John Finnie

1 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government following the announcement by the Home Secretary on 11 October 2018 regarding the reclassification of cannabis-based medicinal products from 1 November 2018.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has been working closely with the rest of the UK to produce support and guidance to clinicians regarding the prescribing of Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal Use in Humans and this was issued in Scotland on 31 October 2018.

1 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance will be issued to doctors to ensure safe prescription of medicinal cannabis, and when it will be published.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A letter providing support and guidance to clinicians and setting out expectations of what the regulatory change means in practice for clinicians working in the NHS in Scotland was issued on 31 October 2018 and can be found at the following link: https://www…

1 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that patients in Scotland will have the same access to medicinal cannabis as those in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Regulation for the control of drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is currently the responsibility of the UK Government. The regulatory changes which came into force on 1 November 2018 to reschedule Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal Use in Humans appl…

25 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on re-examining the conditions under which non-UK residents can legally possess firearms in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Firearms legislation is reserved to Westminster, with the exception of air weapons. Non-UK residents who wish to possess firearms in Scotland require a visitor's permit, which are granted subject to checks by Police Scotland.

23 Oct 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vessels are in its marine and fisheries protection fleet.

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to increase the number of everyday journeys made by public transport, and what role increasing the number of such journeys can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including what the projected emissions reduction could be.  

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Programme for Government confirms our commitment to continue to invest more than £1 billion every year in public transport. This investment includes a range of measures to promote behavioural change and make public transport and active travel a more attra…

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Committee on Climate Change regarding the role of public transport in helping it meet its climate change targets.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government engages fully with the UK CCC to support their role as independent advisors to the Scottish Government.

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the scope for bus use to help deliver climate change policies as part of the forthcoming update to the National Transport Strategy.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The development of the National Transport Strategy is underpinned by widespread stakeholder and public engagement. As part of this thematic working groups have been set up to explore issues in detail, including a Greener and Healthier Working Group. This grou…

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of how increasing the number of bus passengers could contribute to meeting its climate change targets.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The 2018 Climate Change Plan (CCP) notes that bus and coach emissions account for less than 4% of total transport emissions and that there is potential for behavioural switch as bus is a mode with the ability to scale up flexibly in response to increased dema…

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the new Dalcross rail station will open.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We expect the project to be completed in the first half of Rail Control Period 6 which runs from 2019 to 2024. Transport Scotland will be in a position to confirm the starting and anticipated opening date once Network Rail has completed all preparatory work.…

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress has been made in agreeing a long-term model of fair funding for internal ferry services provided by Orkney Islands Council.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Orkney and Shetland Internal Ferries Working Group, which includes the Local Authorities, HITRANS, ZetTrans, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Transport Scotland, continues to meet on a monthly basis. The group agreed that the immediate focus should b…

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are for (a) Northern Isles Ferry Services, (b) ferries owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and (c) harbour infrastructure in Stromness of the award of £670,000 by the European Regional Development Fund to Orkney Islands Council.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I welcome this grant award which will fund the installation of equipment needed to provide shoreside electrical power at Stromness. This will be used by the MV Hamnavoe when she is berthed overnight, saving fuel and reducing local air and noise pollution. The…

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the annual local government grant to Orkney Islands Council was spent on (a) planned and (b) unplanned maintenance of the Orkney Ferries fleet in each year since 2008-09.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Although the Scottish Government collects details of Orkney Islands Council's expenditure on Ferries these financial returns do not provide the level of detail to identify the amount of Scottish Government funding which is spent on the planned and unplanned m…

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual carbon emissions reductions potentially available from the £670,000 given by the European Regional Development Fund to Orkney Islands Council.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not made an estimate of the annual carbon emission reductions arising from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant to Orkney Islands Council. The application submitted by Orkney Islands Council was assessed against the …

21 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what legislation the construction and operation of a vertical launch spaceport in Scotland would be permitted and regulated.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18997 on 5 October 2018. 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…

21 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the regulation, construction and operation of any vertical launch spaceports in Scotland would meet the requirements of the EC's Environmental Impact Assessment's Habitats and Birds directives.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Where development consent for a spaceport is sought through a planning application it would be for the relevant Scottish planning authority, prior to granting consent, to ensure any statutory environmental obligations had been fully complied with. In terms o…

21 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it (a) has taken and (b) will take to ensure that the development of vertical launch spaceports will not harm any designated nature conservation sites or species listed in the Scottish Biodiversity List.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18997 on 5 October 2018. 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…

21 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would have paid out in RET on routes to the Orkney Islands had the scheme proceeded on the planned date.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The estimated annual cost is £3.2 million - £4.8 million. The actual cost, in practice, would be dependent on the impact on patronage of reduced fares.

21 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the construction and operation of a vertical launch spaceport would have on the natural environment.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18997 on 5 October 2018. 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…

10 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on complainers of the postponement of trials, particularly in cases of domestic violence and stalking.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is a Scottish Government priority to find ways to reduce the trauma and improve the experience of victims within the criminal justice system. We recognise the devastating impact that both domestic abuse and stalking can have, and are committed to working w…

10 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) ensures that the reasons given by accused people for the postponement of trials are legitimate.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: The decision to postpone a trial is a matter for the Court. It is for the Court to assess and decide whether or not the reasons put forward by any party, including an accused person or their legal representative, are legitimate and justify the postponement of…

5 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18251 by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018, for what reason it has no plans to review port management as part of the process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As highlighted in my answer to question S5W-18251, the Scottish Government has no jurisdiction over the management or operation of Scottish ports. We value the diverse range of port ownership models in existence and, as ports are statutory bodies in their own…

4 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to environmental protection concerns regarding proposals to mechanically harvest kelp by dredging.

28 Aug 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the Tyndall Centre and Uppsala University report, Quantifying the implications of the Paris Agreement: What role for Scotland?, and its implications for the economy.

27 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many trains were (a) cancelled or (b) delayed by the Highland Chieftain breakdown on the single track at Kingussie on 13 August 2018, and how long (i) the delay was in minutes and (ii) it took to get all the passengers on their way in light of reports that the following ScotRail trai…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Due to breakdown of the Highland Chieftain on 13 August 2018, a total of 6 ScotRail trains were cancelled, with 3 of these being full cancellations and 3 part cancellation. A total of 31 ScotRail trains were delayed, amounting to 388 total delay minutes. Pas…

23 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the effectiveness of monies given by (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise to Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and other companies involved in the arms industry in bringing about diversification from arms industry work, and what factors it uses.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise assess the effectiveness of funding for individual projects against the specific purpose and objectives, activities and projected economic benefits of each application for financial support.

16 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) commercial, (b) publicly-owned and (c) trust ports regarding the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement, and what preparations these bodies have made for this.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Ports are crucial gateways to Scotland. We recognise the existing contribution of port operators to the economy of Scotland and their significant importance in a post-Brexit context. It is for the UK Government to provide certainty around Customs and other b…

16 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations (a) Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and (b) Prestwick Airport has made for the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Answer · Michael Matheson: UK airports will need to have regard to advice and information from the UK Government and from the Civil Aviation Authority to help them prepare. We acknowledge that preparation will be challenging while uncertainty over future arrangements remains. Changes t…

16 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations Police Scotland has made for the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As a responsible government, we must prepare for all exit possibilities in order to mitigate where possible the negative impact of leaving the EU on the Scottish economy, businesses, public services and individuals. Preparations are well under way but we are …

16 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made for the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Answer · Ash Denham: As a responsible government, we must prepare for all exit possibilities in order to mitigate where possible the negative impact of leaving the EU on the Scottish economy, businesses, public services and individuals. Preparations are well under way but we are …