Dr Alasdair Allan

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in (a) building and (b) refurbishing schools since 2007, broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: Through the £1.8 billion Scotland's Schools for the Future programme, the Scottish Government has invested the below in building and refurbishing schools across Scotland. A new school project is being delivered in every local authority area in Scotland: Aber…

5 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its long-term plans are for regulating the harvesting of razor clams.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government considers that there is significant potential for positive economic benefit to coastal communities from an appropriately and satisfactorily managed razor clam fishery. A scientific trial of electrofishing for razor clams is currently r…

5 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it understands are in place for the live shellfish sector in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is aware the significant risks to the live shellfish sector in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Scottish Government is not aware of any contingency plan by the UK Government for Scotland's shellfish. We have repeatedly urged the UK …

4 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the impact on Scotland of constitutional developments in the House of Commons.

27 Aug 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to hospices.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, makes clear that it is the responsibility of Integration Joint Boards to plan and commission services for their area using the integrated budget under their control. This includes hospice, palliative and …

29 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of premises in the Western Isles have access to broadband speeds that are (a) greater than 24Mbps and considered "superfast", (b) between 10Mbps and 2Mbps and (c) less than 2Mbps.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Latest figures from independent broadband analysis site, thinkbroadband, show that 77.2% of premises in Na h-Eileanan an Iar are currently able to access superfast broadband speeds at the UK’s definition of 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) or above. 12.4% of pre…

25 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by Scottish Natural Heritage stating that Uist is the most vulnerable community in Scotland in this regard, which government department or public body is responsible for the creation of a mitigation strategy or action plan to address the potential loss of community …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Part 4 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places duties on public bodies relating to climate change. These duties require that a public body must, in exercising its functions, act in the way best calculated to contribute to the delivery of emissions re…

19 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs may have contingency plans for a mass-cull of livestock in the event of a no-deal Brexit, what its understanding is of the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the sheep industry in Scotland, and what information t…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are aware of reports that contingency plans for a mass cull of livestock may be being planned in the event of a no-deal Brexit but the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs have not shared any such plans with the Scottish Government. The UK Gov…

12 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21386 by Fergus Ewing on 6 March 2019, whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken to assist the workforce at Talk Talk in Stornoway ahead of the expected redundancies on 31 July.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government have been working in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Partnership Action for Continuing Employment(PACE) to assist staff who have faced redundancy due to the closure of the TalkTalk Stornoway office on 31 Jul…

10 Jun 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect Scotland’s fisheries interests around Rockall.

4 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates the appointment of a new Prime Minister will have on its relations with the UK Government on constitutional policy.

29 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in assisting the workforce of the TalkTalk call centre in Stornoway.

15 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Crown Estate Scotland receives in income from marine infrastructure and moorings around the Western Isles.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The gross revenue from all Scottish Crown Estate assets was £16.4 million in 2017-2018 and total net revenue was £9 million. There are currently no net revenue figures by local authority but gross revenue from aquaculture, offshore renewables, moorings and o…

9 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the National Gaelic Language Plan 2018-23 Implementation Strategy to be launched.

Answer · John Swinney: Implementation of the National Gaelic Language Plan 2018-23 will be monitored in a number of ways. While Bòrd na Gidhlig do not currently plan to publish a separate implementation strategy, Bòrd na Gidhlig’s Corporate Plan 2018-23, published in September 201…

15 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its resilience fund to reduce the risk of ferries breaking down has been spent.

4 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the combined spend on fisheries, including per registered fishing vessel, agriculture and forestry per CAP payment recipient for (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The combined spend to date in Scotland under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2014 to 2020 is £2.2 billion. Information about expenditure on fisheries, agriculture and forestry in England …

4 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools there are per 100,000 pupils, and what information it has regarding how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Answer · John Swinney: The latest available statistics show that there were 361 schools per 100,000 pupils in Scotland in 2018-19. The latest available statistics for England and Wales are for the year 2017-18 and show: (a) 262 schools per 100,000 pupils in England (b) 324 schoo…

4 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers there are per 100,000 pupils, and what information it has regarding how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Answer · John Swinney: The latest available statistics show that there were 7,495 teachers per 100,000 pupils in Scotland in 2018-19. The latest available statistics for England and Wales are for the year 2017-18 and show: (a) 5,586 teachers per 100,000 pupils in England (b) 5,1…

26 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to tackle population decline in rural areas.

13 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported decline in the proportion of young people in the Western Isles who speak Gaelic.   The Member has supplied the following translation:   A dh’fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba na tha e a’ dèanamh gus cruth-atharrachadh a thoirt air a…

12 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which scheduled meetings of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare since June 2016 have been (a) re-arranged and (b) postponed following a request by (i) it and (ii) the DWP.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Since June 2016 there have been 7 meetings of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare (JMWGW). The dates, and minutes, of these can be found at https://www.gov.scot/groups/joint-ministerial-group-welfare/ . The intention was that the JMWGW would mee…

12 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since March 2017 it has written to the DWP regarding (a) universal credit and (b) other benefits, and whether it has received responses. 

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government wrote to DWP 43 times between March 2017 and December 2018. On 23 occasions correspondence was regarding Universal Credit, and the other 20 occasions were regarding other benefits. During this same period, we received 32 replies from D…

12 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has experienced delays in receiving information from the DWP to enable it to pay carers supplement.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: No delays have been experienced in receiving information from DWP to enable Scottish Government to pay the carers supplement to date.

12 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since June 2016 the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare has met; who attended, and when it will next meet.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare has met on seven occasions since June 2016. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on the 1 April 2019. Details of the dates of the meetings and attendees can be found in the published minutes which are avai…

6 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people in island and remote areas in accessing legal assistance.

6 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the island's increased tourism and a need to accommodate more travellers, what assessment it has made of the need to redevelop Barra Airport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Barra Airport is operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL). Any redevelopment of the airport is a matter for the HIAL Board.

25 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of endoscopy and colonoscopy services at NHS Western Isles.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The new decontamination equipment has been installed and tested in NHS Western Isles and endoscopy services, including colonoscopy, will resume in Stornoway from March. The equipment which allows the sterile transfer of instruments between the Decontamination…

20 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities it considers augmented reality technology may bring in allowing visitors a better understanding of the archaeological heritage of Western Isles.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Digital technology can greatly enhance everybody’s experience of, and understanding of, Scotland’s rich heritage including that of the Western Isles. Scotland is recognised as a global leader in digital innovation in the heritage sector. Indeed, Scotland’s c…

13 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to replace St Brendan's Hospital on Barra.

8 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid out through the Best Start Grant scheme, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The latest figures on payments to 31 January are available in the following news release: https://news.gov.scot/news/best-start-grant-pays-out-gbp-2-7m . A breakdown by local authority is not yet available. Official statistics, covering the first months of …