Rob Gibson

2 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how traditional instrument tuition fits in with its strategy for Scottish traditional arts.

22 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress there has been on the review of neonatal and maternity services.

25 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what aspects of fair work it has discussed recently with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

21 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what upland areas of Scotland have been mapped as suitable for extensive new planting to both absorb water and capture CO2.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government does not hold maps specifically showing which upland areas are suitable for new planting for water management and carbon sequestration alone. However, local authority led regional forestry and woodland strategies use maps to guide the…

11 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much surface water plantation forestry absorbs from surrounding water courses and rainfall in the Highlands per annum.

5 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients' homes have been sold to pay for long-term nursing care since May 2011, and whether any agricultural land has been included.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of properties sold by individuals who enter residential care is not held centrally. Through deferred payment of residential care fees, individuals have the option not to sell their homes during their lifetimes to pay for the costs o…

9 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review areas designated as core wild land.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government does not have any plans to ask Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to review its 2014 map of wild land areas, which are not a statutory designation. SNH provided advice to the Scottish Government at the time when the map was published and…

9 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used to designate an area as wild land.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Wild land areas, which are not a statutory designation, were identified by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) using a three phase mapping methodology. This involved: 1) Using geographic information system analysis to map four physical attributes across Scotland…

9 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Garvie Island live bombing range is considered an area of wild land.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Garvie Island is a small offshore island which forms part of the much larger Cape Wrath wild land area as identified by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Ministry of Defence (MOD) activity, which is infrequent, was considered by SNH when preparing its wild lan…

9 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the wild land designation is aimed specifically at controlling wind power development or at any man-made developments.

Answer · Alex Neil: Wild land is not a statutory designation. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) contains policies on wild land generally. Policy in the SPP on wind energy developments also specifically refers to wild land. The SPP does not impose a blanket ban on development in wil…

9 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many windfarm applications have been refused on the grounds of wild land in the last three years and what the impact was in terms of potential (a) megawatts, (b) community benefit, (c) the amount of carbon that would have been displaced, (d) investment in the area and (e) jobs.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Wind farms of 50 megawatts or more are determined by Scottish Ministers through the Electricity Act 1989, those of less than 50 megawatts are determined by planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended). Planning app…

7 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights has given to implementing the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

30 Nov 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether planning regulations can be adapted to allow more housing in the countryside.

30 Nov 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what part Scotland can play in the international mitigation of climate change.

16 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what upgrades are planned for the A9 north of Inverness.

27 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Food Standard Scotland's position is regarding the reported 400% increase in the use of glyphosate over the last 20 years, and whether the agency plans to limit its use on farms.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond to the first part of this answer. His response is as follows: “FSS considers that current levels of pesticide residues in food, including glyphosate levels, which are regulat…

27 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Food Standards Scotland's position is on the (a) World Health Organization classifying glyphosate as a carcinogen and (b) Soil Association's reported claim that glyphosate is found in 30% of all bread tested in the UK.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond. His response is as follows: “The current approval for use of glyphosate in plant protection is being reviewed under the auspices of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)…

27 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what study Food Standards Scotland has conducted on the carcinogenic effects of glyphosate and its exposure levels in (a) imported soya for livestock consumption and (b) store-bought bread.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond. His response is as follows: “FSS was established in April 2015 and has not commissioned any studies in this area. FSS is however advised by the Chemicals Regulation Director…

27 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Food Standards Scotland's position is on the maximum residue levels of glyphosate exposure to wheat and imported soya crops that has been set by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond. His response is as follows: “FSS considers that current levels of pesticide residues in food, including glyphosate levels, which are regulated by EU regulations, do not prov…

28 Sep 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress Abellio has made on behalf of users of long-distance Scottish rail routes.

21 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland’s traditional arts are funded.

14 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has that orthopaedic specialisms are meeting the needs of patients.

14 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what involvement the Scottish Government will have in the UN Sustainable Development Summit 2015.

7 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scotland's Rural College regarding plans to close the Inverness veterinary laboratory since the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee meeting on 2 September 2015.

4 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address (a) increasing numbers of and (b) increasingly dangerous seagulls.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Although regular seabird censuses include species that are particularly problematic in urban environments (herring and lesser black-backed gull), there has only been a single inland gull nesting survey in 2000. Results suggest that approximately 1% of herring…

4 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what best practice was taken forward following the summit that it convened on urban seagulls in 2008.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Urban Gull Task Force, which was set up after the summit in 2008 has recommended various measures to help minimise the problems caused by urban gulls including: the removal, where necessary, of eggs and nests under Scottish Natural Heritage General Licenc…

24 Aug 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Highland regarding staff shortages and hard-to-fill posts.

6 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce legislation relating to licences to kill wild salmon.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: It is anticipated that the details of a kill licence regime will be available in September 2015 with legislation following at the earliest opportunity thereafter.

6 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what scientific process it uses to calculate the feed sources of a growing seal population around the coasts.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government commissions expert scientists to investigate seal diet and they develop an appropriate methodology for estimating the diet of both individual seals and wider seal populations. The examination of fish ear bones or otoliths found in s…

6 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is a difference between the hereditary rights of active and dormant fishing stations in relation to possible levels of compensation regarding wild salmon fishing.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26998 on 28 September 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…