Angus MacDonald

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the formation of a cancer drugs fund.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scotland already has robust arrangements for the introduction of newly licensed clinically and cost effective medicines, including cancer drugs, through the Scottish Medicines Consortium. We have substantially increased access to new medicines, particularly f…

10 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the Attainment Scotland Fund.

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the Scottish red meat industry contributes to Scotland's gross domestic product.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This information can be found in the Quality Meat Scotland report “An Assessment of the Economic Contribution of Scotland’s Red Meat Supply Chain”, the information can be found at the following web page: http://www.qmscotland.co.uk/news/report-highlights-econ…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) livestock throughput and (b) turnover value was in livestock auction marts in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is not information that the Scottish Government hold centrally. However the information can be found for 2014 in the Quality Meat Scotland(QMS) report 'An Assessment of the Economic Contribution of Scotland’s Red Meat Supply Chain' the information can be…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of output of the 23 licensed red meat abattoirs was in 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is not information that the Scottish Government holds. However this information can be found in the Quality Meat Scotland report 'An Assessment of the Economic Contribution of Scotland’s Red Meat Supply Chain' the information can be found at the followin…

23 Nov 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will reach a decision on the future of beavers in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Ministers decided on 22 November 2016 that they are minded that the beaver populations in Knapdale in Argyll and in the Tay and Earn catchments can remain in Scotland. The decision is subject to satisfactory completion of a Strategic Environmental As…

2 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how socio-economic inequalities in oral health are taken into account when allocating funding for Childsmile programmes in each NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Childsmile Programme follows the principle of ‘proportionate universalism’ in that all children will receive oral health promoting interventions but those in the most deprived communities will receive additional interventions in order to reduce inequaliti…

1 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with its Nordic Baltic strategy.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sent observers to the 68th Session of the Nordic Council and what plans it has to engage with the council at future sessions.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not have observer status, though we remain committed to deepening links with those countries represented at the Nordic Council, as outlined in our Nordic Baltic Policy Statement, and will continue to engage with those nations to s…

29 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will recruit the 2,000 volunteers to advise it on the new Scottish social security system.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Social security Experience Panels will ensure that those in receipt of the benefits to be devolved are involved in designing the social security system in a meaningful way. People with recent experience of receiving these benefits will be recruited to the pan…

6 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it has provided to NHS Forth Valley to help reduce waiting times.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has recently made available an additional £500,000 to NHS Forth Valley to help deliver elective waiting times as well as £300,000 to specifically improve cancer waits. To further support improvements in waiting times I announced at the…

3 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the consultation paper, Developments in environmental justice in Scotland; what analysis it is carrying out of the responses, and whether it will publish this analysis.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The analysis of responses to the consultation "Developments in environmental justice in Scotland" is being drafted by the Scottish Government and will be published shortly.

28 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason data on new-build on flood plains is not collated at a national level.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Planning Policy is clear that development plans, which guide decision making on new development, should take account of flood risk management strategies. We note the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change that SEPA should ensure the ne…

28 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason data on sustainable urban drainage systems is not collated at a national level.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Planning Policy is clear that the planning system should seek to manage surface water sustainably by minimising the area of impermeable surfaces and through the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The discharge of surface water to sewer i…

28 Sep 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the BBC regarding an increase in funding for BBC Alba.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has engaged with the BBC throughout the Charter renewal process. I have met with both the Director General and the Head of BBC Scotland on a number of occasions and I am due to meet Lord Hall again later this month where I will again s…

22 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to simplifying the re-application process for existing Blue Badge holders.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has no plan to review the blue badge application process which was last reviewed in 2012 and tested by a number of disability organisations before introduction. Local authorities are required to undertake a number of checks on every …

12 Sep 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will seek to make land ownership transparent.

4 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the future of the Edinburgh cleft lip and palate surgical service.

Answer · Shona Robison: I am currently considering all of the information put before me regarding the recommendation on cleft surgery and will announce my decision in due course.

29 Aug 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution last met MG Alba to discuss funding for Gaelic broadcasting.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I met Neil Graham, Director of Finance and Operations at MG Alba on 10 August 2016. We discussed a wide range of matters about MG Albas operations and this included the matter of funding. I am also aware MG Alba has met other Cabinet Secretaries.

23 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in terms of the impact on the bee population in Scotland, what its response is to the article published on 16 August 2016 by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, which details "long-term, large scale" detrimental impacts through the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government welcomes the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology's (CEH) recent article which reported correlations between wild bee populations and neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments use in oilseed rape. We consider this an interesting and usefu…

22 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has issued to farmers and crofters on treating Mycobacterium Avium subspecies Paratuberculosis.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is no effective treatment for Mycobacterium Avium subspecies Paratuberculosis, which causes Johne’s disease in individual cattle and other ruminants, however, the Scottish Government provides advice on preventing, controlling and eradicating the disease…

4 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that brownfield sites of high environmental quality will be protected from redevelopment.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish planning policy makes provision for the protection of sites of high environmental quality.

4 Aug 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the redevelopment of brownfield sites of high environmental quality will be ineligible for funding through the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is for local authorities to put forward sites they consider to be a priority for support in line with the eligibility criteria for the fund http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/supply-demand/housing-infrastructure-fund. This can include br…

23 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-30593 by Shona Robison on 18 March 2016, on what date it will begin to make interim payments to the affected groups.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are currently working with the UK Department of Health on beginning the payment of the increased lump sums and annual payments via the existing UK support schemes (the Skipton Fund and the Macfarlane and Eileen Trust). This requires extensive amendments to…

19 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many off-grid energy households it estimates there are in the (a) Falkirk East and (b) Falkirk West parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) provides estimates of the number of households within the coverage of the gas distribution network. The most recent statistics relating to council areas for the period 2012-2014 were published in January 2016 http://…

13 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many crofting townships have (a) been asked to supply professionally audited accounts to the Crofting Commission and (b) supplied professionally audited accounts in each of the last five years; how many crofting townships have no committees at present, and how many grazings committee…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information is not held centrally. The Crofting Commission administers the regulation of crofting on behalf of the Scottish Ministers and I have asked the chief executive of that organisation to supply the information requested.

13 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many firms in the Falkirk East constituency have used the Adopt an Apprentice scheme, also broken down by the number of apprentices adopted.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This information is not available at a constituency level. As at the end of quarter 3 2015-16, 36 employers in the Falkirk local authority area have used the Adopt an Apprentice initiative since it commenced in 2009. A total of 48 modern apprentices have be…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide an update on its electric vehicle strategy in advance of the development of the Third Report on Policies and Proposals (RPP3).

Answer · Derek Mackay: Yes. Switched On Scotland: A Roadmap to the Widespread Adoption of Plug-in Vehicles was launched in September 2013. The rapid pace of change in technologies and markets for plug-in vehicles raises the expectation that new challenges and opportunities will eme…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Norwegian experience of promoting electric vehicles (a) has had on its existing electric vehicle policy and (b) will have on its future electric vehicle policy.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Our Switched On Scotland roadmap was informed by consultation with stakeholders from across the global electric vehicle (EV) community. The roadmap also commits us to ‘working with partners to continue to engage with international plug-in vehicle networks and…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a role for priority measures for electric vehicles in its forthcoming national framework of local incentives for plug-in vehicles.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The national framework of local incentives will look at a range of possible measures that have the potential to make plug-in vehicles more cost effective, convenient and desirable to use. These measures include the potential to introduce priority parking for…