Liam McArthur

30 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many recorded incidents of motor vehicle theft there have been in each year since 2017, and, of those, how many resulted in a conviction.

Answer · Keith Brown: Table 1 on Crimes recorded by the police, Scotland, 2012-13 to ? 2021-22, from the National statistics on Recorded crime in Scotland, includes the requested information on theft of a motor vehicle. This is available within the supporting document and the asso…

30 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many recorded incidents of bicycle theft there have been in each year since 2017, and, of those, how many resulted in a conviction.

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table details the number of recorded crimes of theft of a pedal cycle for the March year end data for reporting years 2016-17 to 2021-22. Table: Number of theft of a pedal cycle crimes recorded by the police, Scotland, 2016-17 to 2021-22 Repor…

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has carried out for the Islands Energy Strategy.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Work to develop an Islands Energy Strategy was delayed during the pandemic. In the interim period there have been significant changes to the policy landscape, including the commitments to take forward an Energy Strategy Just Transition Plan for Scotland and t…

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Islands Energy Strategy.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As stated in the answer to S6W-10716 on 20 September 2022, work to develop an Islands Energy Strategy was delayed during the pandemic. In the interim period there have been significant changes to the policy landscape, including commitments to take forward an …

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings from the 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey. 

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government intends to publish the key findings from the 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey in February 2023. This was communicated to users through a ScotStat email and is published on forthcoming publications and Scottish Household Survey…

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes in each local authority area have been built through the (a) Rural Housing and (b) Islands Housing Fund since November 2021.

Answer · Shona Robison: A total of 35 homes have been completed through the Rural and Islands Housing Fund since November 2021. The following table provides a breakdown by local authority area. Council Rural Islands Argyll & Bute 0 6 Dumfries & Galloway 4 - Highland 10 4…

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to improve the energy efficiency of (a) business buildings, (b) local authority buildings (excluding housing), (c) social housing and (d) domestic housing in each year from 2020 to 2022.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Funding the Scottish Government has allocated to improve energy efficiency of buildings 2020 to 2022  2020 - 2021 2021 - 2022 2022- 2023 (a) Business buildings £8,000,000 £8,750,000 £8,000,000 (b) Local authority buildings £1,590,000 £3,085,000 £4,…

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of probationer teachers are set to be allocated to each local authority in 2022-23 as part of the Teacher Induction Scheme.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The allocation process is managed by the General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS). Probationer teachers are allocated to each of the 32 local authorities and to Jordanhill based on their preferences and need identified by the authorities. As of 31 August …

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when 4G masts in Rackwick and Stronsay in Orkney, as part of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme, will go live.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Construction of the masts at Rackwick and Stronsay is complete. Both masts are being developed in collaboration with the Home Office’s Emergency Services Network (ESN). 4G service will, ultimately, be provided on these sites by mobile network operator EE. To …

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many offences have been recorded under section (a) 2, (b) 3 and (c) 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in each local authority area in each year since 2019, and how many subsequent (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions there were.

Answer · Keith Brown: In terms of recorded offences, the data received from Police Scotland for producing the National Statistics on Recorded Crime, is a simple count of the number of crimes and offences, for each local authority, which the police have recorded and cleared up. Th…

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of motoring offences where being unfit to drive due to alcohol or drugs was the main charge in each year since 2017.

Answer · Keith Brown: Information is available from the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2020-21 statistical publication. Table 4(b) in the main tables provides information on the number of convictions for 'Driving under influence'; and the additional dataset titled 'Drink and C…

17 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which minister signed off the Island Communities Impact Assessment carried out as part of its consultation on proposals for the regulation of short-term lets, published on 10 December 2020.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Island Communities Impact Assessment did not require ministerial sign off however, it formed part of the 2020 Short-term Let Consultation Report which was signed off by Kevin Stewart who was the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

16 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the full operational costs of Circularity Scotland in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland Ltd is a private, not-for-profit business. As such, the Scottish Government does not have access to this information.  

16 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated estimate on the annual cost of operating the Deposit Return Scheme in a "steady state" as set out in the full business case addendum, which was published on 16 March 2020.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has no plans to produce an updated full business case addendum at this time.  

15 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authority has requested an extension to the deadline for establishing a short-term lets licensing scheme by 1 October 2022, and what consideration has been given to any such request.

Answer · Shona Robison: No local authority has submitted a request seeking an extension to the deadline of 1 October for establishing short-term let licensing schemes in their area. Officials remain in regular dialogue with local authorities in the lead up to schemes opening.

15 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the consequences will be for any local authority that does not have its short-term lets licensing scheme established by 1 October 2022.

Answer · Shona Robison: I have recently written to local authority Housing Conveners and Chief Executives to remind them of their duty to establish short-term let licensing schemes by 1 October 2022, and we continue to work with local authorities on implementation matters as they pr…

12 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the prioritised recommendation of the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report that Scotland, in particular, must "vigorously prosecute and convict suspected traffickers".

Answer · Ash Regan: Any form of human trafficking is completely unacceptable. Action Area 2 of the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy is led by Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit and membership includes a range of law enforcement partners, including the Crown …

4 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle human trafficking, in light of the findings of the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report July 2022.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament, gives police and prosecutors greater powers to detect and bring to justice those responsible for trafficking as well as strengthening protections for su…

4 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report July 2022, which states that "Observers in Scotland noted an increase in the proportion of criminally exploited children who were charged with crimes and underscored that more trafficking victims faced crimin…

Answer · Clare Haughey: Child trafficking and exploitation is abuse. When there is reason to believe that a child may have been trafficked or exploited an immediate child protection response is required and an inter-agency referral discussion (IRD) should be undertaken. In cases whe…

3 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new connections of superfast broadband have been delivered to properties in the North Scotland Lot, as part of the Reaching 100 Programme, in each month from 1 January to 31 July 2022, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The following table shows all superfast broadband connections delivered to properties in the North Lot via the R100 Programme each month from 1 January to 31 July 2022. As requested these are broken down by local authority area.  R100 Programme North Lot Con…

25 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09230 by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2022, whether the majority of investment relationships in question are entered into and managed by Scottish Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies; which individuals or bodies are responsible for handli…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The majority of private investment relationships are entered into, and managed, by Scottish Government agencies and NDPBs. Investment relationships not managed by public bodies are overseen by the core Scottish Government. The officials responsible will vary…

25 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09230 by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2022, how many (a) initial and (b) full human rights due diligence checks have specifically been conducted by the Scottish Government, rather than non-departmental public bodies, since it published its Guidance on due …

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09230 on 11 July 2022, the Scottish Government does not maintain a record of the number checks undertaken using the Guidance on due diligence: human rights. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are av…

25 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09238 by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022, how many instances of non-compliance by the Scottish Government with its Guidance on due diligence: human rights have occurred since the guidance was published in 2018.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09230 on 11 July 2022. The Scottish Government does not maintain a record of the number checks undertaken using the Guidance on due diligence: human rights. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are av…

22 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a solicitor has been appointed by court for an unrepresented person facing charges under section 1(1) of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information however the Scottish Legal Aid Board does record applications for legal aid in Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act (DASA) 2018 cases applied where Section 22(1)(dd) of the Legal Aid Act (Person accused of certa…

21 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the reported rising input costs of fertiliser, feed and fuel being experienced by the farming industry.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The war in Ukraine has sent shockwaves through the global food system and the impacts are being felt by producers and consumers in Scotland. This has compounded the challenging operating environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. I committed to …

21 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for people seeking to buy a new electric vehicle.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is providing over £30 million this financial year to accelerate the shift to zero emission transport. This includes support for zero emission community transport and car clubs in addition to funding interest free loans for electric veh…

21 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme in each year from 2016 to 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has allocated the following amounts to the Low Carbon Transport Loan from 2016 to 2022. 2016-17 £7,800,000 2017-18 £8,200,000 2018-19 £20,063,222 2019-20 £46,458,263 2020-21 £43,000,000 2021-22 £62,700,000 2022-23 £28,000,000 u…

19 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05655 by Mairi McAllan on 19 January 2022, when it will provide a full response to the previous parliamentary session's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee’s Inquiry into Regional Marine Planning, as committed to in the Minister fo…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: We continue to carefully consider the report and recommendations made by the previous Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee as regards regional marine planning and are working to finalise our formal response, which will be published this Autum…

19 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Fair Fares Review will be published,

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Fair Fares Review was established to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares as we recover from the pandemic. The review is being undertaken in a phased approach, to enable options to be considered and announced/ trialled o…

1 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering or has any plans to introduce legislation in relation to the reported pilot scheme for, or establishment of, juryless trials.

Answer · Keith Brown: The review, Improving the Management of Sexual Offence Cases , led by the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian, developed proposals for an improved system to deal with serious sexual offence cases, including recommending consideration of a time-limited pilot of…