Angus MacDonald

26 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the (a) work and (b) budget of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Annual accounts of SMRT are prepared in line with the accounting guidelines of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and are independently audited by accounting firm RSM. All annual accounts of SMRT are provided to the Scottish Government a…

12 Nov 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protections it has put in place for young offenders in custody.

9 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19508 by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018, whether it will increase the funding of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme to take account of stage 1 victims in the roll-out of support payments.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government is looking urgently at the level of funding for the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and expects to confirm the new payment levels by the start of December.

9 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many crisis grant (a) applications and (b) awards there have been in the last quarter in the Falkirk Council area; what the average grant was, and how many applications were due to delays in receiving benefits payments.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Crisis grant statistics for the latest quarter, broken down by local authority, are available in "Scottish Welfare Fund statistics: update to ? 30 June 2018", published at https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf. Figures for appli…

9 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many applications for crisis grants in the last 12 months in the Falkirk Council area were due to delays in receiving benefits payments.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Information on the number of crisis grants due to 'Other - delay in payment of benefits' is available in "Scottish Welfare Fund statistics" published at: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf. Figures for the last 12 months can b…

7 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with AHDB, industry representatives and the UK Government regarding the impact of a no-deal Brexit on Scottish seed potato exports.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Regular engagement takes place between officials and industry, and Scotland’s Chief Plant Health Officer will be the keynote speaker at the AHDB’s seed potato event tomorrow, where he will be addressing the potential impacts Brexit will have on the industry. …

17 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to ensure that there are more Changing Places toilet facilities throughout Scotland.

3 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help farmers and crofters cope with the impact of adverse weather.

2 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to be in a position to respond to the recommendations contained in the Clinical Review of the Impacts of Hepatitis C: Short Life Working Group Report.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government expects to be in a position to respond to the recommendations in the Clinical Review Group's report in the course of September.

17 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding support for (a) the introduction of a Gaelic medium school and (b) Gaelic medium education units being attached to existing schools in the council area.

Answer · John Swinney: There have not been any recent discussions with Falkirk Council in relation to the introduction of Gaelic medium education in any schools, or units, in the Council area. However, the Scottish Government remains willing to discuss the opportunities for support…

8 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the risk of land abandonment in disadvantaged areas in the event that Scotland is not allowed to continue to pay Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) funding in full during te…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: LFASS is vital for our rural economy and remote communities throughout Scotland, providing support to over 11,000 farmers and crofters. Unfortunately, the EU rules do not allow us to continue with LFASS unchanged from next year. That is why, to provide as mu…

8 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government has shared its draft Agriculture Bill with it and, if not, when it expects to receive it.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Government has shared some material from its planned Agriculture Bill, in confidence, with officials in the Scottish Government. Some of that material has been received orally rather than in writing. To date, Scottish Ministers have not received a copy…

8 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many farm businesses in the Falkirk Council area are in receipt of Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) funding, and how many of these are in the Falkirk (a) East and (b) West constituency.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Our most up to date information is for LFASS 2017 claims, as LFASS 2018 claims have not been processed yet, therefore the total number businesses in Falkirk Council area in receipt of (or expected to be) LFASS funding for 2017 claim year is 67. (a) East cons…

12 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to promote Clean Air Day 2018 in schools.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Clean Air Day 2018 is being coordinated by Environmental Protection Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. Amongst a wide range of resources and information produced for those organising or taking part in events on Clean Air Day is a schools toolkit.…

7 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the report that it commissioned on the Scottish Independent Review of the Use, Safety and Efficacy of Transvaginal Mesh Implants in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Women will be published before the summer recess and, if not, by what date…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government looks forward to receiving Professor Britton's report. However, as it is being produced independently of the Scottish Government, the precise date of publication is a matter for Professor Britton and her team.

6 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that (a) it and (b) its agencies treat staff with fairness and compassion when they or members of their immediate family are diagnosed with a serious illness, and how it can encourage other public sector employers to do so.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government attendance management policy encourages managers to provide support to staff during periods of illness. Staff who are sick have access to specialist occupational health support and advice from professional HR staff including the People…

6 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support (a) it and (b) its agencies offer to staff when they or members of their immediate family are diagnosed with a serious illness, and how it can encourage other public sector employers to offer similar support.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government attendance management policy encourages managers to provide support to staff during periods of illness. Staff who are sick have access to specialist occupational health support and advice from professional HR staff including the People…

5 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been allocated to the Falkirk Council area from the CashBack for Communities scheme since 2008.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Young people in Falkirk have directly benefitted from £1,296, 579 of CashBack for Communities investment from 2008 to 2017. Over this period this investment has delivered nearly 78, 000 activities across Falkirk. Phase 4 of CashBack started on 1 April 2017. …

31 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the development of a new generation of offshore wind power.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In November 2017, Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) announced their intention to run a further leasing round for commercial scale offshore wind energy, which will deploy larger turbines. In accordance with Scotland’s National Marine Plan, the spatial…

18 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to introduce a so-called cassette system for transporting livestock on ferries in the Western Isles, similar to that in operation on Northern Isles services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a cassette system for transporting livestock on ferries in the Western Isles.

17 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding EventScotland will receive in the current financial year.

14 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has commissioned to determine the level of susceptibility of the deer population to the prion condition, chronic wasting disease.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The first European cases of chronic wasting disease were reported from Norway in 2016. The Scottish Government has been keeping abreast of developments with chronic wasting disease for more than 3 years. This has included coordinating work on advice to the de…

20 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect the rights of council tenants who are in a minority position regarding essential communal repairs.

16 Mar 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to help strengthen community groups in the Carron Valley.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am pleased to advise that on 28 February 2018, Forest Enterprise Scotland approved the request by Valley Renewables Group, the development trust for the Carron Valley, to buy 21 hectares at the entrance to the Carron Valley Forest to develop a community woo…

21 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support and encouragement it gives to the independent filmmaking sector.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Government supports our independent producers of film and television in many ways by working in partnership with broadcast regulator Ofcom, through Creative Scotland’s development and production funding, and by investing in training. We fund MG Alba,…

6 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation ScotRail has paid to passengers in each year since April 2015 because of service disruption.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under ScotRail’s ‘Delay Repay’ guarantee, compensation of £317,038.00 was paid in 2015-16; £397,203.00 in 2016-17; and £381,465.00 in 2017-18 (up to 1 February).

31 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the Falkirk tax incremental finance initiative with Falkirk Council.

19 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent consideration it has given to a register of interests for members of the judiciary.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government participated in a debate on a public petition on a register of interests for members of Scotland's judiciary on 9 October 2014 and the then Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Paul Wheelhouse, gave evidence on the petition…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it gives to the Changing Places consortium.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government work closely with Pamis who are members of the Changing Places consortium and have provided funding in 2017-18 for the Changing Places campaign officer position within PAMIS. Scottish Government officials attend the Changing Places ste…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on updating it strategy, Keys to Life, to include a new target for Changing Places toilets.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is fully committed to the continuing provision of Changing Places toilets, through the A Fairer Scotlandfor Disabled People delivery plan ambition “places that are accessible to everyone”. We will continue to support Pamis to ensure th…