Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what preparations the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has made for the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: COPFS has been working – and continues to work - with Police Scotland and Scottish Government, and with UK Home Office and other UK prosecutors, to identify the gaps and challenges that will arise if the UK leaves the EU without a negotiated withdrawal agreem…
16 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the management of ports.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not manage ports in Scotland and is not involved in their day-to-day running. Ports will be included in the Scottish Maritime Strategy although there are currently no plans to review port management as part of this process.
16 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it and its agencies give to communities considering how best to manage their harbours and ports.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We recognise the existing contribution of port operators to the economy of Scotland at a local, regional and national level. Scottish Ministers and officials engage regularly with the industry to continue to support them in this aim. Transport Scotland is hap…
16 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the management of the port of Oban.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently 2 harbour authorities with jurisdiction over parts of Oban Bay, and management and operation of their harbour areas is the responsibility of these bodies. Any proposals for changes to the existing arrangements to the statutory harbour aut…
15 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17646 by Clare Haughey on 3 August 2018, what support is available to the families of those affected by long-term mental illness.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Nationally, support for people and their families experiencing low mood, depression and anxiety is available through NHS 24, the Samaritans, Breathing Space and NHS Living Life. That support applies across Scotland. Support and advice for families and carers …
14 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all meetings that (a) ministers and (b) its officials have had with (i) EDF, (ii) The Wood Group, (iii) Lewis Wind Power and (iv) The Stornoway Trust regarding proposals for wind turbines on Lewis; who attended each meeting, and (A) where and (B) when e…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The following table includes all details of meetings between Ministers and officials that have been held with the named parties in respect of wind turbines on Lewis. Date Location and relevance Attendees 3 February 2009 Scottish Government, St Andrews…
14 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Co-op regarding the use of rail infrastructure to service its new £6 million distribution depot at Dalcross Industrial Estate by Inverness Airport.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Whilst the decision to use rail freight is a commercial matter for the freight service provider and customer, we welcome all interest in modal shift to rail and would be happy to discuss opportunities to move goods by rail with interested parties. To date the…
14 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the weather that has been experienced in 2018, what plans it has to add to the initial membership of the agricultural weather advisory panel.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: While there are currently no plans to add to the initial membership of the Agricultural Weather Advisory Panel, I have made it clear additional expertise will be sought by the panel, as and when required. Attached link to the Scottish Government website confi…
7 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it no longer publishing the report, Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, whether (a) it will begin publishing the report again and (b) any new publications will provide details of racist incidents recorded by the police, including (i) location and time, (ii) …
Answer · Humza Yousaf: When the Scottish Government last published statistics on Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, we outlined for users our plan to scope out the replacement of this information with a new and broader product on police recorded incidents with a h…
6 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are taken to alert the public to potentially toxic algae blooms, and whether it plans to review the process.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The process for alerting the public to potentially toxic algal blooms is outlined in the 'Cyanobactera (Blue-Green Algae) in Inland and Inshore Waters: Assessment and Minimisation of Risks to Public Health' guidance document ( https://www.gov.scot/Publicatio…
6 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently it reviews multi-agency responses to reports of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in inland and inshore waters.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Multi-agency reports of blue-green algae are managed via the Scottish Environmental Incident Surveillance System (SEISS), which Health Protection Scotland reports on anually, the most recent report is available at https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/resourcedocument…
31 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the proposed spaceport on the A'Mhoine peninsula.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Paul Wheelhouse, the then-Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy highlighted to Sam Gyimah, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, his support of the small satellite launch opportunity for Scotland and the benefits of a sp…
26 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the decision-maker should carry out for proposed developments with likely significant effects on the listed habitat features of a Ramsar site.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17309 answered on 11 July 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/parliamentaryb…
26 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances adverse effects from a development proposal on a Ramsar site might be deemed acceptable.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: It is SG policy to apply the same level of protection for Ramsar sites as that afforded to designated Natura sites. Adverse effects from development proposals on Natura sites are considered against the tests set out in regulation 49 of The Conservation (Natur…
26 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an assessment of the impacts of development proposals on a Ramsar site has to include consideration of alternative solutions.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17891 on 4 September 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/parliamentarybusine…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with health charities regarding the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has not held any discussions with health charities regarding the potential benefits of cannabis based products for medicinal purposes.
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government on the issue of medicinal cannabis.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish Government officials regularly meet with representatives of the UK Government and other devolved administrations on a wide range of medicine policy issues including those around cannabis-derived products for medicinal purposes. Officials will continu…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently report, Cannabis scheduling review part 1: The therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis-based products - a review of evidence, whether it has given any consideration as to how a system of accessing cannabis for medicinal use could be implemented in Scotlan…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17749 on 31 July 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/…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published report by the Chief Medical Officer for England, Cannabis scheduling review part 1: The therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis-based products - a review of recent evidence.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government welcomes this report and the decision of the UK Government to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Scottish Government will now work with the UK Government and the other devolved admini…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with UK Government regarding Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and sites of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designations in north west Sutherland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with the UK Government regarding Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest in north west Sutherland.
6 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place in the Highlands and Islands for families affected by long-term mental illness.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Nationally, support for people experiencing low mood, depression and anxiety is available through NHS 24, the Samaritans, Breathing Space and NHS Living Life. That support applies across Scotland, including Highlands and Islands. Other local provision of sup…
6 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gives to NHS boards regarding the suitability of public (a) seating and (b) toilet facilities for disabled people.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Boards are required to adhere to equality and disability standards for general public facilities, which currently include:Scottish Building Regulations – Non Domestic Technical Standards 2017 - Section 4BS 8300-1_2018 Code of Practice: accessible and incl…
5 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17162 by Michael Matheson on 3 July 2018, whether the Caledonian Sleeper service conveys passengers’ bicycles by motor vehicle.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Bicycles are normally conveyed on the Caledonian Sleeper trains. In periods of exceptional demand, bicycles which exceed the storage capacity on the train are conveyed by road for free. The new Caledonian Sleeper trains will have significantly enhanced capaci…
2 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who the members are of the newly announced Salmon Interactions Workstream working group, and how they were selected.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A new Salmon Interactions Workstream to provide expert advice on mitigating pressures on wild salmon was launched by the Scottish Government in June 2018. As part of the workstream, a working group has been established to examine, as an initial task, the int…
26 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17267 by Humza Yousaf on 26 June 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how many meetings Transport Scotland has had with representatives from (a) Western Ferries and (b) Pentland Ferries in each year since 2011, …
Answer · Michael Matheson: As the previous answer S5W-17267 refers, there have been a number of meetings with representatives of both Western Ferries and Pentland Ferries since 2011. These have been both formal and informal and covered a variety of different issues. For example, the na…
18 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which planning applications it has called in in each of the last five years because it considered that a potential (a) economic benefit and (b) impact on the natural environment was a key determining factor, and which were subsequently (i) approved and (ii) rejected.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Details of all called in applications are available on the Scottish Government Website. The following table outlines those cases where economic benefit or natural environment were identified in the grounds for call in. Year Reference Case Reason for Call …
18 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it produces for planning authorities regarding the consideration of planning applications for projects that might affect Ramsar sites.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Planning Policy sets out that Planning Authorities should identify and afford the appropriate level of protection to international, national and locally designated areas in development plans, and those plans should set out the factors that will be ta…
18 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether proposals in which there are concerns that the plans might adversely affect (a) Natura sites, (b) Ramsar sites and (c) sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) should be considered as raising matters that are in the national interest.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: For any planning application, it is for the decision maker to consider the development plan position and other material considerations. Any matters of national interest which may be raised will be assessed on a case by case basis.
18 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the area being a Natura site, a Ramsar site and a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), whether it will call in the planning application that has been submitted to The Highland Council for a golf course to be built at Coul Links, and what the reasons are for its positi…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: As the Council is minded to grant consent for the Coul Links application, and there is an objection from Scottish Natural Heritage, the case has been notified to Ministers. Notification gives Ministers the opportunity to decide whether there are national inte…
18 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that planning authorities implement the policy protection that is afforded to Ramsar sites when they consider planning applications in which there are concerns that the proposals might have an adverse impact.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: All Ramsar sites in Scotland are also Natura 2000 sites and / or Sites of Special Scientific Interest and are protected under the associated statutory regimes for which guidance and advice is provided by Scottish Natural Heritage. Further, it is Scottish Gove…