Liam McArthur

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to redirect young people remanded for, or convicted of, an offence to secure accommodation where there is capacity available.

Answer · Natalie Don: It is Scottish Government policy to place children in secure accommodation where detention is required by the court. Subject to Royal Assent, once the relevant provisions in the Children (Care and Justice) Scotland Bill are commenced, this will ensure that …

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any risk assessment process that is undertaken before detaining multiple prisoners in single cells in prisons and custody suites, and how many "high risk" prisoners are currently housed alongside "standard risk" prisoners across the prison estate.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: A Cell Sharing Risk Assessment is conducted on every occasion where two (or more) individuals are required to share one cell. The pr…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what process exists for the certification of cells in prisons and custody suites.

Answer · Angela Constance: Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed that Cell Certification is conducted in all prison establishments. This process involves all prison cells across the estate being regularly checked a minimum of 3 times per we…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is an equivalent standard to "certified normal accommodation" or "uncrowded capacity" for prison cells in Scotland, as required for cells in England and Wales, and, if so, how many prison cells in Scotland currently exceed this capacity.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: I refer the member to the response provided for S6W-27211 on 15 May 2024. There is no equivalent standard to “certified normal accomm…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what requirement exists for the maintenance of minimum standards of cleanliness and physical decency in cells in prisons and custody suites.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: I refer the member to the response provided for S6W-27206 on 13 May 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what minimum standards are required for cells in prisons and custody suites before they can be used to confine prisoners overnight.

Answer · Angela Constance: Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed that each prison cell must be of an adequate size, fitted with a means of communication with an officer and have a standard of cleanliness. Further, each cell used to accommo…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cells in prisons and custody suites currently exceed their maximum capacity.

Answer · Angela Constance: Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed that there are no cells within the SPS estate that exceed their maximum capacity. The management of the police custody estate is a matter for Police Scotland. Cell availabili…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what requirement exists for the maintenance of minimum safety standards in cells in prisons and custody suites.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: I refer the member to the response provided for S6W-27206 on 13 May 2024. Annual cell certification checks are also undertaken by Est…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that an islands impact assessment was undertaken in relation to VisitScotland's proposal to close its iCentres across Scotland, and, if it is not the case, for what reason it decided not to undertake such an assessment.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, VisitScotland is required to consider island communities when carrying out its functions. VisitScotland published an Islands Impact Screening Assessment in March 2024 which is available at https://www.visitscotland.or…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what principles and policies guide the undertaking of islands impact assessments.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Sustainable and thriving island communities are vital to Scotland. The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 emphasises the importance of ‘island-proofing’ policies to consider and address specific island characteristics when policy is being developed and delivered. I…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to remove existing plastic pollution from seas and waterways.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is taking action to prevent and support the removal of plastic pollution in seas and waterways through measures detailed in the Marine Litter Strategy. The refreshed Marine Litter Strategy aims to address the amount of litter enterin…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring or assessment it has undertaken to measure the (a) amount of plastic pollution in seas and waterways and (b) sources of any such pollution.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government currently monitors plastic pollution in the sea through microplastics in surface water, sea-floor litter, and beach litter. We have initiated work to collect data on plastic pollution in waterways though supporting and funding Keep Sco…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent plastic pollution in seas and waterways.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is taking action to prevent and support the removal of plastic pollution in seas and waterways through measures detailed in the Marine Litter Strategy and the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy. The refreshed Marine Litter Strat…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: In January 2024, Scottish Government published our draft Circular Economy & Waste Route Map which sets out a range of priority actions to deliver sustainable use of our resources and progress a circular economy in Scotland by 2030, including measures to drive…

30 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its timeline for the introduction of free ferry travel for island residents under 22 years old. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27131 on 10 May 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…

30 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects island residents under 22 years old to have access to free ferry travel to the mainland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The draft Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach, published for consultation on 1 February 2024, said that we would take forward detailed consideration of proposals for under 22 year old island residents to provide free foot passenger travel on inter-is…

25 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what degree of impact it expects the extension of free bus travel to (a) under-22s, (b) over-60s and (c) disabled people to have on its emissions reductions targets.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scotland-wide free bus travel schemes aim to make sustainable travel more available, affordable and accessible to those aged 60 and above, aged under 22 and eligible disabled people. As set out in our report on proposals and policies to reduce greenhouse…

25 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide any modelling, or other assessment undertaken, to estimate any reduction in (a) car kilometres travelled and (b) CO2-equivalent emissions as a result of the extension of free bus travel to (i) under-22s, (ii) over-60s and (iii) disabled people.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: As outlined in the draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030, achieving this commitment relies on a package of over 30 interventions. The route map does not apportion a specific reduction in car kilometres, nor in CO2-equivalent …

23 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the ferries task force with Orkney Islands Council, including when it expects new ferries to be procured.  

18 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made estimates of the carbon sequestration rates per hectare in species-rich grassland compared with (a) improved grassland and (b) arable land, and, if so, at what soil depth this has been measured.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Estimating carbon sequestration rates for different land uses falls under the remit of the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Scottish Government does not make these kinds of estimates. The Scottish Government has commissioned research through the ClimateX…

18 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an up-to-date assessment of the ecological condition of species-rich grasslands (a) within and (b) outside of Special Sites of Scientific Interest.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The 2023 Official Statistic ‘The Proportion of Scotland’s Protected Areas in Favourable Condition 2023’ reported that, of 161 species rich grassland natural features on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 73% were in favourable condition or had recen…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its final response to the Review of the Effectiveness of Environmental Governance will incorporate evidence recently submitted to the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee by Environmental Standards Scotland, the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland a…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The final Scottish Government response will take into account the views provided by stakeholders in their written consultation responses on the main issues of the report, including an environment court, which reflects the evidence that was provided to the Net…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on youth groups of the proposal by Disclosure Scotland to introduce Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) fees for voluntary roles.

Answer · Natalie Don: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows: Disclosure Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, is consulting on how disclosure fees could be discounted for certain groups in futur…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what potential impact it expects the introduction of Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) fees for voluntary roles would have on child and adult safeguarding.

Answer · Natalie Don: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows: Disclosure Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, is consulting on how disclosure fees could be discounted for certain groups in futur…

7 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has made and (b) is considering making a referral to the Competition and Markets Authority highlighting a Highlands and Islands exemption in its planned devolved Air Departure Tax as a subsidy of particular interest.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has not made a referral to the Subsidy Advice Unit at the Competition and Markets Authority. Any future proposal for Air Departure Tax or a proposal relating to the Highlands and Islands exemption will be assessed for compliance with t…

7 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25326 by Tom Arthur on 6 March 2024, whether it will detail how the UK subsidy control regime introduced in 2023 represents a barrier to implementation of a devolved Air Departure Tax, in light of the regime granting devolved governments the power t…

Answer · Tom Arthur: All subsidy schemes - including tax exemptions - must clearly demonstrate that the objective of the exemption clearly aligns with a set of seven principles defined in the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The Scottish Government will fully assess how any proposal for…

7 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25326 by Tom Arthur on 6 March 2024, whether it will detail exactly what options are being explored to implement Air Departure Tax in the manner described.

Answer · Tom Arthur: All viable options identified by the Scottish Government will be subject to full consultation at the appropriate time. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all options presented will protect Highlands and Islands connectivity, along with the …

6 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next meeting of the Orkney Ferries Replacement Task Force will take place.

Answer · Shona Robison: The next meeting of the Orkney Ferry Replacement Task Force will be held on 18 April 2024.

5 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19266 by Mairi McAllan on 28 June 2023, whether it will provide an updated table listing any additional monitoring carried out, further to the surveys detailed in the previous answer.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The updated MPA Monitoring Strategy Annexes, which will include lists of all sites that have been monitored over the period, will be published on the Marine Directorate website by the end of March 2024.  

5 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25408 by Mairi McAllan on 4 March 2024, whether it will confirm (a) which sites are due to be surveyed in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025 and (b) where information on recent and upcoming surveys can be publicly accessed, in light of the resource that was lin…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The updated MPA Monitoring Strategy Annexes will be published on the Marine Directorate website by the end of March 2024. This will include: a) The plan for surveys undertaken in 2023 and proposals for upcoming surveys in 2024. The planned surveys for 202…