and (b) energy supply companies regarding the reported issue of waiting times of more than three months for meters to be installed, exchanged or repaired in the Western Isles, in light of reports that this has become a significant issue for i…

Answer · Michael Matheson: I know that many consumers across Scotland are facing long waits for energy meters to be installed and this has been a source of much frustration. Regulation of energy markets, including in relation to the installation of meters, remains reserved to the UK G…

7 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland expects to provide an update on its consideration of the winter 2022-23 ferry timetable proposals, which were reportedly submitted to Transport Scotland by CalMac in May 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has engaged with CalMac and Ministers regarding routine Winter 2022-23 timetable requests and decisions have been fed back to Ferry Committees and local stakeholder groups. The service continuity measures and alternative timetables during …

24 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any attempt has been made to measure the financial and economic losses to the Uist community from ferry disruptions in 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As the member will know, disruption to the network in early 2022 linked directly to weather conditions and Covid impacts. Whilst no specific analysis of the financial and economic impacts from this ferry disruption on the Uist community has been undertaken, t…

24 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new booking system for CalMac Ferries, Ar Turas, will gauge unmet demand for ferry services, and, if not, what systems can be put in place to ensure that unmet demand is recorded.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CalMac has noted that it is not possible to measure unmet demand using booking systems, including the eBooking solution being delivered by the Ar Turas Programme. We understand the desire to measure bookings “not made” for a specific set of reasons, principal…

14 Jun 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its prospectus for an independent Scotland.

Answer · Angus Robertson: As part of our Programme for Government commitment to provide the people of Scotland with the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, I am pleased to advise Parliament that the Scottish Government is today publishing Independence …

25 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the courts system to clear the current reported backlog of cases.

23 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the guidance to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 stating that feral sheep, goats and ponies are "protected animals" under the Act on account of domestication making them permanently reliant on humans, whether the Soay and Boreray sheep of St Kilda are covere…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Animals protected under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 are defined as those that are: (a) of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands; (b) under the control of man on a permanent or temporary basis; or (c) not living in …

16 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that everyone in (a) Scotland and (b) rural and island areas has access to an epilepsy specialist nurse.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with epilepsy are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care. …

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to continue to support clinical physiology education and training, in light of the viability of the only clinical physiology degree programme in Scotland reportedly being at risk.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) have recently stated that their clinical physiology degree programme will not continue beyond the current cohort which commenced in September 2021 and as such Scottish Government are actively working with NHS Education for …

10 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants have been awarded through the Croft House Grant scheme in the Western Isles since 2007.

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the British Standards Institute regarding the timeline for establishing the proposed Scottish Technical Group, to help ensure that PAS regulations can be tailored for rural and coastal housing stock, climate and geography.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: We are continuing to work with the BSI to finalise the membership and terms of reference for a new Scottish technical group to help achieve this. The membership of the group will include a representative who can highlight the needs and concerns of remote rura…

28 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the housing agency, Tighean Innse Gall, ending the employment of staff involved in providing government-funded home insulation schemes, how such home insulation work will be continued in the Western Isles.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: We have written to the Comhairle setting out our view on the issues raised by Tighean Innse Gall and continued delivery of home insulation schemes in the Western Isles. The Scottish Government has proposed practical solutions and remains open to receiving pro…