Kate Forbes

8 May 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that NHS Highland implements the recommendations of Sir Lewis Ritchie's report, following his expert review of healthcare provision for the north of Skye.

1 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how small Highland and island communities will benefit from its Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

24 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

Withdrawn.

19 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the funding raised through ScotWind option fees in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget.

13 Mar 2024 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on its plans to increase access to childcare in the creche beyond three hours per day.

13 Mar 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the voices of Highland communities are appropriately considered by the Energy Consents Unit when assessing applications from developers.

4 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Highland about progressing planning and design work for the new Belford Hospital in Fort William.

19 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on the Screen Machine.

30 Jan 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to pilot a new aquaculture consenting process to help deliver a more streamlined regime across Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In the 2023-24 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to pilot a new aquaculture consenting process in two local authority areas to help deliver a more streamlined regime across Scotland. I am pleased to inform Parliament that pilots for…

11 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22531 by Paul McLennan on 13 November 2023, by what date in early 2024 it will provide an implementation update on short-term let licensing.

Answer · Paul McLennan: My letter of 27 October 2023 shorttermlets27oct.pdf (parliament.scot) to the Scottish Parliament indicated I would write again by the end of January 2024 to advise on progress with this work and it is still my intention to do this.

20 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the increasing risk of wildfires in rural areas.

10 Nov 2023 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on its work to ensure that the crèche facility can offer more than four hours per week per child.

8 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to develop a model for Scotland to challenge men’s demand for prostitution.

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commence its post-implementation review into short-term let licensing; what the scope, remit and nature of this work is; what the timeline is for the completion of the review, and when it plans to report to (a) ministers and (b) the Parliament on its findings.

Answer · Paul McLennan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22531 on 13 November 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its post-implementation review into short-term let licensing, whether it plans to undertake any stakeholder engagement and consultation ahead of the review, and what the nature of any stakeholder involvement in the review will be.

Answer · Paul McLennan: I wrote to the Local Government Housing and Planning Committee on 27 October 2023 to set out the scope of the implementation update on short-term let licensing. In this letter I have committed to provide an update to Parliament in early 2024. A copy of this l…

24 Oct 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the First Minister’s Investor Panel will report, and whether it has made any comments or recommendations regarding the Scottish Government’s proposal to issue a bond.

Answer · Neil Gray: We expect the Panel to report its full findings and recommendations by the end of November. The Panel provided its first stage work to the Scottish Government in September. This covers a wide range of findings and recommendations relating to how Scotland can …

20 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is progressing its integrated transport plan for Fort William to reduce congestion and increase resilience and reliability on the trunk road network.

12 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Highland Council to improve the school estate in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency.

6 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its proposals to ban snares and cable restraints, what its position is on how land managers can manage predation pressure by foxes in the event that the use of snares and cable restraints is the only viable method of doing so.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We understand that in some cases the use of snares may be considered by land managers to be the most cost-effective method of controlling foxes. However we take the view that that animal welfare considerations should take precedence over cost considerations i…

6 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is exploring the possibility of providing compensation to any land managers left with no other viable methods for managing predation as a result of the proposal to ban snares and cable restraints.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We are not, at present, exploring the possibility of providing compensation to land managers in connection with the proposed ban on snares. We are still consulting on our proposals, but at this stage we are of the view that there are strong wildlife welfare r…

6 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has undertaken regarding its plan to ban the use of snares and cable restraints.

Answer · Gillian Martin: A formal business impact assessment is not a requirement for measures introduced during the passage of a Bill through Parliament. We invited the Rural and Environmental Land Management Group to submit a report on the use of snares by Scottish land management…

5 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of utilising helicopters for wildfire suppression has been during the recent Cannich incident, and how much of this cost was met through public funds.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The total cost for the helicopters utilised at the Cannich fire is not known at this stage, as the incident is still ‘live’ with damping down activity ongoing, and the two suppliers (PDG Aviation Ltd and Skyhook Helicopters) have not yet submitted their respe…

5 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, with a view to increasing the prominence of wildfire risk across all relevant sections.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: NatureScot is charged with keeping the Access Code under constant review and is working with the National Access Forum to address access issues that do arise though providing new guidance, resources and advice. The Access Code succeeds in fulfilling its stat…

5 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry and Land Scotland had an integrated wildfire management plan in place prior to the recent major wildfire at Cannich, and, if not, whether an integrated wildfire management plan will now be developed.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scotland’s national forests and land is sub-divided into five geographical management areas, each has a local incident response plan in place. Each Regional incident response plan covers all potential incidents that may occur on Scotland’s national forests a…

5 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps were taken by Forestry and Land Scotland prior to the recent Cannich incident to prevent and reduce the risk of wildfire occurring.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: During periods of dry weather when the fire risk is moderate to high, Forestry and Land Scotland posts alerts on their web site and social media to warn members of the public about the risks. This includes advice on campfires, stoves, and portable barbeques. …

18 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) percentage and (b) area in km2 of Scotland’s inshore waters have any year-round spatial restrictions on (i) all commercial fishing, (ii) scallop dredging, (iii) nephrops trawling and (iv) creeling.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: (i) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where all commercial fishing is currently restricted is 66 square kilometres or less than 1%. (ii) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where scallop dredging is currently restricted is 8,068 square kilometres or 9%…

18 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) percentage and (b) area in km2 of Scotland’s inshore waters are designated as being within (i) Marine Protected Areas, (ii) Special Areas of Conservation, (iii) Special Protection Areas and (iv) Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: (i) The total area of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Scottish inshore waters is 17,954.3 square kilometres or 19.9%. (ii) The total area of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) within Scottish inshore waters is 17,547.8 square kilome…

18 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Scotland’s inshore waters which are designated as being within the Marine Protected Areas network have any year-round spatial restrictions on (a) all commercial fishing, (b) scallop dredging, (c) nephrops trawling and (d) creeling.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: (a) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where all commercial fishing is currently restricted, which are within the MPA network, is 60 square kilometres. This is less than 1%, of both, waters up to 12 Nautical Miles and waters in the inshore MPA network. The…

11 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure minimum disruption to travellers using the A9 during works to lay fibre optic cabling alongside the road.

Answer · Keith Brown: Every effort is being made to minimise disruption during these works on the A9 between Kincraig and Dalraddy. In advance of the works commencing, road-side signs were put in place and travel bulletins were issued to broadcast travel desks. The works have also…

6 Jun 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided to pregnant mothers who receive a pre-natal diagnosis of foetal disability.

Answer · Shona Robison: As outlined in the Best Start, care of women who have suspected or confirmed foetal disorders should receive holistic and multidisciplinary care. Every Unit in Scotland has a Lead Clinician with expertise in foetal medicine. In highly specialist cases, care m…