Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,644 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08565 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 April 2017, in light of calls from the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee for a 25p charge to be set on disposable cups, whether it will provide an update on its position regarding the introduction of an…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Our Programme for Government for 2017-18 committed to an expert panel on environmental charging and other measures to help tackle our throwaway culture and reduce our use of disposable items. This panel will, as a priority action, be asked to look at disposab…
11 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of disclosures being made at the discretion of the police, what measures are in place to ensure that Right to Ask requests are assessed fairly across Police Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) is a Police Scotland scheme and its operation is a matter for Police Scotland. Police Scotland have advised that disclosures under the DSDAS scheme are agreed at a multi-agency Decision Making Forum a…
11 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that relevant bodies work together to share information with regard to the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) is a Police Scotland scheme and its operation is a matter for Police Scotland. Police Scotland’s DSDAS Standard Operating Procedure includes arrangements on information sharing between relevant agenci…
9 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure there are appropriate levels of accommodation available for higher education students attending courses at campus.
22 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking, or plans to undertake, to improve understanding of the environmental implications of the growing aquaculture sector on environmentally sensitive locations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Marine Scotland Science are carrying out research to further understand the interactions of sea lice including the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) project ‘Piloting a network for determining spatial and temporal variation in marine survival of Atla…
22 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has provided, or plans to provide, to local planning authorities to help them complete robust habitats regulations appraisals of operational and proposed aquaculture developments that could have a significant effect, in isolation or in combination with other plans or proje…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A Working arrangement document detailing the requirements of Statutory Consultees (Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Marine Scotland Science and the District Salmon Fisheries Boards) and the consultation protocol for marine aq…
22 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to local planning authorities to help ensure that the environmental impacts of new and existing aquaculture proposals on the natural marine environment are being adequately considered.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Marine and freshwater fish farms (both shellfish and fin fish) are consented by Local Authorities who will give regard to Scotland's National Marine Plan (NMP), produced by Marine Scotland, when considering planning applications. The NMP manages increasing de…
20 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of Police Scotland officers have been trained each year in the Lord Advocate's S164 code of practice regarding disclosure.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Training of officers is a matter for Police Scotland.
18 Dec 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the deployment of armed police and the use of tasers.
12 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake an assessment of the impact that installing phones in cells in a number of prisons in England has had on enabling prisoners to maintain contact with family members and reducing levels of reoffending.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS is in contact with colleagues in HMPPS to review the findings of a study carried out by York University into the impact of in-cel…
11 Dec 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent reports from HMICS and Audit Scotland on police governance.
5 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it is taking to support the economies of Orkney and Shetland.
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders it has met in the last 12 months to discuss proposals for national fixed pricing on electricity distribution networks; when the meetings took place, and whether it will publish details of the discussions.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13173 on 20 December 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on proposals for national fixed pricing on electricity distribution networks; what discussions it has had with the UK Government in the last 12 months to examine such proposals, and whether it will publish details of these discussions.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Distribution network pricing is an area of policy reserved to the UK Government. On 31 October 2016, the Deputy First Minister chaired a meeting of the Conventions of the Highlands and Islands (COHI) to discuss national network pricing with National Grid and …
29 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11608 by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017, for what reason the review has proved to be complex; what the technical points that have to be addressed are; what the anomalies within the existing fares structure were, and by what date it will publish the…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The existing ferry freight fares structure is extremely complex, with differences in, for example, rates per mile, categories of freight, rules of carriage and discounts, across the various ferry networks. Much work has been done to assess the existing freig…
29 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12548 by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017, what steps it is taking to ensure that appropriate cover is provided on the Stromness-Scrabster ferry route when the MV Hamnavoe is in dry dock; what its response is to concerns that a freight vessel might …
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Serco NorthLink Ferries continue to use best endeavours to search the open market for appropriate replacement tonnage for the MV Hamnavoe whilst she undergoes her scheduled period of dry dock at the start of 2018. At present, no final decision has been taken …
28 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use (a) the (i) Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) and (ii) Warm Homes bill and (b) other measures to invest in and support work (A) to bring more existing stock back in to use and (B) where properties need repaired or upgraded before insulation work begins.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: We will set out further detail on Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) in the SEEP routemap to be published next year. As set out in the Programme for Government, we will take forward legislation within this Parliament where this is needed to deliv…
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set a date to achieve its commitment in the fuel poverty strategy consultation of eradicating fuel poverty in the long term.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: In the public consultation on a new draft Fuel Poverty Strategy we propose and invite views on an overall target for the eradication of fuel poverty by 2040. The consultation also puts forward a proposed set of non-statutory sub-targets to accompany this ambi…
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its plan for all homes to be given a minimum energy performance rating by 2040, whether it will confirm (a) what the minimum rating will be and (b) how the energy performance will be measured.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to removing poor energy performance as a driver of fuel poverty. We are currently seeking views on sub-targets that underpin our ambition to eradicate fuel poverty, including a target of ensuring all homes reach a minimum …
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) bill will contain (a) proposals for an independent body to oversee the delivery of SEEP and (b) targets and milestones for the delivery of each proposal.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: As set out in the Programme for Government, we will take forward legislation within this Parliament where this is needed to deliver the aims of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme. We will publish a Route Map for the programme next year setting out our lon…
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in the 2016 SNP manifesto to deliver a warm homes bill "to support our work to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency", whether it will set out what specific measures it will introduce to combat fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: On 9 November this year we launched a consultation on developing a new fuel poverty strategy, including proposals for a revised definition of fuel poverty and a new statutory target. Responses to the consultation will inform the Warm Homes Bill that we will i…
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by Anne Pinkman, the Convenor of the Scottish Working Group on Women’s Offending, in Scottish Justice Matters that "funding for services, even when they can evidence positive outcomes is a real issue".
Answer · Michael Matheson: The new funding distribution methodology for Criminal Justice Social Work funding, introduced in April 2017 and agreed with COSLA, delivers a more transparent and fairer system for distributing funding across Scotland. It allows statutory community justice pa…
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by Neil Ratley of Venture Trust in The Herald on 20 November 2017 that “without a new source of funding for the Next Steps programme, hundreds of Scottish women won’t have access to a successful programme breaking the cycle of reoffending and helping t…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12928 on 6 December 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…
22 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the Venture Trust’s Next Steps programme, and what action it is taking in response to reports that the programme might close when its current ifunding comes to an end.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not fund Venture Trust's 'Next Steps' programme and has never done so. In the current year, the Scottish Government has allocated around £100 million to local authorities to help deliver community sentences, support the rehabilit…
20 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what criteria prospective sites will be chosen for the Scottish 4G Infill Programme for Scotland, and how operators will be supported to bid.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The proposed initial intervention area published on 4 August 2017 – which was not intended to represent a comprehensive picture of 4G “notspots” – was derived using variety of data sources available to the Scottish Government at that time. Site selection was …
20 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timeline for the launch of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme for Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The first phase of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme was launched on 4 August 2017 with a public consultation on the proposed intervention area.
20 Nov 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken in response to recent allegations of child sexual exploitation in the Govanhill area of Glasgow.
10 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the victim surcharge fund is not already operational, and by what date it will (a) be operational and (b) issue its first payment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Establishment of the Victim Surcharge Fund (VSF) has taken longer than originally anticipated as we’ve undertaken detailed consideration and consultation with partners on the most effective mechanisms to operate and manage the VSF. Our intention is to lay th…
10 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered using alternative providers for the victim surcharge fund and, if so, which.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following detailed consideration, it is our intention that the Scottish Government will operate the Victim Surcharge Fund (VSF). Under this model, Victim Support Organisations (VSOs) will be invited to apply to the Scottish Government for an award from the V…
10 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in establishing the victim surcharge fund, and when it will lodge the subordinate legislation setting out the details of how the fund will operate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Plans to establish the Victim Surcharge Fund (VSF) are progressing. Our intention is to lay the subordinate legislation required to establish the VSF in Parliament in early 2018.