Dr Alasdair Allan

9 Feb 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting seafood businesses which export to the EU.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Given the UK Government’s failure to provide meaningful funding in the timescales needed by businesses, I announced on 5 February a £7.75m package of funding to support the most impacted parts of the seafood sector through the combined impact of Covid-19 and …

9 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its latest ferries plan.

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in procuring a new booking system for CalMac.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I can confirm that, at the end of December 2020, CalMac Ferries Limited completed a procurement for a new booking and ticketing system and a contract was awarded to contractor, E-Dea SpA. Transport Scotland are funding the purchase and the implementation of t…

3 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures its Budget will provide to support people into employment.

29 Jan 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new and enhanced opportunities it will create through the Young Person’s Guarantee, and how it will track young people participating in these opportunities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Following the launch of the Young Person’s Guarantee on 5 November 2020 I can confirm that through our additional investment of £60 million in 2020-21 we have provided funding for around 18,000 new and enhanced existing opportunities to support young people i…

21 Jan 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the early payment of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) funding this year, whether it will provide an update on when and how convergence 2020 money will be distributed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am very pleased that LFASS 2020 payment runs commenced 2 months earlier than 2019 system payments, continuing our pattern of improvement. LFASS payments go to nearly 11,000 of our farmers and crofters, but because of EU rules the 2020 payment is only 40% of…

18 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has been engaging with Gaelic-speaking communities on the future of the language.

7 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it will give to extending financial support to businesses in areas subject to Level 3 restrictions, such as the Western Isles, whose income has been adversely impacted by mainland Scotland going into lockdown.

Answer · Kate Forbes: On 12 January, the Scottish Government announced funding to support businesses on Scotland’s islands though additional allocations to the Discretionary Fund sums held by relevant local authorities. We are working with those local authorities to finalise arran…

21 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to tackle loneliness and social isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

16 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues will be covered in its upcoming review of the Patient Travelling Expenses Scheme.

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that residents of Uist and Barra have access to vaccinations for COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Effective provision of Covid vaccination to the citizens of Scotland regardless of geographical location is a key aim of the Covid Vaccination programme and the Scottish Government are working with health boards to ensure this happens. We have received confir…

11 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that epilepsy training across Scotland meets industry standards, in order to ensure that all people with epilepsy are safely and appropriately cared for.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A framework of legislation protects the rights of individuals receiving care. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people with epilepsy should be treated as an individual with their human rights fully respected, protected and fulfilled. We r…

7 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on BiFab.

2 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the devolution of Crown Estate revenues to coastal communities.

23 Nov 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the launch of the Scottish National Investment Bank.

4 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the furlough scheme.

26 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the social security system will support families with school-aged children during the school holidays.

12 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue further guidance for tradespeople regarding safety measures when carrying out work and repairs in people’s homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government is committed to working with and across sectors to review - and where necessary tighten - the guidance and regulation on operating practices. This work is underway and will include further clarity on working in other people's homes dur…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Statutory Instrument required to enable island community impact assessments under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 will be laid.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The proposed laying date is 3 November 2020, with a coming into force date of 23 December 2020. These dates remain subject to any further urgent legislative work that may be required as a result of COVID-19 and EU Exit.

30 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage new entrants to crofting.

22 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how inshore marine protected areas are managed.

7 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports home working in the public sector.

19 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) adult and (b) childhood epilepsy is considered by the Scottish National Audit Programme.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Epilepsy is not covered in any of the current national audits within the Scottish National Audit Programme. We do however recognise the importance of data collection in order to better understand people’s needs and to inform service planning and development. …

19 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to local authorities to ensure that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will have adequate resources to keep pupils and staff safe.

5 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the post-lockdown economy in rural communities benefits from, but does not become overly dependent on, tourism.

7 Jul 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support the future development of crofting.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is firmly committed to the future development of crofting so it can continue to play a significant role in sustaining remote rural and island communities. The capacity of the Crofting Commission is key to that, including how its activ…

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently-published study, The Gaelic crisis in the vernacular community, and which of its findings and recommendations it plans to act upon.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all our indigenous languages, including Gaelic. We recognise the benefits that they bring to the whole of Scotland and wish to afford those that are interested in learning them or learning through them the op…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the legal challenge to the north lot of the R100 programme.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: It would be inappropriate to comment on the legal proceedings in respect of the R100 North Lot themselves while those proceedings are still ongoing. In the meantime, we are developing a Scottish broadband voucher scheme, for which anyone who will not have a …

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in procuring a new booking system for CalMac.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: CalMac Ferries Limited, operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services commenced procurement of the new booking system in early May using the “Competitive Procedure with Negotiation” methodology. The first part of the procurement is complete and short-lis…

16 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Food Fund will continue to support groups most in need over the summer, including families with children who are eligible for free school meals.