Liam McArthur

24 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to which countries, including other parts of the UK, Scottish plastic waste was exported in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022, broken down by the percentage exported to each.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Details of transfrontier shipments of waste are not published or held by Scottish Government, but are held by SEPA. Information on exports to other UK countries is not available for the years requested. Due to the cyber attack suffered by SEPA in 2020, data…

24 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) volume and (b) percentage of Scottish plastic waste was exported to non-UK countries in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022, broken down by that which was exported (A) directly from Scotland and (B) via other sites in the UK.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Details of transfrontier shipments of waste are not published or held by Scottish Government, but are held by SEPA. Information on exports to other UK countries is not available for the years requested. Due to the cyber attack suffered by SEPA in 2020, data…

24 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to Recommendation 7 in the first report of the independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy, what consideration is being given in discussions with local authorities regarding the development of solutions to manage residual waste ahead of the landfill ban…

Answer · Lorna Slater: The independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy recommended that in view of the upcoming ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste, Scottish Government should work with local authorities to ensure they have a solution to manag…

24 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on whether any local authorities are currently considering exporting waste as a measure in response to capacity gaps arising as a result of the 2025 landfill ban on biodegradable municipal waste.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the range of options considered by local authorities for the treatment of residual waste ahead of the forthcoming ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste. Local authorities are responsible for th…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on the Long-Term Plan for Vessels and Ports on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles networks (2023-45), which is part of the Islands Connectivity Plan, will be launched.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I look forward to launching the public consultation of the draft Long-term Plan for Vessels and Ports on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles Networks (2023 – 2045) in April. An advance copy of the draft Plan was sent to key stakeholders, for initial comme…

15 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects to meet its target of 81% of Scotland’s water environment being in a good condition by 2027, in light of reports that the target date for cleaning up waterways in England has been moved back to 2063.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As I announced in my statement to the Scottish Parliament in December 2021, the publication of Scotland’s third River Basin Management Plan sets out our ambitious objectives aiming to improve the overall condition of Scotland’s water environment from 66% curr…

15 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Scotland’s waterways are currently classed as being in good ecological condition.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) classifies the overall condition of Scotland’s surface water environment (rivers, lochs, transitional waters, and coastal areas) at 64% in good or better condition. This is compared to England where its Enviro…

1 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to schools and community libraries to improve the availability of books that promote racial equality.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The School Libraries Improvement Fund (SLIF) is distributed via the Scottish Library and Information Council (as is the Public Libraries Improvement Fund). £200,000 has been allocated in 2022/23 to SLIF which has supported a total of 18 initiatives across Sco…

1 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reopen the School Library Improvement Fund.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Applications for the 2022-23 School Libraries Improvement Fund were accepted from 29 August 2022 to 29 September 2022. We are engaging with the Scottish Library and Information Council and will set out future plans in due course.

25 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09982 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 August 2022, how much funding is currently available in the current financial year to help purchase (a) new and (b) used electric vehicles through interest-free loans.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government's Used Electric Vehicle Loan provides interest free loans to help individuals and businesses make the transition to electric vehicles. Energy Saving Trust deliver this scheme on behalf of Scottish Minister, and publish loan statistics …

24 Jan 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the ferries task force with Orkney Islands Council.

19 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its consultation on proposals to improve energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: In its 2022-2023 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to publishing a consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill during 2023. This consultation will seek views on proposals for a regulatory framework for reducing emissions across Scotland…

19 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board will report on its findings and proposals.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05896 on? 7 February 2022. 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-commit…

19 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Climate Change Committee’s assessment in its Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland – 2022 Report to Parliament that "Agroforestry and hedgerows offer the opportunity to increase carbon stocks on farms while allowing agricultural production to continue", a…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We agree that agroforestry and hedgerows can be incorporated throughout agriculturally productive land, offering carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits. We support this through grants and the initiatives such as the Integrating Trees Network. The Agri…

18 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeframe for implementation of the Air Departure Tax.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As outlined in the Scottish Budget 2023-24, the Scottish Government remains committed to introducing Air Departure Tax when a solution to the Highlands and Islands exemption issue has been found. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the implicatio…

18 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, with reference to the recently published Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, whether its commitment to make changes in relation to the provision of secure accommodation and the regulation of secure accommodation services, including those services that take children from other p…

Answer · Clare Haughey: The care provided by Scotland’s independent secure providers is highly-regarded. We need to consider how the secure care system operates overall in the coming years, taking in to consideration the asks from the Independent Care Review’s Promise and the incorp…

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings in the report, Still Nothing to See Here?, on prison deaths and fatal accident inquiry outcomes, and whether it accepts the report’s findings regarding the Scottish Prison Service’s suicide prevention strategy, Talk To Me.

Answer · Keith Brown: The report from Glasgow University covers a range of distinct topics which can be considered individually. The safe treatment, health, and wellbeing of all those in custody is a priority for this Government and it is vital that people who live in our prisons…

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the Scottish Prison Service will publish its revised mental health strategy for people in custody.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS is committed to the development of a Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy which is being written in partnership with key stakeholder…

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Prison Service regarding the development and publication of its revised mental health strategy for people in custody, which was originally due in 2021.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The Scottish Government is working in partnership with SPS to ensure that the revised Strategy aligns with the planned Scottish Govern…

9 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update its interim greenhouse gas emissions targets in line with the latest advice from the Climate Change Committee, and, if so, whether it will seek advice on future target levels in order to avoid changes in estimation methodologies affecting the achievability of the t…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is considering the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) latest advice on greenhouse gas emissions targets and will respond as soon as possible. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the CCC’s advice on future target levels must be …

9 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make use of carbon credits to meet its net zero targets, and, if so, what proportion of its targets it aims to achieve through the use of carbon credits.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (the Act) sets a default position that no carbon credits purchased by Scottish Ministers can be used to meet any of Scotland’s statutory greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, and the Scottish Government currently h…

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £32 million Local Bridge Maintenance Fund was distributed, broken down by each (a) local authority and (b) successful application.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The £32 million Local Bridge Maintenance Fund broken down by local authority and successful applications is set out in a document that has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, Bib number 63925.  

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for local bridge and causeway maintenance.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The vast majority of funding available to councils is provided by means of a block grant from the Scottish Government. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources avai…

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to reopen the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.

Answer · Tom Arthur: While there are not any plans to reopen the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund at this time, the Scottish Government will continue to meet with COSLA and individual local authorities on a regular basis to discuss the issues affecting local government. The Scottis…

7 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Orkney Islands Council regarding the Scottish Budget 2023-24 and what issues were discussed.

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many island communities impact assessments it has carried out since the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 was passed, broken down by year.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The duty to carry out Island Communities Impact Assessments came into force on 23 December 2020. All ICIAs and decisions not to carry out an ICIA are published by the Scottish Government and are readily available to access online .  

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-16968 by Humza Yousaf on 12 June 2018 and S6W-11891 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 November 2022, for what reason it is no longer able to provide a breakdown of operating subsidies on an airport-by-airport basis.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government provides grant funding to HIAL to operate the entire business, comprising all airports and a range of corporate and support functions. We do not hold information broken down by airport and by corporate function. I have asked HIAL to wr…

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Crown Estate Scotland has powers to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order, and, if this is the case, how these powers can be exercised.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Crown Estate Scotland does not have powers to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order.

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many short-term lets licences have been approved since 1 October 2022, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 requires licensing authorities to maintain and publish a public register of short-term let licences on their website, or…

25 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to create new formal flood protection schemes, and whether these are part of any future Flood Risk Management Strategies.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Flood Risk Management Plans for the period 2022-2028 were approved by Scottish Ministers in December 2021 and published by SEPA in January 2022. They coordinate the efforts of all organisations that tackle flooding to where the risk of flooding and benefits o…