Angus MacDonald

31 Aug 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on repatriating the red meat levy paid by Scottish livestock producers in England.

24 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Falkirk Council to discuss the Grangemouth Investment Zone national development.

Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Government officials attended the last Grangemouth Investment Zone action group meeting, arranged and attended by Falkirk Council officials, on 22 April 2015.

24 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the Forth Estuary flood risk management plan.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scottish Environment Protection Agency published the draft flood risk management strategy for the Forth Estuary on 22 December 2014, and carried out a joint consultation with the lead local authority for the Forth Estuary (City of Edinburgh Council) on the dr…

11 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the appointment of the new chief executive officer of Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scottish Government officials are currently discussing the terms and conditions for appointment with the Chair of Bòrd na Gidhlig. When discussions have been concluded we will aim to advertise the post in October 2015.

22 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many licences have been issued in each year from 2007 to allow (a) night shooting of deer and (b) shooting of deer during the closed season.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The number of licences issued by Scottish natural heritage in each year since 2007 to allow (a) night shooting of deer and (b) shooting of deer during the closed season, is set out in the following table. 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-1…

21 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in developing policy guidance for planning authorities on permitting huts and micro-houses with sleeping accommodation in the countryside.

Answer · Alex Neil : The Scottish Planning Policy, published in June 2014, sets out national planning policy on huts. In addition Reforesting Scotland is developing guidance for the sustainable development of new hutting entitled New Hutting Developments: Guidance on planning, de…

19 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its moratorium on hydraulic fracturing includes test drilling for shale gas in central Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24473 on 8 October 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

13 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the reintroduction of a car and passenger ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge was discussed at the recent tripartite talks between it, Forth Ports and DFDS Seaways.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The reintroduction of a car and passenger ferry service was not part of the recent discussions at the tripartite talks between the Scottish Government, Forth Ports and DFDS. Those discussions were focused on securing the future of the freight service ferry. W…

13 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the reintroduction of a Rosyth to Zeebrugge passenger and car ferry service with DFDS Seaways.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26641 on (date). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusine…

19 Jun 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the future of forestry.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The forestry sector is important to Scotland because of its contribution to our economy and the wider social and environmental benefits that our forests provide. Forestry is already a devolved matter and forestry policy in Scotland is determined by Scottish M…

15 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that universities and colleges work together with local and regional schools and communities to close the attainment gap for students from the poorest backgrounds.

Answer · Angela Constance: Mr MacDonald rightly highlights the need for the education system to work together to close the attainment gap. A good example is the Schools for Higher Education Programme which supports regional collaboration between schools, colleges and universities to ra…

2 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the procurement of large catamaran-type vessels for future Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In 2009, CalMac Ferries Ltd commissioned a study to ascertain whether catamarans would be suitable for operating on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry network. This study concluded that monohulls were better suited than catamarans given the sea and weather conditio…

27 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of fiscal work orders.

26 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will consult community councils as part of the sewage sludge review.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A number of meetings have already taken place with stakeholders, including representatives of the Avonbridge and Standburn Community Council, and with Douglas Community Council, to hear their views and concerns. Further meetings with stakeholders will take pl…

20 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants have been awarded in the Falkirk Council area under the CashBack for Communities scheme since inception and to which groups.

Answer · Michael Matheson: CashBack funding is not allocated on a geographical basis. Rather, the Scottish Government allocates available funds to partner organisations who are responsible for running projects across Scotland, delivering outcomes to give our young people positive, purp…

1 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in expanding Gaelic medium education outwith Gaelic-speaking areas.

29 Apr 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Futures Programme that is supporting the delivery of the new common agricultural policy 2015.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s Futures Programme is the new online rural payment and services system that will administer over £4 billion of payments to farmers and rural Scotland in the first five years alone as part of the new common agricultural policy (CAP) wh…

20 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to help NHS boards to maintain GP numbers.

13 Apr 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the development of carbon capture and storage electricity generating plants.

Answer · John Swinney: There are two large scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) developments in Scotland. At Peterhead power station, SSE and Shell are proposing to develop the world’s first full-scale gas carbon capture and storage project. The project is expected to make a fina…

31 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the proposed review of the trade and importation of exotic animals for the pet trade in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As noted in the Scottish Government news release on 16 February 2015, the review of the importation and trade of exotic animals for the pet trade is part of a wider review of pet welfare, which is a substantial and on-going piece of work. Stakeholder meeting…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times its officials have met Community Windpower Ltd.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government officials have met with representatives of Community Windpower Ltd on 11 occasions since January 2014.

20 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on local authorities not allowing former teachers who have taken voluntary severance to provide supply teaching.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has been consistent in our commitment to maintain teacher numbers in line with pupil numbers as a central part of our priority to raise attainment. We continue to provide significant additional funding specifically to support that comm…

20 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the participation rate is of each local authority in national contracts through Scotland Excel.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not track participation rates of local authorities in national contracts through Scotland Excel. This is a matter for Scotland Excel and each local authority. The lead authority for Scotland Excel is Renfrewshire Council.

19 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what percentage of and (b) how many (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools are eco-schools with (A) bronze, (B) silver and (C) Green Flag status, and what information it has on how this compares with the rest of Europe.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Figures provided by Keep Scotland Beautiful for Eco-schools Scotland show that as at 27 March 2015, the number of local authority schools in Scotland with Eco-schools awards is: Primary Schools Total number of primary schools – 2022 Number of awards % …

18 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will clarify future funding arrangements for Scotland Excel.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government are not involved in funding arrangements for Scotland Excel. This is a matter for Scotland Excel. Scotland Excel is governed by a Joint Committee comprising at least one elected member from each of Scotland’s local authorities. The co…

17 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of rent loss is attributed to void council properties, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The following table shows rents lost on void (un-let) council properties, total amount and as a percentage of gross rental income, by local authority area. Years ending 31 March Local Authority1 Near actuals Estimates 2013-14 2014-15 Total rent lost o…

16 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities it expects will meet the 2015 Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The independent Scottish Housing Regulator is responsible for monitoring landlords’ progress towards meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. The returns made by landlords to the Scottish Housing Regulator earlier in 2015 indicated that one local author…

9 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to local authorities to implement necessary repairs to housing blocks where the local authority is not the majority landlord.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Local authorities have powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to issue work notices requiring any home owners to carry out work to repair substandard homes. If an owner fails to comply with a work notice the local authority can carry out work and recove…

9 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding its proposal to reduce the primary school week from 25 to 22.5 hours in 2016-17.

6 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23789 by Keith Brown on 14 January 2015, when each contract (a) was taken out and (b) will expire, and how much each is worth.

Answer · Keith Brown: Details of the contracts are as follows: Contract Contract Start Date Contract End Date Contract Value eProcurement Service Management 05-11-2011 04-11-2015 £19,500,000 Payroll Implementation Project 03-10-2011 02-10-2018 £1,376,579 System Integr…