Parliamentary questions
Gillian Martin
287 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent approaches it has made to the UK Government requesting that it is invited to take part in Brexit negotiations.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has repeatedly asked the UK Government to clarify the involvement of the devolved administrations in the UK-EU negotiations and we continue to do so. The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations was established to provide a means…
23 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many responses it received to the draft Scottish Energy Strategy consultation and when it plans to publish the final version of the strategy.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I have been greatly encouraged by the 256 Energy Strategy consultation responses, giving a very rich set of views on the Scottish Government’s 2050 vision that we put forward through our draft Energy Strategy consultation. In combination with the consultation…
17 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in attracting more teachers in STEM subjects, and how this could be of advantage to the oil and gas sector.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is working to attract more teachers in STEM subjects in a number of ways. Our Recruitment Campaign ‘Teaching Makes People’ targets STEM undergraduates, and builds on the success of last year’s campaign which helped drive a 19% increase…
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the announcement by Centrica that it plans to invest £35 million in the Chestnut oilfield, and what the economic impact of this will be.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Centrica’s £35 million investment to prolong the life of the Chestnut oil field is a welcome development and a clear demonstration that positive investor sentiment is returning to the sector. The announcement is a prime example of effective late-life manageme…
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been (a) created and (b) supported by the Chestnut oilfield, and what its economic impact has been.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Centrica’s announcement on 15 May adds to mounting evidence of an upturn in industry confidence. It is understood that the £35 million investment will safeguard 70 offshore jobs on the Floating Production and Storage Unit (FPSO) as well as many more throughou…
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the announcement by Centrica that it plans to invest £35 million in the Chestnut oilfield reflects on the opportunities that exist in the energy sector in the north east.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Centrica’s announcement on 15 May is good news for the industry. It clearly demonstrates both continued confidence in the North Sea and support for the goal of Maximising Economic Recovery for the UKCS, and has resulted in securing a number of offshore jobs t…
11 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing new routes into teaching.
Answer · John Swinney: On 30 November 2016 the Scottish Government announced £1 million of support for the establishment of 11 new routes to teaching that will be developed by the eight universities providing Initial Teacher Education in Scotland. These courses are now being develo…
8 May 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the availability of affordable housing in the north east.
2 May 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address health inequalities.
19 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the netting of wild salmon and, in order to aid stock recovery of salmon and sea trout in freshwater fisheries, what action it is taking to limit the practice.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulation 2016 prohibits the retention of salmon in coastal waters. In practice this means that commercial salmon netting stations can no longer operate in coastal waters. The Scottish Government committed to review the …
17 Apr 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that UK Government reforms of benefits and welfare eligibility are unfairly impacting on women.
4 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with BP prior to its confirmation of the sale of the Forties pipeline system.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08661 on 10 May 2017. 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/288…
4 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with Ineos regarding the 300 staff who are employed in operations related to the Forties pipeline system.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is engaging with both BP and Ineos and will continue to work closely with both companies during and beyond the transition period.
4 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with Ineos prior to the announcement of its plans to purchase the Forties pipeline system.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08661 on 10 May 2017. 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/288…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how the insolvency risk profile of firms in Scotland compares with the rest of the UK.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has certain functions in relation to corporate insolvency including the development of policy and recording of information about liquidations and receiverships of Scottish businesses. The reserved elements of corporate insolvency, incl…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the research by the Robert Gordon University Oil and Gas Institute that suggests that Brexit might cost the oil and gas supply chain £200 million extra per year in tariffs and export taxes.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The findings from the Robert Gordon University Oil and Gas Institute on the impact of Brexit highlight the significant value of Scotland being a member of the European Single Market and the potential damage to Scotland’s economy from exiting the European Unio…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the research by the Robert Gordon University Oil and Gas Institute that suggests that withdrawal from the single market and customs union ‘”will have a direct impact on the movement of people” in the oil and gas sector and will bring challenges for a sector that r…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Industry has highlighted that the impact of restrictiveness on freedom of movement might have on the UK’s ability to attract highly skilled oil and gas workers to the UKCS, and that this may potentially have the impact of discouraging foreign investment i…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the OPITO report, The Youth Perception of a Career in the Oil and Gas Industry, that, despite the reported challenges facing the sector, 81% of the people who responded to its survey said that they wanted to pursue a career in oil and gas industry, …
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: During what has been a challenging time for the industry, this survey highlights a positive news story for the industry demonstrating the continued interest in a career within this important and innovative sector. The North Sea still holds significant potenti…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding in the OPITO report, The Youth Perception of a Career in the Oil and Gas Industry, that 20% of female respondents from Scotland to its survey said that they wanted to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry, and the comment by the interim chief executive of O…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Supporting women to fulfil their potential in the labour market is a key aim of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government continues to be in close engagement with both the oil and gas industry and the industry bodies on this important matter, as oil an…
10 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it provides each year to allow universities to offer additional student places, and how many places this supports.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Since 2012-13, direct Scottish Government investment of over £5 billion in our universities has ensured that tuition is free for over 120,000 first time Scottish and EU domiciled undergraduate students every year. In 2013-14, the Scottish Funding Council co…
10 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the college estate in each year since 1999.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Investment in the college estate in each year since 1999 is set out in the following table: Year Capital Investment £m* 99-00 18 00-01 39 01-02 29 02-03 21 03-04 21 04-05 38 05-06 49 06-07 87 07-08 122 08-09 92 09-10 107 10-11 109…
7 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support healthcare professionals who come to Scotland as refugees to gain employment in the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is providing funding of £161,692 to support the Refugee doctors’ project in 2017-18. The project is run by a partnership led by Bridges Programmes. It aims to support refugees, who were fully qualified doctors in their home countries, …
1 Mar 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist businesses in the north east that have been affected by changes in global oil prices.
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people with Lyme's disease and raises awareness on the (a) prevention of tick bites and (b) detection of early symptoms.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHS staff follow published guidance, for example the British Infection Association’s 2011 position statement on Lyme Borreliosis, when caring for a patient who may have Lyme disease. Lyme disease is easily treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. If left …
22 Feb 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to assist people in the oil and gas industry who are facing redundancy.
21 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it will have with the Oil and Gas Authority regarding supporting exploratory drilling in the Rockall Basin, in light of the recent seismic surveys in the region.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: It is crucial that the Oil and Gas Authority concentrates on actions to help encourage and attract investment in exploration opportunities across the UKCS. With exploration levels currently at record lows – with only 15 exploration wells and 8 appraisal wells…
20 Feb 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding recycling targets.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs wrote to me in December 2016 and January 2017, indicating that the UK Government would not support the current EU Circular Economy package proposal for a 65% recycling target by 2030. I have pla…
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment is has made on the impact on the current model of non-domestic rates of the trend in large retailers moving to online sales and away from the high street.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government meets regularly with the retail sector to discuss a range of issues that impact on the sector.
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Assessors Association regarding its capacity to deal with appeals arising from the proposed non-domestic rates revaluations.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government regularly meets with the Scottish Assessors Association to discuss the rating system, including valuation appeals and will continue to do so.
16 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is position is on whether the warehouses of online retailers should be valued and subject to business rates in the same way as the premises of high street retailers, and what discussions it has had with the Scottish Assessors Association regarding this.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Valuation of all non-domestic property in Scotland is a matter for the independent Scottish Assessors and the Scottish Government has no locus to intervene.