Angus MacDonald

5 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its (a) officials and (b) academic advisers on carbon capture and storage (CCS) attended the European High Level Conference on CCS in Oslo on 5 September 2019.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I can confirm that a Scottish Government official with specialist knowledge of CCUS policy attended the European High Level Conference on CCS in Oslo on the 05 September 2019.

28 Aug 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of its air quality strategy.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: An independently led review has now been completed and the report setting out the conclusions and recommendations has been published today. The report makes 10 general recommendations and 38 specific recommendations covering a wide range of policy areas. The …

20 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Grangemouth refinery operators, Petroineos, on possible fuel supply disruptions in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Fuel supply is a matter reserved to the UK Government. As a responsible government, however, we continue to do everything we can to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for a potential ‘no deal’ exit, and this includes engaging with the refinery operato…

20 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on possible fuel supply disruptions in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The UK Government is responsible for security of fuel supply, and we continue to press them to manage this effectively, ensuring that all necessary plans are in place to protect the flow of fuel to Scotland’s consumers and businesses. There are existing natio…

20 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Petroineos and the UK Government regarding the impact of the abolition of import taxes on fuel on the Grangemouth refinery in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has engaged closely with Petroineos. I have written to the UK Government, urging them to use the limited time remaining and reconsider these harmful tariffs as a matter of urgency. I have also stressed the importance of this issue when…

3 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of conducting the Public Local Inquiry into the Bo’ness Road application, DPEA reference PPA-240-2051.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The cost of conducting the Public Local Inquiry relating to this appeal, was £2,965.53. Parties to an appeal are expected to meet their own costs. DPEA paid for the travel and subsistence costs of the reporters and the administrative costs of setting up the …

2 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the laying of secondary legislation to set up a deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22477 on 25 April 2019. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…

18 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of businesses and domestic properties in the Falkirk East constituency can access superfast broadband, and what percentage are connected.

15 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Duolingo regarding providing a Scots language course.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with Duolingo regarding the development of a Scots language course.

15 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Bòrd na Gàidhlig has had with Duolingo regarding providing a Gaelic language course.

Answer · John Swinney: Bòrd na Gidhlig is one of the key partners in the LearnGaelic.scot website and discussions have taken place via that route with Duolingo. Duolingo is a commercial product and any decision to develop a course in a particular language is made on that basis. Our…

11 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage change in foreign visitor numbers at Historic Environment Scotland sites has been since 2014.

8 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Forth Valley College's new Falkirk campus will be (a) completed and (b) open to students.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Forth Valley College’s Falkirk campus construction phase is expected to be completed by November 2019. The new campus is due to open its doors to students in January 2020.  

7 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The final research reports have been received from the James Hutton Institute and we expect to publish the findings later this summer.

7 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the Better Environmental Regulation Programme consultation regarding proposals for an integrated authorisation programme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Following Better Environmental Regulation Programme consultation the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 came into force in September 2018. These regulations put in place a common framework, which will integrate, as far as possible, the Sc…

29 May 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Falkirk Council to discuss its plans for 1,000 new social and affordable homes by 2024.

22 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Falkirk district have received support from the Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

15 May 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Federation of SubPostmasters regarding additional charging of non-domestic rates for external ATMs at post offices.

Answer · Kate Forbes: I recently spoke to the National Federation of SubPostmasters about non-domestic rates for external ATMs at post offices and this afternoon I wrote to them regarding the valuation of ATMs in post offices.

23 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the issue of roadside litter.

18 Apr 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of its Waste Markets Study.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has today published the findings of the Waste Markets Study. The study was commissioned with support from COSLA and the local authority waste managers’ network in order to better understand readiness to deliver the forthcoming ban on b…

16 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the proposed growth deal for Falkirk district with the Secretary of State for Scotland.

28 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent SAMH report, 'It Was A Confusion’ Universal Credit and Mental Health: Recommendations for Change.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This report adds to the growing evidence, and to similar reports from other organisations, about the impact Universal Credit is having on the people who are forced to rely on it. Universal Credit is causing debt, rent arrears, extreme hardship, and pushing m…

25 Mar 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will make a final decision on unconventional oil and gas.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: On 3 October 2017, the Scottish Government set out a preferred position that it does not support onshore unconventional oil and gas development in Scotland. The preferred policy position is subject to a statutory Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and o…

21 Mar 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the appeal by INEOS FPS Ltd against a SEPA Notice of Variation to the Kinneil Terminal permit.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The determination of the appeal was published today and can be accessed through this link . The Scottish Government has accepted the reporter’s recommendation to affirm SEPA’s notice of variation to the permit, but with modifications. The company’s claim f…

12 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on assisting NHS Forth Valley to return to a sustainable level of performance against the national four-hour accident and emergency target.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have been formally supporting NHS Forth Valley to return the board to a sustainable position of performance against the four-hour target since January 2019. Performance in January 2019 was 77.2%, since early February we have seen a significant and sustaine…

28 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage change has been in the number of pupils presenting for National 5 qualifications in (a) Gaelic (learners) and (b) Gàidhlig in each year since 2012.

Answer · John Swinney: National 5 qualifications were introduced in 2014. The number of National 5 entries in Gaelic (Learners) and Gidhlig since 2014 are included in Table 1. Table 2 includes the number of entries in Gaelic (Learners) and Gidhlig at SCQF Level 3-5 in order to pro…

20 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Forth Ports regarding the use of the Port of Grangemouth in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has had regular and ongoing discussions with Forth Ports on the available capacity at Grangemouth. This has included the ability to ensure additional priority goods can move through the port should this be required to mitigate any impa…

12 Feb 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Falkirk Council to discuss the proposed growth deal for the district.

30 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Transition Training Fund has made in addressing the reported skills shortage in the HGV industry and increasing the number of drivers.

10 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in the (a) Falkirk West and (b) Falkirk East constituency have been lifted out of paying non-domestic rates under the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Government does not hold this information at a Scottish Parliamentary constituency level. As at 1st June 2018, 2,130 business properties in the Falkirk local authority area do not pay any non-domestic rates as a result of the Small Business Bonus Sch…

28 Nov 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding timetable changes for the Edinburgh to Stirling route via Polmont and Linlithgow.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has had extensive discussions with ScotRail in the development of the December 2018 timetable to deliver the best possible benefits from Scottish Government investment. These timetable changes benefit the vast majority of travellers across…