Dr Alasdair Allan

15 Jun 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update for island residents who wish to book ferry tickets.

11 Jun 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the report from the recent consultation into the replacement of European structural and investment funds in Scotland post-EU exit will be published.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I am delighted to inform you that the consultation report has been published today and is available online at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781839608087  

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance issued to CalMac regarding permitted travel to and from the islands during the COVID-19 outbreak will be updated.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The categories of permitted traveller are set out in the COVID-19 Framework for Decision Making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, which is available at www.gov.scot/coronavirus. The next statutory date for review of the Route Map is 18 Jun…

3 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and island economies.

2 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Foreign Office regarding the repatriation of the oil rig workers from Scotland who are stranded in India due to the restrictions on inbound flights that have been imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Repatriation of UK citizens overseas is the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In cases where the Scottish Government is made aware of people from Scotland struggling to return due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 p…

27 May 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the funding consequentials following from recent extensions to business grants and the charity support direct grant.

16 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the necessary components will be delivered to NHS Western Isles to ensure that tests for COVID-19 can be processed within the islands rather than sent to the mainland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: All Health Boards in Scotland now have capacity to carry out testing for COVID-19 and in NHS Western Isles this started on 27 April.

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to recreational boating companies impacted by COVID-19 that have no business premises.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is working with the sector, and all parts of the tourism industry to support them as best we can. There are a range of schemes that can be accessed at present such as furloughing or access to the Self-employment Income Support Scheme. …

31 Mar 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that patients from island communities with COVID-19 can be transported to receive the appropriate healthcare when required.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government, along with the Scottish Ambulance Service and other key stakeholders, have taken a number of actions to increase capacity for airlifting patients off of the islands. These include:Procurement of Epishuttles, which are single patient i…

25 Mar 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to the fishing industry in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, in light of reports of concerns in the sector that the current package of business support from the UK Government is not sufficient and not tailored to the industry.

Answer · Fergus Ewing:  Yesterday I announced an initial package of more than £5 million in financial support to assist fishing businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This funding will be offered to over 650 seafood fishing companies, many of whom have lost their li…

23 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how quickly it can use its new legislative powers to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak to prohibit gatherings, including for commercial, leisure, religious or other purposes.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Coronavirus Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 25 March. It conferred various powers on the Scottish Ministers to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak - including powers that mirror those of the UK Government under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 19…

19 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide to organisations in receipt of charitable rate relief, such as community trusts, during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Coronavirus is the biggest challenge we have faced in our lifetimes and the measures we take to deal with it must reflect its magnitude. On 18 March 2020, the Communities Secretary announced £350 million in emergency funding for local organisations, including…

17 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what arrangements it is putting in place for people from island communities who require the use of an air ambulance, and whether the service will be able to carry people who have been tested positive for the virus.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We’ve been working closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service to significantly increase capacity for airlifting patients off the islands and to ensure that any patients from our island communities with COVID-19 can be transported to receive the appropriate h…

16 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the SQA regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 on the exam timetable for 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: In response to the current challenging set of circumstances, I have had extensive discussions with the Chief Examiner. This culminated in my announcement on 19 March that the exam diet will not go ahead this year. SQA are now working to deliver a credible cer…

5 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many decrofting applications have been approved by the Crofting Commission in each year since 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Crofting Commission have approved a total of 2582 decrofting applications since 2013-14. The approvals can be broken down into application type, Croft House Site & Garden Ground, Part Croft and Whole Croft decrofting applications.   DECROFTING APPLICATI…

4 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out to harness the potential of so-called university spin-out companies.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government recognises the significant economic and social value to Scotland in enabling the commercialisation of innovation emerging from our world class universities and research institutes. This is supported through a range of activities and in…

4 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many so-called university spin-out companies there are in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The latest number of active spin-outs from academic year 2017-18 is provided in the following table:   Scottish Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) spin-out activity, AY 2017-18 Type of active spin-out Number Formal spin-offs, not HEP-owned 95 Spin-offs…

4 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much so-called university spin-out companies have contributed to the economy in each of the last five years.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not hold any information that specifically measures the economic impact of university spin-out companies. However, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes data on the employment and turnover of active spin-out fir…

18 Feb 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed by the Crofting Commission.

11 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the justice system provides support to victims of serious crime and keeps them informed at every stage of the process.

11 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when women affected by mesh complications will receive details of the distribution of the £1 million support fund announced in its Budget for 2020-21.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Now that the budget for 2020/21 has been agreed, we will give careful consideration to how the fund is used and, in doing so, will take care to reflect on the impact that mesh complications have had on the lives of the women affected. As such, we will consult…

28 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the recruitment challenges in the social care sector in rural and remote areas.

Answer · Maree Todd: Our National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan aims to support workforce planning across health and social care services and directly address recruitment challenges. As part of this work the Scottish Government launched a national campaign on 27 January 2…

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to additional sailings on the Sound of Barra ferry service during the summer.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Following the short term recommendations highlighted in the Outer Hebrides STAG Report, commissioned by Transport Scotland, timetable improvements for the Sound of Barra were considered during the annual summer 2020-21 timetable review process. The options co…

21 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government's welfare reforms are having on low-income families in Scotland that include a disabled person.

19 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it can take to better enhance the consumer protection for vulnerable people facing aggressive sales at the doorstep.

6 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much expenditure there has been on the croft house grant scheme since 2007.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: From January 2007, the Scottish Government has approved grant payments of over £20.3 million, helping to build and improve over 970 croft homes.

5 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the conditions for firearms certificates.

21 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the replacement of St Brendan's Hospital and Care Home on the Isle of Barra.

20 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vessels are listed by the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation as "catching wrasse for supply to the salmon farming sector", in accordance with the measures set out in Voluntary control measures for the live capture of Scottish wild wrasse for salmon farms.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not presently hold information on the number of vessels listed by the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation but you may be able to obtain it by approaching the Organisation directly. Marine Scotland’s landings records show that…

18 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates a decision will be reached regarding options for the replacement of St Brendan's Hospital and Care Home on the Isle of Barra.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Feasibility Study is ongoing at present. The intention is to conclude the study and present the findings with the options by 28 October. Thereafter the paper with the outcome would go to the local authority on 4 November and the Health Board on 27 Novembe…