John Finnie

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to resource the implementation of the specific actions in the Race Equality Framework for Scotland 2016-2030 in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Angela Constance: Work to progress the actions within the Race Equality Framework has already begun within the Scottish Government and across our partner organisations and will continue through 2016 and beyond. There are a number of projects funded through the promoting equali…

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to appoint a race framework advisor, as stated in the 2016 SNP manifesto; what the advisor's (a) remit and (b) responsibilities will be, and whether he/she will lead an advisory committee or act independently.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is currently taking forward discussions to appoint a Race Equality Framework advisor who will act to take forward the actions in the race framework. The remit and responsibilities of the advisor will be made available following discuss…

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek to hold a parliamentary debate on the Race Equality Framework for Scotland 2016-2030.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government would welcome a debate about the Race Equality Framework and will look to scheduling this.

13 Jun 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of concerns about the threat to individuals' privacy arising from the surveillance activities of the Scottish Recording Centre.

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform crofting law and what timescale it envisages for this.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Crofters have long been concerned at overly complicated and outdated legislation so the Scottish Government will modernise crofting law and make it more transparent, understandable and workable in practice. The decision in relation to the timing of a future C…

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implication for timber extraction in the area might be of not having a railway loop at Kinbrace.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is aware of the Branchliner project led by The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership regarding timber extraction in the area around Kinbrace and the options detailed in its recent report which include the passive provision of a f…

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Scottish transport appraisal guidance (STAG) process in light of the claim in issue 68 of the Far North Express of it being biased against small rural schemes.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish transport appraisal guidance is routinely reviewed and developed in line with best practice and emerging relevant research evidence. There is no evidence that the guidance is biased against small rural schemes and it is important that all proposals h…

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding the reason for the potential benefits of a loop at Kinbrace not being mentioned in the Scotland Route Study.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Network Rail have closed their consultation on the Scotland Route Study, and are expected to publish their final version in July 2016. The Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with Network Rail regarding the inclusion or otherwise of a loo…

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00290 by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 June 2016, by what date the ban will be introduced.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is currently investigating all avenues for the best mechanism for introducing legislation proposing a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses on ethical grounds. The Scottish Parliament will be informed, in due course, ho…

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will receive the receipts from the sale of the Scotland's Rural College facility at Drummondhill.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As owners of the Drummondhill site, Scotland's Rural College will receive the receipts from the sale.

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has made regarding the proposed changes to Scotland's Rural College in Inverness and whether it will publish this.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is the responsibility of Scotland's Rural College, not the Scottish Government, to carry out such assessments. However, the Scottish Government notes the commitment to create a new post mortem facility

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what liaison regarding the proposed changes to Scotland's Rural College in Inverness there has been between ministers and the postholders responsible for animal and human disease surveillance.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I can confirm that there has been liaison between Scottish Ministers and Scotland's Rural College, including staff, on the proposed changes.

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether commercial serology work has been moved from Scotland's Rural College in Inverness and, if so, what the (a) staffing, (b) cost and (c) efficiency implications were.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is seeking an update from Scotland's Rural College as to its' plans for the commercial serology work to ensure that the objectives of the Scottish Government's surveillance programme are met.

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers have signed off on all changes to the provision of disease surveillance at Scotland's Rural College in Inverness.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers are not required or expected to sign off changes to the provision of disease surveillance at Scotland’s Rural College in Inverness.

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what differences there are between the facilities at the Inverness Disease Surveillance Centre at Drummondhill and those at the new Scotland's Rural College site at Beechwood.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is seeking assurance from Scotland's Rural College that the proposed facilities will maintain their ability to carry out post-mortems.

6 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that its non-departmental public bodies follow best practice in respect of industrial relations.

Answer · Angela Constance: Scottish Government guidance outlines that non-departmental public bodies are expected to ensure compliance with any statutory requirement in the body’s founding legislation and in employment law, and to conform to best practice employment standards for the p…

3 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) recent assessment it has made and (b) future assessment it plans of potential risks to the marine wildlife in the Moray Firth.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The scope of this request is very broad and untargeted, and to answer the question as it stands would incur a disproportionate cost, as this would involve, amongst other things: Input from several government agencies, Significant resource to collect all asse…

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to ensure interconnectivity of public transport timetables with lifeline island ferry services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under the current public service contract with Scottish Ministers, CalMac have an obligation to achieve integrated timetables, facilitate integrated services, participate in marketing initiatives and promote linkages between ferry services and other modes of …

27 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to its consultation, Should the use of wild animals in travelling circuses be banned in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government intends to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses on ethical grounds.

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment of risk to the marine wildlife, including orcas, it has made of the proposed ship-to-ship transfer in the Moray Firth.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to ship to ship oil transfer licenses. This is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and we continue to press for devolution of these powers to Scotland.

18 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the suspension of the Mangersta grazing committee on the Isle of Lewis and whether it has a role to play in the mediation of this matter.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Crofting Commission is a public body which operates at arm’s length from the Scottish Ministers. The commission operates on a day-to-day basis independently of the government, and the Scottish Government does not comment on individual regulatory decisions…

24 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) training and (b) other assistance it offers to workers from the Highlands and Islands who have lost jobs in the oil and gas sector, and whether it gives priority support to those who have skills that can be only used in that sector.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is using all of the levers under our control to support the oil and gas industry. We launched an enhanced Adopt an Apprentice scheme in February 2015 -which enables firms to re-employ any modern apprentice in the industry who faces red…

18 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent wildfowlers who visit (a) sites of special scientific interest and (b) areas with other environmental designations from damaging protected natural features.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Subject to the particular circumstances, local authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Ministers are empowered to take steps to protect the interests of designated sites. In the case of Scottish Ministers, such powers would include those provided …

18 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to strengthen the ability of local authorities to introduce bylaws that aim to protect areas of local, national or international significance from unregulated wildfowling, and what support it provides to councils wanting to do so.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government has no such plans and is not aware of any circumstances requiring such consideration. Section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 provides for local authorities to create byelaws (subject to confirmation by Scottish Ministers) to…

18 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it oversees the effectiveness of the operation of (a) nature reserves, (b) sites of special scientific interest, (c) Ramsar sites, (d) special protection areas and (e) special areas of conservation.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The requested information is available on Scottish Natural Heritage’s website via the following links: (a) http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/local-designations/lnr/ (local nature reserves) http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-sco…

18 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that appropriate ammunition is used for wildfowling in wetland areas and to prevent the poisoning of other wildlife in these areas from lead deposits.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Environmental Protection (Restrictions on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 prohibit the use of lead shot over wetlands in Scotland. Enforcement is the responsibility of Police Scotland.

16 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects Great Western Railway to release high-speed trains to Abellio to run on ScotRail inter-city routes in 2017-18.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The high-speed trains are owned by Angel Trains and they have a contractual agreement to lease them to Abellio ScotRail from autumn 2017 onwards. These trains are currently operated by First Great Western whose leases expire in late 2017 to early 2018 with An…

16 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what would technical challenges need to be overcome to introduce more double track on the Highland Main Line and which viaducts would require major work to accommodate this.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There are a number of engineering, constructability, access and environmental challenges which Network Rail would have to address to introduce more double track on the Highland Main Line. There are a total of 312 structures, including underbridges, overbridge…

16 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed average 10-minute reduction in journey times for train services between the central belt and Inverness by March 2019 is on schedule and when it will announce full details of what services will be in place.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Phase two of the Highland Main Line Improvement project is on schedule to deliver, by March 2019, journey time improvements averaging around 10 minutes, an hourly service between Perth and Inverness, extended to either Glasgow or Edinburgh, and increased oppo…

16 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the introduction of high-speed trains to run on ScotRail inter-city routes is on schedule.

Answer · Derek Mackay: ScotRail are on target to introduce these iconic trains into service commencing summer 2018 and will shortly announce its plans to fully refurbish this fleet.