Gail Ross

10 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness ahead of the June 2021 deadline of the EU settled status scheme.

3 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is being provided to local authorities for improvements to the road network.

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the analysis of the responses to the consultation on the draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We announced our intention in November 2020 to take forward the independent analysis of all the consultation responses and to publish the consultation responses from organisations and groups where we had permission to do so. This was with the intention of pub…

17 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Developing the Young Workforce programme.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As with many areas of government policy COVID-19 has resulted in changes to the way we have implemented the Developing the Young Workforce programme. Since the outset of the pandemic we have prioritised working with partners and employers through our network …

10 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact Brexit has had on workers coming to Scotland from the EU.

27 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mental health and wellbeing support is available to expectant women and new mothers.  

9 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposal for a public service obligation for Wick John o' Groats Airport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I recognise the issues faced by the Caithness area, both specifically in relation to the loss of the Wick-Edinburgh and Wick-Aberdeen air services and more generally. The current financial situation is very challenging and until the Budget process for 2021-22…

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when COVID-19 home testing kits will be available in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Home testing kits are provided through the UK Government's Extended Testing Programme, and the provision of kits in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency is a matter for the UK government. We are continuing to liaise with them to ensure kits are mad…

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what awareness raising has been undertaken in advance of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 coming into force.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has taken a number of steps to raise awareness of the 2019 Act. These steps include:Arranging for information to be included in Ready Steady Baby: https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/early-parenthood/caring-for-your-new-baby/…

30 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when large local authorities such as The Highland Council will be broken up into smaller county-size areas under the COVID-19 Strategic Framework to determine their tier level.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32783 on 9 November 2020. 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/parliamentarybusines…

29 Oct 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the independent review of its air quality strategy, which was completed in August 2019.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A consultation on a draft new air quality strategy, taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the review, has been published today at https://consult.gov.scot/environmental-quality/cleaner-air-for-scotland-2 . The consultation runs until 22…

26 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities in their response to COVID-19.

18 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding whether the European Commission investigation into the complaint regarding the Northern Isles road equivalent tariff (RET) will be resolved.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As I confirmed to Parliament, in the Chamber on 20 August 2020, Transport Scotland has had further engagement with the European Commission on potential options for looking at reducing fares on the Pentland Firth. EC officials have written to Transport Scotlan…

17 Aug 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for setting out a statement of policy on food, in light of a Good Food Nation Bill no longer being introduced in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are beginning a process of developing a non-statutory statement of policy on food that will incorporate the experience gained in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing work under the umbrella of the Good Food Nation policy and, more widely, work such a…

4 Aug 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its response to the reports of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery and Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board Sub-Group will be published.

Answer · John Swinney: Our responses, Addressing the labour market emergency: The Scottish Government’s response to the Report by the Enterprise & Skills Strategic Board sub-group on measures to mitigate the labour market impacts from COVID-19 and Economic Recovery Implementation P…

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure is allocated to islands and remote rural areas during the period covered by the Scottish Budget for 2020-21, and what proportion of each is allocated to support businesses and social enterprises that support or enhance biodiversity.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Expenditure on biodiversity-related activity is not allocated in the manner outlined and thus the information requested is not held centrally. Biodiversity-related work in Scotland is funded by a range of public, private and third sector sources. These inclu…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have the condition, ME; what specialist treatment resources and facilities, other than stand-alone psychiatric or psychological services, are in place; how much funding has been allocated to these services, and what its position is on whether the level of resources offere…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: During the development of the National Framework for Action ‘Neurological Care and Support in Scotland’ , we commissioned the NHS Information Services Division to investigate how many people in Scotland are living with different neurological conditions. Thi…

3 Apr 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Highland has approved details of its Healing Process in response to John Sturrock QC’s recommendations, and if so, when will this commence.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I am very pleased to advise that NHS Highland has now agreed the details of its Healing Process. This has been developed and agreed collaboratively in consultation with representatives of the whistleblowers who first brought this to my attention as well as tr…

10 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met The Highland Council to discuss plans and arrangements to support communities and services during the Brexit withdrawal period.

20 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the aquaculture sector on the recommendations in the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee's report, Salmon Farming in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government carefully considered the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee's report, Salmon Farming in Scotland and in early 2019, I provided a comprehensive response identifying a range of actions underway to tackle known challenges, including…

20 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to (a) perinatal and (b) infant mental health in each of the last five years, broken down by how the funding was spent.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Perinatal and Infant Mental Health is a key commitment for the Scottish Government. The Managed Clinical Network for Perinatal Mental Health was established in 2017 and this was then followed by establishment of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programm…

12 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when electronic signage will be installed along the A9, north of Inverness.

3 Feb 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether dedicated, non-executive Whistleblowing Champions have been appointed to all NHS boards.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Whistleblowing Champion appointments round has now concluded and I am pleased with the level of interest we have had in these posts. I have stressed the importance of these roles and have been clear from the outset that the right people with the right ski…

22 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the last review of local government was carried out.

8 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what access and communication provisions will be made in the new Justice Centre in Inverness for people from remote rural communities.

18 Dec 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish Professor Werritty’s report on grouse moor management.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The report to the Scottish Government by the Grouse Moor Management Review Group is being published today on the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot/groups/grouse-moor-management-group/ I would like to thank Professor Werritty and the other me…

27 Nov 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports exports of renewable energy technology.

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to tackle the illegal disposal of waste and rubbish from salmon farms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: SEPA will continue to use its routine monitoring activity to check waste handling practices at salmon farms, in addition SEPA will respond to notifications alleging the illegal disposal of waste and investigate any cases where waste management does not comply…

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what penalties are in place for salmon farms that do not dispose of waste and rubbish in accordance with the rules that apply.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Failure to comply with the duty of care for waste is a criminal offence, subject to a maximum £10,000 fine on summary conviction, or an unlimited fine if taken forward on indictment.

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the disposal of waste and rubbish from salmon farms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: SEPA carries out regular inspections of fish farm premises and can check the means by which controlled waste from these is being kept, transported and disposed of by the operators of these farms and that the duty of care is being followed.