Parliamentary questions
Kate Forbes
120 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many women were screened using mobile breast-screening units in 2016.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for the NHS Boards and the six regional breast screening centres. Further information on the Scottish Breast Screening Programme, including uptake, can be found at; http://www.isdscotland.org/H…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many mobile breast-screening units are operational, and what plans there are to increase capacity.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for the NHS Boards and the six regional breast screening centres. Further information on the Scottish Breast Screening Programme, including uptake, can be found at; http://www.isdscotland.org/H…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investment it is making in the West Highland Line.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government are committed to improving rail services and connectivity across the Scottish network and continue to make investments to the West Highland Line which addresses local demands, reflected through the doubling of services between Glasgow and …
1 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting remote and rural communities with community land buyouts.
1 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its discussion paper on income tax.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government will publish a discussion paper The Role of Income Tax in Scotland’s Budget on its website this morning at 9.30am. The aim of the paper is to inform an open discussion on the direction of income tax in Scotland and ensure that the deci…
19 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children had access to dedicated Gaelic-medium language classes in 2016-17.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s ‘Pupils in Scotland 2016’ publication includes information on pupils in all publicly funded primary and secondary schools in Scotland receiving Gaelic medium education. This confirmed the following: Pupils receiving Gaelic medium e…
19 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund has had on the number of young people in Gaelic Medium Education.
Answer · John Swinney: Since its inception in 2008 the Gaelic Capital Fund has gone on to expand, enhance delivery and support Gaelic education at all levels across Scotland. The Scottish Government has provided a total of £24m in support of new provision in Aberdeen, Argyll and …
18 Oct 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the price of energy for householders and the number of fuel-poor houses in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch compares with the rest of the UK.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Energy statistics from the UK Government show that in 2016 electricity customers in the North of Scotland paid 8-9% more than the GB average per kilowatt hour. Fuel poverty rates are not available at Parliamentary Constituency Level. However, the latest loca…
12 Oct 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the establishment of the new board in March 2017, whether the Crofting Commission has prepared and submitted to ministers a plan setting out its policy on how it proposes to exercise its functions.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I can confirm that, in accordance with the Crofting Reform Scotland Act 2010, the Crofting Commission has submitted its Policy Plan, which I approved on 5 October 2017. A copy of the Plan can be viewed at http://www.crofting.scotland.gov.uk/
4 Oct 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement on the Barclay review of non-domestic rates on 12 September 2017 (Official Report, c.9), what the upper value threshold will be for hydro schemes to be able to qualify for the new 60% rates relief proposed from 1 April 2018.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government proposes to set this upper threshold at a rateable value of £5 million, and will bring forward legislation in due course.
5 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the rural economy in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
17 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it and its agencies have had with Cairngorm Mountain regarding the development of an artificial ski slope, and what impact this would have on tourism in the local area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government agencies have held a number of discussions with Cairngorm Mountain Ltd (CML) on a proposed artificial ski slope on Cairngorm Mountain since the company proposed the initiative in June 2016. Staff in Highlands & Islands Enterprise will …
24 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of Gaelic teachers to meet the demand for Gaelic medium education.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting parental choice for those interested in placing their children in Gaelic medium education and staff at every level are key to its success. The document “Delivering Excellence and Equity in Scottish Educatio…
24 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Gaelic medium education teachers have been trained in each year since 2010.
Answer · John Swinney: The following table sets out the number of teachers trained since 2010 at Primary and Secondary level. Year Primary NQT’s Secondary NQT’s GIfT Students* Total NQTs 2010 7 5 (4 Gaelic, 1 Gaelic + Modern Studies) N/A 12 2011 6 5 (4 Gaelic, 1 Biolog…
11 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling the impact of the squirrelpox virus, which can be fatal to red squirrels.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2007, the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Project has been working to protect red squirrels in South Scotland from the emergence of squirrelpox virus which was first recorded in Scotland in 2005. Between 2009 and 2012, the SSRS Project carried o…
11 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors red and grey squirrel distributions across Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Squirrel sightings across Scotland are reported through the Scottish Squirrel Database, which has been managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust since 2007. The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Project also carries out annual presence/absence monitoring o…
11 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a long-term, cost-effective means of controlling the reported spread of the non-native grey squirrel.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The current distribution and abundance of grey squirrels means that control and containment to minimise their impact are generally the only realistic options. The objectives of grey squirrel control co-ordinated through the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SS…
11 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) stop the reported decline of Scotland’s red squirrel population, (b) improve conditions for red squirrels and (c) tackle the reported spread of grey squirrels.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s approach to red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel control is set out in the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation (Scottish Squirrel Group 2015) produced by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and available at this link h…
11 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it can secure greater participation by (a) landowners and (b) volunteers in Scotland’s grey squirrel control effort.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2009, the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust has co-ordinated grey squirrel control at a landscape scale in three project areas: North-East Scotland, the Central Lowlands and South Scotland. This work is un…
28 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to the consultation on a draft referendum bill.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The responses to the consultation have now been independently analysed. Those responses and an analysis report, available at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/06/5860 have been published this afternoon.
21 Jun 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to build a new Belford Hospital in Fort William.
12 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made filling the chief executive vacancy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I’m delighted that, following a recruitment process which began in March and ended on 7 June 2017, Highlands and islands Enterprise has today announced the appointment of Charlotte Wright as its permanent Chief Executive. Charlotte’s start date will be confir…
22 May 2017 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to attract foreign direct investment.
10 May 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the fish catching industry on the west coast.
26 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what requirements local authorities have to provide children with the basic tools of learning at school.
22 Mar 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports residential care for older people in rural areas.
21 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for working with different parts of Scottish society to deliver the national digital strategy.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The refreshed digital strategy, “Realising Scotland’s Full Potential in A Digital World” was published on 22 March 2017. This paints a picture of our country as a vibrant, inclusive and outward looking nation with a successful digital economy, comprehensive a…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Bank of Scotland PMI.
Answer · Keith Brown: The latest Bank of Scotland PMI figures signal that Scotland’s private sector continued to strengthen in February with business output increasing at its quickest rate since July 2015, alongside a further rise in new business. While this expansion is to be wel…
15 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers and responsibilities have been devolved to Highlands and Islands communities in the last 10 years.
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to recruit modern apprentices in rural areas.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In direct response to feedback from providers and in recognition of the additional costs for delivering in rural areas, from April 2017 Skills Development Scotland will introduce a new rural supplement for training providers. This new supplement will offer b…