David Stewart

29 Aug 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a review of the requirement for a pedestrian crossing on the A96 Forres bypass opposite the new rail station.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Yes, a review was completed earlier this year and the report passed to the Community Council on the 27 July. The results indicate that the provision proposed by Network Rail is appropriate. Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the location in terms of …

14 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assess the effect of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 on the number of tail injuries to adult working spaniel and hunt point retriever type dogs.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor the effect of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 on the number of tail injuries to adult working spaniel and hunt point retriever type dogs.

14 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the evidence relied on by veterinary surgeons as proof that spaniel and hunt point retriever type puppies presented to them for tail shortening under the terms of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 are genuinely int…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor the evidence relied on by veterinary surgeons as proof that spaniel and hunt point retriever type puppies presented to them for tail shortening under the terms of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (…

14 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ascertain the number of spaniel and hunt point retriever type puppies that have their tails shortened under the terms of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor the number of spaniel and hunt point retriever type puppies that have their tails shortened under the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.

14 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will measure the effect of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 on the welfare of spaniel and hunt point retriever type dogs.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to measure the effects of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 on the welfare of spaniel and hunt point retriever types dogs.

21 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to redistribute Crown Estate staff posts across Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is the first year of operation for Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management), following devolution on 1 April 2017. One of its primary goals is to prepare the organisation to respond to Scottish Ministers’ long term objectives for the management of Crow…

12 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Transport Scotland regarding introducing a pedestrian crossing across the A96 at the new Forres railway station.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: On 7 November 2016, there was a meeting on this issue, which included David Stewart MSP and the Community Council. At that meeting, Transport Scotland – the Scottish Government’s national transport agency - indicated that it was unlikely that Network Rail wou…

12 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the Kessock Bridge flyover will be completed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment within the £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, significant investment of up to £109m will be made by the Scottish Government in the trunk road network to deliver the grade separation of the A9/…

12 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Met Office regarding introducing high-density radar cover for Moray and the Northern Isles.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is currently no plan for increasing the number of radars in Scotland. However there is an on-going weather radar network renewal project. This major investment by the Met Office in the radar network will enhance the capability of existing radars. Two o…

12 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness will be completed.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025.

23 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has held with EU oficials to determine whether the Highlands and Islands will be exempt from the air departure tax.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As I set out in my answer of 6 June, the UK, as the European Union Member State, is responsible for notifying the exemption to the European Commission. The Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Government to progress the notification to the Euro…

20 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the ministerial working group on fire safety will review building standards regulations regarding the provision of automatic fire suppression systems.

12 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it is supporting to tackle obesity and type 2 diabetes.

5 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Transport Scotland has provided to (a) local authorities and (b) regional transport partnerships for the provision of ferry services in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not provide specific amounts of funding to local authorities for the provision of ferry services. Funding is, however, included in the block grant which the Scottish Government provides to all local authorities as part of the annu…

5 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to complete its consultation with (a) trade unions and (b) other stakeholders as part of the Ferry Services Procurement Policy Review.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government’s engagement with key stakeholders, including the trade unions, is currently taking place and will continue during the course of the policy review. I have discussed the review with individual trade unions and will shortly be meeting th…

5 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the charter agreements that (a) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and (b) David MacBrayne Ltd has had with private shipping companies for additional vessels in each year since 2000-01, including what the value was of each agreement.

Answer · Humza Yousaf:  Pentland Ferries Pentalina B April 2009 CalMac Ferries Ltd Serco Northlink Ltd Hildasay Oct – Nov 2015

24 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07008 by Derek Mackay on 23 May 2017, whether it has asked the UK Government to seek an exemption from the EU for passengers flying from Highlands and Islands airports.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to prepare a notification to the European Commission, under State Aid rules, for an Air Departure Tax exemption for passengers flying from Highlands and Islands airports. The UK, as the European Union …

15 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will replace the role of the European (a) Commission and (b) Court of Justice in ensuring that the relevant authorities in Scotland are held to account with regard to the enforcement of environmental legislation after the UK leaves the EU.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The environment has been an important area of EU regulation that has allowed Scotland to achieve high levels of pollution control and environmental quality in Scotland and help influence the development of those standards across Europe. As set out in the Scot…

10 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08819 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2017, how wider biodiversity impacts of new planting, in particular of non-native commercial timber species and impacts on upland habitats and breeding birds, are taken into consideration to strategically inform…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Local Authorities publish regional forestry and woodland strategies which are used to identify suitable areas for woodland expansion. These strategies aim to deliver a wide range of benefits from new woodland, including conserving and enhancing biodi…

10 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08819 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2017, what tree growth and soil data are being used to inform the choice of tree species and planting location, and where these data can be accessed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The key tool used to inform tree species and planting location decisions is the Ecological Site Classification decision-support system, developed by Forest Research. The system models the potential growth of a given tree species based upon its tolerance to th…

10 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08819 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2017, how the tree growth and soil data are applied to strategically inform new planting proposals and permissions to ensure that the right tree is planted, in the right place, in order to optimise carbon seques…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Local Authorities publish regional forestry and woodland strategies which identify suitable areas for woodland expansion to ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place for the right reason. These strategies promote the multiple benefits …

3 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average spend is on each pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

28 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effect on children's health of diesel fumes in city centres.

Answer · Shona Robison: Poor air quality affects the health of everyone in Scotland but especially the very young and old and those with pre-existing illnesses such as heart disease and respiratory conditions. In 2010, the UK Government Department of Health’s expert advisory committ…

27 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what responsibility (a) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and (b) CalMac has regarding removing litter at (i) ports and harbours and (ii) sea.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Waste management at sea comes under MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) which is enacted in law in the UK through the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage and Garbage from Ships) Regulations 2008. At …

27 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it has spent on removing litter from (a) the A9, (b) the trunk road network, (c) the motorway network and (d) other roads that it has responsibility for in each year since 2013-14.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to clear litter from all verges and roads, including trunk roads such as the A9. Transport Scotland, through its operating companies, is responsible for clearing …

27 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place between it, Transport Scotland, local authorities and road operators to ensure that there is coordination regarding responsibility for (a) litter removal and (b) verge maintenance, and how it monitors the effectiveness of these.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to clear litter from all verges and roads, including trunk roads. Transport Scotland, through its operating companies, is responsible for clearing litter from mot…

26 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average spend is on each pupil in primary and secondary schools.

Answer · John Swinney: Official statistics show that in 2015-16, average revenue expenditure per primary school pupil in Scotland was £4,877 and average revenue expenditure per secondary school pupil in Scotland was £6,920.

19 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to promote the North Coast 500 route.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: VisitScotland is a key member of the multi partner group established by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to lead on the strategic delivery of the opportunities offered by the North Coast 500. In addition, VisitScotland have provided support and assistance in …

13 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission research on the soil carbon impacts of tree planting to help set its targets for planting and inform it regarding where carbon savings can be made.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is already using climatic, tree growth and soil data to inform the choice of tree species and siting of new woodlands to deliver our current annual planting target of 10,000 hectares. We will continue to commission targeted research in…

3 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-05435, which received a holding response on 9 January 2017, and what the reason is for the delay.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05435 on 10 April 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…