Liam McArthur

1 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the members of the reported working group established to examine the delivery of a pilot scheme for juryless trials.

Answer · Keith Brown: In addition to the Scottish Government, the working group includes representation from the following organisations:Scottish Courts and Tribunals ServiceFaculty of AdvocatesCrown Office and Procurator Fiscal ServiceVictims Support ScotlandScottish Legal Aid Bo…

1 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the precise remit of the reported working group established to examine the delivery of a pilot scheme for juryless trials, and when any such working group will report.

Answer · Keith Brown: A number of Working Groups have been set up to support and inform the Lady Dorrian Review Governance Group on specific areas or aspects of the recommendations, share accountability and ownership of action, and encourage stakeholders and organisations to work …

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the development of a new national strategy for palliative and end of life care, including the expected timeframe for the publication of the strategy.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy that takes a whole system, public health approach to achieve the very highest standards of care right up to the end of life, and ensure that everyone who needs i…

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on the review of the service and case management system used by social work and prison staff to assess risk management in the justice system, including any findings made.

Answer · Keith Brown: The various review strands are continuing to make progress. The review work will be proportionate and will be led by what is being found in the initial phases. Review of Open Cases Users of the system were asked to review their caseload of open cases, to lo…

22 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of exporting residual waste to England in each year from 2025 onwards.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The recent independent review of the role of incineration found that while there may be a temporary under-capacity of residual waste treatment in Scotland in 2025, when the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste comes into force, there is a risk of …

22 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Short Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce will publish its short-term recommendations.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09421 on 23 June 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-committees…

22 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed Islands Bond scheme, including when it expects to publish the outcome of its consultation.

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates meeting Scotland’s capacity gap on residual waste management resulting from the 2025 landfill ban, as identified in the independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The recent independent review of the role of incineration found that while there may be a temporary under-capacity of residual waste treatment in Scotland in 2025, when the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste comes into force, there is a risk of …

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, when the 2025 landfill ban comes into force in Scotland, whether residual waste will be exported to England to meet the capacity gap identified in the independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy and, if this is the case, whether it has identified which faci…

Answer · Lorna Slater: The recent independent review of the role of incineration found that while there may be temporary under-capacity of residual waste treatment in Scotland in 2025, when the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste comes into force, there is a risk of lo…

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much residual waste it anticipates exporting to England in each year from 2025 onwards.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The recent independent review of the role of incineration found that while there may be a temporary under-capacity of residual waste treatment in Scotland in 2025, when the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste comes into force, there is a risk of …

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that all checks that it has carried out since the publication of its Guidance on due diligence: human rights (a) fully comply with the guidance and (b) take account of the nature and sensitivity of the relationship with the person or organisation being …

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09230 on 11 July 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-committees…

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its action to support households in Scotland impacted by increasing energy costs, what discussions it has had with energy companies and the UK Government regarding setting specific timeframes for reimbursing customers who have been overcharged.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Everyone needs a safe, warm place to call home, but I know that news of energy price rises will cause many people to worry about their fuel bills. My foremost concern is for households who are affected by these price rises, particularly those who are in or at…

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of non-compliance with its Guidance on due diligence: human rights have been reported 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. 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…

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) initial and (b) full human rights due diligence checks it has conducted since it published its Guidance on due diligence: human rights.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Guidance on due diligence: human rights for investment sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, befo…

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial provision has been made in the Resource Spending Review for the creation of a Scottish Student Exchange Programme.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Resource Spending Review provides the broad financial parameters for portfolios over the four-year period. The Scottish Government will collaborate with the Scottish Funding Council and tertiary education sector stakeholders to develop more detailed finan…

7 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what priority it attaches to developing relationships with other European countries.

6 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what scope there is for NHS boards to accept the results of tests carried out privately at the request of a patient.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: If a patient chooses to purchase a test from a private provider, we recommend that they discuss the test’s suitability and their approach with their clinician. It would ultimately be the decision of their clinician whether to accept the result, based on the a…

6 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many B&Bs have been reported to trading standards services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The information requested is not held centrally.

6 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of food poisoning have been traced back to (a) B&Bs and (b) other forms of guest accommodation in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Public Health Scotland, which is the national surveillance centre, has not had any reports of Gastrointestinal illness linked to B&Bs or other forms of guest accommodation in Scotland escalated to them i…

1 Jun 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how island communities in Orkney can be involved in decisions about how superfast broadband is rolled out in their areas.

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue it expects to be generated from ScotWind options payments in each of the next 10 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As outlined in my response to the answer to question S6W-08721 on 9 June 2022, the ScotWind lease option awards process has yet to be completed and the final figure raised through option agreements is still to be confirmed. The Scottish Government plans to dr…

24 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Islands Bond will be distributed between island groups.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The specifics of the Islands Bond policy are still being considered and will take into account the input of respondents to the consultation across all island groups.

24 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Islands Bond consultation will be published.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Islands Bond Consultation report will be published in due course.

24 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Islands Bond will be introduced by summer 2022, as committed to in its 2021-22 Programme for Government.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The delivery of the Islands Bond is still being carefully considered in light of the strong feedback we have received from island residents, and within the new context of the current energy crisis and rising living costs which are being experienced by many is…

20 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue it estimates (a) it and (b) Crown Estate Scotland will receive from ScotWind leases in each of the next 10 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The ScotWind lease option awards process has yet to be completed and the final figure raised through option agreements is still to be confirmed. Revenues received by Crown Estate Scotland from awards made to date amount to £699m.Crown Estate Scotland may rais…

9 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to increase and retain the population of Scotland’s islands.

29 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates a shortfall in future staffing levels among Police Scotland officers (a) at each rank and (b) in each area as a result of the McCloud remedy, and, if so, what impact it anticipates this will have on officer capacity (i) at each rank and (ii) in each area.

Answer · Keith Brown: The recruitment and deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable. We recognise that Police Scotland are undertaking a wide range of actions in response to the increase in officers choosing to retire including the recruitment of 300 new …

29 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to safeguard Police Scotland's future capacity in the event of potential officer shortages resulting from the implementation of the McCloud remedy.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is aware that changes to officer pensions have resulted in an increase in the numbers currently retiring. The recruitment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is actively managing workforce challenges and is com…

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of dwellings in each local authority area use (a) oil, (b) mains gas, (c) electricity, (d) community heating schemes, (e) heat pumps and (f) other sources as the main fuel type or method of central heating.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: This information is not available in the form requested. The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) explores the physical condition of Scotland’s homes as well as the experiences of householders. Data from the SHCS provides estimates of the main heating fuel…

22 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Ferguson Marine is in negotiations to build warships for the Bangladesh Navy, what its position is on whether Ferguson Marine should adhere to the Scottish Government publication, Guidance on due diligence: human rights, before engaging in any future contract to…

Answer · Kate Forbes: We expect all public bodies, including Ferguson Marine, to adhere to existing Scottish Government guidance on due diligence and human rights. It would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to comment on any specific live opportunities being pursued by Fer…