Gail Ross

1 Aug 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the consultation in 2017, when it will publish proposals for the National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The eligible age for the National Concessionary Travel Scheme will not change. It will remain at age 60. The consultation on the scheme closed in November 2017, with nearly 3,000 responses received from people all across Scotland. Where permission has been g…

17 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the contribution has been of Highland games and shows to the economy in each of the last five years.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government does not hold the information to demonstrate the total contribution Highland Games makes to the Scottish economy. EventScotland, however, have supported 15 Highland Games over the past 5 years which have brought in £1.45 million from …

13 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long its consultation on a Good Food Nation Bill will run for.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17691 on? 27 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…

13 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its consultation on a Good Food Nation Bill will begin.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government remains committed to achieving our ambition for Scotland to continue to develop and grow as a Good Food Nation. We are considering how best to do this and will provide more details, including on plans for consultation, in due course.

25 Jun 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to complete the devolution of forestry.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers have been responsible for forestry strategy, policy and funding since devolution in 1999. The Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 completes the devolution of forestry, ensuring that forestry is fully accountable to Scottish Min…

20 Jun 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what flexibility there is for rural colleges in the harmonisation of terms and conditions under national bargaining.

6 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comment by the Chair of Scottish Natural Heritage that Wester Ross’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status will “attract people from all over the world”.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I am delighted that Scottish Natural Heritage has been awarded a certificate from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in recognition of its work with the people of Wester Ross to achieve Biosphere Reserve status. The…

6 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the investment in a flight simulator at Farr High School, Thurso to help students studying STEM subjects, what its position is on the use of such technology in aiding the study of these subjects.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The use of digital technology in schools can support learners to develop their STEM skills, knowledge and understanding through relevant and up to date experiences. It can also help to provide real life examples of how STEM can be applied. Education Authorit…

24 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its plan to halve childhood obesity by 2030 can be assisted by its Good Food Nation policy.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government will publish its diet and healthy weight delivery plan this summer, which will have a guiding ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030. This will include a range of measures to support good nutrition and encourage children to develo…

16 May 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided a response to the National Council of Rural Advisers' interim report on the implications of Brexit for rural Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Yes, I provided a response to the Co-Chairs of the National Council of Rural Advisers earlier this month. The text of letter is available on the NCRA webpage of the Scottish Government website.

8 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a default speed of 20mph speed limits in urban areas.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government believes that Local Authorities are best placed to take decisions on the implementation of 20 mph speed limits on local roads, as they are currently empowered to do. In relation to a default speed limit of 20 mph, the Government has c…

3 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the introduction of regulation in relation to the practice of celebrants performing funerals and weddings.

Answer · Angela Constance: There are no plans to regulate celebrants performing funerals. In relation to marriage and civil partnership, the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 amended the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004. As a result, the …

1 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding packages are in place to meet the expenses of people who have to travel considerable distances to access healthcare, including outside their own NHS board area.

25 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many tonnes of waste have been collected from the sea around Scotland under the Fishing for Litter scheme since 2005.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: 1219.55 tonnes of waste has been collected and landed by the fishermen and ports under the Fishing for Litter scheme since 2005.

25 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided for the Fishing for Litter scheme since 2005.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has provided £480,000 of funding for the Fishing for Litter scheme since 2005, this has come from Marine Scotland and EMFF, with funding awarded up to March 2020.

20 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in its discussions with the other UK administrations regarding procurement arrangements post-Brexit.

28 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports school staff who provide guidance and counselling to vulnerable young people.

20 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland's consultation regarding its 53 buildings that are no longer required.

5 Feb 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government is carrying out with the banking sector regarding the importance of maintaining branches across communities in rural Scotland.

2 Feb 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the recommendation by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee in its report on the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill at stage 1, when it will publish a statement setting out how it will manage its forestry responsibilities.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: 5 February 2018. The statement will be available at www.gov.scot/forestry.

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent survey in The Times, which suggests that 75% of the public support assisted dying.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Stage 1 debate of the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill was held in the Scottish Parliament in May 2015. The views expressed were considered, sincere, and respectfully heard by all involved. Ultimately, the Scottish Parliament decided not to proceed with t…

16 Jan 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards Scotland becoming a good food nation.

20 Dec 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many probationer teachers there will be in the academic year 2018-19.

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Advisory Council on Women and Girls will help tackle gender inequality.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government continues to take positive strides to tackle the different forms of inequality experienced by women and girls, for example in strengthening its response to violence against women and girls and addressing the under-representation of wom…

21 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reached a decision on the future of civil partnership in Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is publishing later today its response to the consultation carried out from 22 September 2015 to 15 December 2015. The Scottish Government has decided not to legislate now on civil partnership but does not rule out legislation later …

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many men have experienced complications as a result of hernia repairs using mesh implants in each of the last five years.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government, however Information Services Division publish details of all Inpatient and Day case Surgical Procedures and Operations, including 'Inguinal hernia procedures' and 'Other hernia repair', which …

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reconfiguring the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to take greater account of remote and rural poverty.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is the Scottish Government’s official tool for identifying concentrations of deprivation in Scotland. It is a relative measure of deprivation and takes into account aspects of deprivation that affect local are…

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will roll out electric charging points for vehicles in remote and rural areas, and what the timescale for this work is.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As detailed in September’s Programme for Government announcement, in order to lead the way on electric vehicles, we plan to expand our electric vehicle charging infrastructure between now and 2022, whether in rural, urban or domestic settings. We will continu…

7 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what workforce planning and recruitment plans there are for the police and fire and rescue services in remote and rural areas.

1 Nov 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of the recent reports on the issue, how it defines sexual harassment.