Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,644 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many responses it has received to its consultation on the EU single-use plastics directive, and when it will publish a summary of the consultation responses.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We received 2,721 responses to the consultation on single use plastics. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a summary once this analysis has been completed.
14 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the programme board established to consider how to take forward recommendations from the report by the Suckler Beef Climate Group will report back solely to it, or in conjunction with farmer-led groups established by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The programme board will provide advice and oversight to the Scottish Government on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Suckler Beef Climate Group on the development of support mechanisms for the sector to reduce GHG emissions of beef produc…
14 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who the members are of the programme board established to consider how to take forward recommendations from the report by the Suckler Beef Climate Group, and whether it will provide the minutes of the board’s meetings to date.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Members of the Suckler Beef Climate Group Programme Board consist of: myself (co-chair), Jim Walker, Farmer (co-chair), Claire Simonetta, Farmer, Alan Clarke, QMS, Sarah Millar, QMS, Tim Bailey, SAOS, Pat Lambert, Farmer, Steven Thomson, SRUC, Andrew Moxey, P…
12 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether specific advice will be issued regarding exemptions to travel restrictions to assist people moving out of student accommodation.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following the First Minister’s announcement on 8 January 2021 that the planned staggered return of students at the start of the new term would be extended, we published revised guidance for colleges, universities and accommodation providers on 15 January 20…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29597 by Michael Matheson on 17 June 2020, when it expects all submissions and relevant correspondence in relation to the islands impact assessment being carried out for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (HIAL) Air Traffic Management Strategy…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Neither HIAL nor the Scottish Government are party to the correspondence between the independent consultant undertaking the retrospective Islands Impact Assessment and those that he has been consulting with. Publication of any material submitted is a matter f…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29596 by Michael Matheson on 17 June 2020, whether it will confirm which community groups were consulted as part of the islands impact assessment being carried out for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (HIAL) Air Traffic Management Strategy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Engagement with community groups was undertaken by the independent consultant who is drafting the retrospective Islands Impact Assessment. Neither HIAL nor the Scottish Government were party to the commu…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the islands impact assessment into the proposals by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) for centralising air traffic services in the Highlands and Islands to be published.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Timing of the publication of the retrospective Islands Impact Assessment is not a matter for the Scottish Government, however we understand it is excepted to be published in February 2021.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31906 by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2020, whether it will confirm when the community engagement and consultation phase was completed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The community engagement and consultation phase of the retrospective Islands Impact Assessment was undertaken by the independent consultant who is drafting the Assessment. Neither HIAL nor the Scottish G…
14 Dec 2020 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Auditor General's report stating that policing in Scotland is not financially sustainable.
14 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) prisoners and (b) people who are being detained in Scotland for any other reason will be included in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in accordance with the priorities set for the population as a whole.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We will prioritise to make sure those most at risk are protected quickly, in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations, as vaccine supply allows. Over the coming weeks and months we will be sending out information explaining…
11 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26441 by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2019, when it expects to make a formal announcement on the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme post-December 2020.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Air Discount Scheme will continue at the current 50% discount rate until 31 March 2021 in order to continue to make travel for residents of the Highlands and Islands more affordable. It is our intention to continue the scheme beyond 31 March 2021, however…
9 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when care-dependent people who live at home will receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Those who are entitled to a vaccine will be contacted by their Health Board letting them know where they will receive the vaccine and how to book their appointment. We are adhering to the priority list devised by the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immuni…
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-31753 and S5W-32327 by Fergus Ewing on 16 September and 30 October 2020 respectively, whether it will provide an update on its work towards the publication of the final report of the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group since the last g…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Farming and Food Production – Future Policy Group (FFP-FPG) met again on 27 October to discuss the content of their draft Report and agreed that further work was needed. As an independent Group, it will be for the Group to determine when it is ready to pu…
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the most recently-published estimate of £10.7 billion, which was set out the June 2018 paper, Public Health Priorities for Scotland, being a figure for 2009-10 that was taken from an earlier report, whether it will provide an updated estimate of the annual national cost of d…
Answer · Clare Haughey: The figure referenced by the member in the Public Health Priorities For Scotland paper was an estimate provided by one of our third sector partners. It is therefore not a figure that the Scottish Government currently plans to update. Our Mental Health Transi…
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Health and Justice Collaborative Improvement Board has met in 2020, and when it will next meet.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Health and Justice Collaboration Board met on 29 January 2020. In March 2020, the Health and Justice Collaboration Board was paused while resources were prioritised to focus on responding to COVID-19. Once pressures relating to the pandemic have eased, w…
24 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated each year by the interest-free loan scheme for the purchase of e-bikes since it was established, and how much was unallocated at the end of each year.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since being established in June 2018, yearly funding allocations to the E-bike Loan Fund and unallocated funds are summarised in the following table. Financial Year Funding Unallocated Notes 2018-19 £900,000 £0 2019-20 £1,480,000 £0 2020-21…
24 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the median annual income of successful applicants to the e-bike loan fund has been in each year since it was introduced.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The median annual income of successful applicants to the E-bike Loan fund is summarised in the following table. Financial Year Median Annual Income 2018-19 £28,200.00 2019-20 £27,600.00 2020-21 £28,848.00
24 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications there have been in respect of the interest-free loan scheme for the purchase of e-bikes, broken down by each (i) year since it was launched and (ii) month in 2020.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Successful and unsuccessful applications to the E-bike Loan Fund broken down by year, and month in 2020, is summarised in the following table. (i) (a) (b) Financial Year Successful applications Unsuccessful applications Notes 2018-19 298 49 E-bik…
23 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what clinical evidence it has received regarding the degree of protection provided by COVID-19 antibodies and, in light of this, whether it plans to roll out a national antibody testing programme ahead of a vaccination programme.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is not currently planning to introduce a mass antibody testing programme prior to the rollout of the COVID Vaccination Programme. We continue to monitor emerging evidence with respect the protective effect of Covid-19 antibodies, and t…
23 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by Scottish Renewables recording a 20% reduction since 2011 in the number of local authority planning department staff, how it will ensure that councils are appropriately resourced to deliver the planning consents needed to deliver the renewable energy generation re…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are aware of concerns around resourcing of planning authorities and the need for efficient handling of applications, particularly those with the potential to support key policy drivers including emissions reductions. Our programme of planning reform aims …
23 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by Scottish Renewables recording a 20% reduction since 2011 in the number of local authority planning department staff, how the forthcoming NPF4 planning reforms will ensure that the planning system will be focused on tackling the climate emergency.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: We recognise the critical role of planning in helping to meet our net zero targets. Our NPF4 Position Statement, published on 26 November, underlines that responding to the global climate emergency will be at the heart of NPF4. It highlights key areas for pol…
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the success of the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund; how this is being measured; whether it plans any future analysis, broken down by each of the nine aims of the fund as stated on 29 March 2019, and whether it will place a copy of the record of work …
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The two projects funded by the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund are either ongoing or yet to be deployed. It is therefore too early to fully measure the Fund’s success in relation to a number of its aims. As a condition of grant funding, projects are requ…
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to it reportedly stating on 3 February 2018 that the Saltire Prize Medal for outstanding contributions to the development of marine renewable energy was being considered as part of the review of the main Saltire Prize, what was subsequently decided.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Following a review of the Saltire Prize a decision was taken not to reinstate the Saltire Prize Medal as part of the refocused Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund.
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the advertised condition that projects receiving money from the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund "are deployed in Scottish waters no later than March 2020", whether a new deployment date was agreed when the closing date was extended to September 2020; whether that new depl…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The date by which projects supported by the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund were required to be deployed in Scottish waters was changed from March 2020 to September 2020 following feedback from stakeholders. This included comments received at an informati…
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund had its closing date extended from 6 December 2019 to September 2020.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund was launched on 10 February 2019 with a closing date for applications of 6 December 2019. The closing date for applications remained unchanged throughout the call for applications. The date by which projects supported …
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the Junior Saltire Prize competition ran; how much it distributed in total prize money, and whether it is still operational, or if there is a current equivalent, in light of the Scottish Government stating on 3 February 2018 that it was "being considered as part of …
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Junior Saltire Prize fund ran on six occasions and distributeda total of £17,200 in prize money. The total prize money distributedin each year is shown in the following table. Year Total (£) 2011-2012 2,700 2012-2013 3,000 2013-2014 2,750 2…
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects have received money from the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund; how much funding each project received, and how this compared with the (a) amount applied for and (b) total project cost.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Orbital Marine Power were awarded up to £3.4 million for the Orbital O2 2MW Tidal Turbine Project. This award is equal to the total amount applied for to support a project with a total cost of approximately £13 million. MeyGen Plc were awarded up to £1.545 m…
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund, which was advertised as being open until September 2020, is now closed, and how much money is remaining.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund, which was launched on 10 February 2019 with total of up to £10 million available to help accelerate the commercial deployment of tidal energy in Scottish waters. Following a process of evaluation and due diligence, tw…
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, on what dates the committee overseeing the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund has met since the announcement of the fund; whether it will place a copy of the minutes of all of these meetings in SPICe, and whether the committee has any plans to meet in the future.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund was overseen by a recommendations panel consisting of representatives of the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Wave Energy Scotland. The panel met six times, including on a …
20 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund it rejected, and for what reasons.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A total of three applications were either withdrawn or declined funding under the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund. One of those applicants was offered funding and subsequently withdrew its application, with the other two applications being declined on the…