Gillian Martin

28 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties receive support through the small business bonus scheme, and how this compares with 2008.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As at 31 May 2019, 120,420 properties received Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, compared to 64,180 properties in 2008. Since the figures for 2019 are based on a different, improved data source direct comparisons should be made with caution. More informatio…

28 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties receive 100% small business bonus scheme support.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As at 31 May 2019, 111,040 properties received 100% relief through the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Annual statistics on the number of properties receiving 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme relief can be found in Table 6 of Non-Domestic Rates Relief Statistics…

28 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports businesses, and what information it has regarding the number of businesses currently in operation compared with previous years.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government supports businesses across Scotland through a wide range of interventions delivered through our enterprise and skills agencies. In addition, our Economic Action Plan sets out how we will achieve a more joined-up approach so that busine…

19 Nov 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve the safety of young drivers.

12 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage and support new mothers to breastfeed.

11 Nov 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to promote equal pay among men and women.

30 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on flood resilience plans ahead of winter.

21 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what NHS workforce planning is taking place to account for any loss of EU membership and freedom of movement.

25 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed management buy-out at the Stoneywood Paper Mill in Aberdeen.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I am pleased to advise that, on 25 September 2019, the joint administrators of Arjo Wiggins Stoneywood paper mill announced a successful management buyout. This was a positive conclusion to the sale of this historic mill. The Scottish Government has been wor…

23 Sep 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with personnel recruitment and facilities in Aberdeenshire for the expansion of funded childcare to 1,140 hours.

23 Sep 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm if the forthcoming update to the Climate Change Plan will (a) incorporate future changes to the greenhouse gas inventory for peatlands, and (b) make up for the extra emissions arising from the missed 2017 annual target.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government can confirm that this will be case. The update to the Climate Change Plan will be based on the best available evidence on current and future Scottish emissions. This includes future technical changes to the greenhouse gas inventory in …

23 Sep 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme will be launched.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Programme was launched yesterday. Climate Ready Scotland: Second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme marks a new way of working on climate change adaptation for Scotland. The Programme, which builds on the work of the first Programme published in…

16 Sep 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the newly-released Universities UK survey, which claims that Scotland's universities will lose staff and students in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

13 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress with the Baird Family Hospital and the ANCHOR Centre Project at the Foresterhill Campus in Aberdeen.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-24882 on 17 September 2019 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx

12 Jun 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Land Commission will lay its refreshed Programme of Work in the Parliament, as required by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Land Commission’s Programme of Work was first published in September 2017. It sets out the work being delivered against the Commission’s Strategic Plan and Business Plan. The Commission has now produced a refreshed Programme of Work to reflect e…

10 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect marine mammals from entanglement.

6 Jun 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the annual progress report on the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2014 will be published.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government published its fifth Annual Progress Report on the Climate Change Adaptation Programme on 31 May 2019. The Report sets out that the Scottish Government has recognised the global climate emergency and acted immediately to propose a net …

4 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that there is the skills base to deliver the transformational change required to address the climate emergency.

29 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist people in remote and rural areas in dealing with the climate emergency.

22 May 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase low-carbon travel opportunities in the north east.

13 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist the tourism sector to attract workers in the event of Scotland being impacted by an end to the freedom of movement following Brexit.

16 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the R100 superfast broadband programme.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The procurement process for our £600 million Reaching 100 percent programme is now well underway and I can confirm we have three highly credible bidders currently engaged in dialogue with officials. The procurement process is, however, complex and tightly bo…

26 Mar 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it expects Registers of Scotland to achieve in 2019-20.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Ministers have set the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland the following financial targets:Achieving a 3% efficiency saving on the unit costs of all their statutory products and services; and at least a 5% profit on non-statutory products and service…

26 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the AWPR is having on traffic flow and congestion on other roads in the north east.

12 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the CAMHS taskforce at NHS Grampian has had on mental health treatment for adolescents.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Mental Health Access Support Team (MHAIST) has been working with NHS Grampian to develop an improvement plan for CAMHS which is currently being implemented. A range of ongoing activity includes:? Targeted support for key services, currently focused on th…

30 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the rate of articulation from college to university.

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reports that the company that operates the Stoneywood paper mill in Aberdeen, Arjowiggins, has entered administration; what engagement it is having with (a) the company and (b) the workforce, management and unions at the plant regarding this; what support and …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I visited the Stoneywood mill on 23 January and met with Senior Management, as well as Unite representatives and local partners. The Minister had previously spoken with the company on 11 and 15 January, workforce representatives (Unite) on 17 January and admi…

10 Dec 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote Scotland’s reputation overseas as that of a welcoming and tolerant society.

3 Dec 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how Scotland is working with the international community to tackle climate change.

27 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support schoolchildren with mental health issues.