Graham Simpson

27 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the board of Ferguson Marine and what was discussed.

20 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is undertaking to reopen historic sites that are managed by Historic Environment Scotland over the coming months.  

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting and resourcing local authorities to manage ash dieback effectively and to replace lost trees with appropriate species.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government supports local authorities to manage ash dieback and replace lost trees with appropriate species through Scottish Forestry working in partnership with The Tree Council. This collaboration produced an ash dieback toolkit, first publishe…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported link between increases in plant imports and the rise of tree diseases, whether it and its agencies will consider adopting the UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown Standard (UKISG) to improve biosecurity of planting stock and support the nursery sector, for exam…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish government recognises the importance of a UK wide partnership approach to plant health. The establishment of the UK Plant Health Alliance, in collaboration with industry, and publication of a best practice biosecurity standard, the Plant Health M…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce any risk from imported tree diseases and pests that threaten Scotland's native woodland and commercial forestry sectors.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government works together with the other devolved governments, Defra and the Forestry Commission as part of the UK Plant Health Service to reduce the risk from imported tree diseases and pests that threaten Scotland’s native woodland and co…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to upscale seed sourcing of native species of trees, in light of reports that existing nursery grants do not extend beyond nursery infrastructure.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Through the Forestry Grant Scheme, administered by Scottish Forestry, grants are available to assist with the purchase of capital items that support nursery production and seed supply businesses. These measures are made available to encourage increased produc…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported link between increases in plant imports and the rise of tree diseases such as ash dieback, what steps it is taking to support the tree nursery sector to increase the quantity that it produces of species of northern and western provenances, and mountain woodland …

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Forestry is working with partners to develop a project that will provide the small scale nurseries that specialise in native species of northern and western provenances with more resilience. The aim of the project is to share best practice, provide t…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported link between increases in plant imports and the rise of tree diseases such as ash dieback, what steps it is taking to support the tree nursery sector to grow all native species of trees and shrubs to deliver on commitments to expand native woodlands.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Forestry has worked closely with forest nursery sector representatives to identify solutions to improve the sector’s resilience. The Forestry Grant scheme was expanded in 2017 to cover forest nurseries which they have used to invest in their eq…

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the results of the Scottish Climate Survey carried out in 2024.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Climate Survey gathered data on public awareness and understanding of a variety of climate-related topics. Data collection began in October 2024 and ended in January 2025. A report of findings is expected to be published in April 2025.

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a response to its energy performance certificate (EPC) reform consultation.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government published the Government response to the EPC Reform consultation on 21 January 2025 [1]. This confirms that we will lay revised EPC regulations in Parliament during 2025, to come into force in 2026. These regulations will introduce an …

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish independent analysis of its consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: We are currently considering all the issues raised in response to our recent consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. We will publish the commissioned independent analysis of these responses as soon as practicable.

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a built environment and construction just transition plan.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: We are building on our legally binding commitment to just transition principles by developing Just Transition Plans for specific sectors. Our latest Programme for Government sets out our intention to publish Just Transition Plans for energy, transport, built …

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include low-emission heating systems, such as fuel cells, hybrid heat pumps and hydrogen ready boilers, in future Scottish House Condition Survey data.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) provides a snapshot of the domestic housing stock in each survey year, including the construction age, built form and primary and secondary heating system and fuel.The SHCS currently records the following heat system…

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: We are currently considering all the issues raised in response to our recent consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. We will confirm our decisions and the nature and timing of next steps as soon as practicable.

20 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is helping to tackle ash dieback.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is continuing to work collaboratively to provide information on ash dieback and guidance on the management of trees affected by this disease. Scottish Forestry chairs the Ash Dieback Risk Group Scotland, bringing together practitioners…

10 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address wait times in temporary accommodation.

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to provide a determination on the section 36 consent application for the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm project, and whether it plans to do this in sufficient time to ensure the best possible outcome for energy consumers in the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocatio…

Answer · Kate Forbes: A decision on Berwick Bank will be taken by Ministers in due course. We cannot comment on a live application. We are aware of the importance of projects being able to apply for Contract for Difference (CfD) Rounds and will take this timing into account in the…

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that there are as many Scottish offshore wind projects as possible eligible for the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round, AR7.

Answer · Gillian Martin: It is vital that maximum support, sufficient budget and greater long-term certainty are provided by the UK Government (UKG) to allow Scottish projects to succeed in CfD AR7 and future rounds.We must build on the positive results of this year’s Allocatio…

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to re-opening the passenger railway link to Grangemouth.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The re-introduction of passenger services onto the existing freight only rail line to Grangemouth was considered as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). The option was taken forward to the Preliminary Options Appraisal stage but was…

12 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many public inquiries have been held by the Scottish Ministers in each year since 1999 after a planning authority has objected to an application under the Electricity Act 1989, also broken down by how many of these objections were upheld.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Independent reporters from DPEA have held 96 public inquires on behalf of Scottish Ministers since 1999.These relate to public inquiries held where a planning authority and/or statutory consultee objected to an application under the Electricity Act.Dates by y…

7 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the trust provisions within the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 will come into force.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The following provisions of the Act have come into forceSection 76 dealing with the effect of divorce, dissolution or annulment on special destination;Section 77 involving the rights of succession to intestate estate respectively;Section 7, under which an unf…

28 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lanarkshire about the replacement Monklands Hospital.

22 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards securing a long-term future for Ferguson Marine.

2 Oct 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to removing free bus passes from people who abuse the system.

3 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason rainforests were excluded from the deer management incentive scheme pilots.

18 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it prevents a loss of talent when considering any reduction in funding to the arts sector.

17 Jun 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what his response is to the reported comment from the Nuclear Industry Association that his stance on nuclear power is "hopelessly ideological and anti-science".

11 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to deliver on its commitment to produce a National Register of Ancient Woodland.

21 May 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to take forward the recommendations in the Transport Scotland report, "There’s an app for that!" - Women’s Safety on Public Transport in Scotland.

7 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board will submit its operational plan for delivery.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board will submit their first draft work programme to Scottish Ministers for approval by 28 May 2024, outlining the advice they intend to issue over three years. This collaborative advice will inform the future of smart t…