Kate Forbes

22 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting The Highland Council in recruiting teachers.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to help recruit teachers. We are spending £88 million this year to make sure every school has access to the right number of teachers, we have increased student teacher intake targets for the sixth year in …

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding to maintain or improve the condition of protected areas comes from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Under the 2007-2013 Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), funding for protected areas, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Natura sites, was delivered under the Rural Priorities scheme. Additional funding for protected areas was …

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible impact on environment and climate action projects in Scotland, whether the UK Government has provided it with a guarantee that it will (a) introduce a replacement and (b) maintain equivalent funding for the EU LIFE programme after the UK leaves the EU.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07395 on 7 March 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/28…

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible impact on marine protected areas and species in Scotland, whether the UK Government has provided it with a guarantee that it will (a) introduce a replacement and (b) maintain equivalent funding for the 2014-20 period for the INTERREG programme after the UK leave…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has already confirmed that it will be passing on the current UK Government guarantees in full to Scottish stakeholders (announced by Mr Mackay on 2 November), which will provide stability and certainty to approved Interreg, LIFE and si…

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) animal habitats and (b) species in Scotland are protected by the EU habitats directive.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Of the habitat types and species listed on Annexes I and II (respectively) of the EU Habitats Directive, 57 habitat types and 20 species occur in Scotland. 26 of the species listed on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive occur in Scotland. Lists of these h…

21 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Natura sites in Scotland are underpinned by (a) the EU (i) habitats and (ii) birds directive and (b) being designated sites of special scientific interest or marine protected areas, and how many are not.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Natura 2000 is the EU-wide network of protected areas created under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Sites designated under the Habitats Directive are called Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Sites of Community Interest (SCIs), the latter being th…

14 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the devolution of EU powers over farming and fisheries to Scotland following Brexit.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I hope to have discussions with the UK Government and devolved administration Ministers on these very matters when we meet tomorrow. Should Scotland be dragged into a hard Brexit by the Tories, this Government expects the devolved powers over agriculture tha…

1 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its tax incremental financing scheme.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Three tax incremental financing pilots are currently in the construction phase. They are in Argyll and Bute, Falkirk and Glasgow. A pilot for Fife has been approved in principle with the final agreement anticipated to be signed soon. Due to changed market co…

31 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the partnership between the Lochaber Housing Association and Highland Small Communities Housing Trust to build affordable new homes can help the housing situation in the Highlands.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The partnership between Lochaber Housing Association and the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust is an excellent example of organisations utilising local skills and resources to deliver affordable housing. Having secured £2.5M through the Scottish Govern…

31 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of its Climate Justice Fund is allocated to (a) providing access to clean energy to people in poverty and (b) sustainable agriculture.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Under the current round of Climate Justice-supported projects (funded since 2014), two projects, led by SCIAF and Christian Aid, are dedicated to sustainable agriculture methods, in Rwanda and Malawi respectively. Combined funding for these projects is £1,275…

25 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh report, Standards informing delivery of care in rural surgery.

20 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in affordable housing in the Lochaber area in 2016-17.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Official statistics on Investment figures for 2016-17 will not be finalised and published until later this year. These official statistics do not provide figures below Local Authority level. However from local programme management information the projected in…

20 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the Lochaber rent-to-buy housing scheme can help the housing situation in the Highlands.

20 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many energy-efficient, affordable houses have been built in the Lochaber area in 2016-17, and how this compares with the period, 1999 to 2007.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Official statistics on new affordable homes built, through the affordable housing supply programme, for 2016-17 will not be finalised and published until later this year. These official statistics do not provide figures below Local Authority level. However fr…

20 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on people in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch of the lessons learned at the second Nuisance Call Commission.

Answer · Keith Brown: The regulation of nuisance calls and texts is currently reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government is determined to do whatever we can to reduce their impact by working closely with stakeholders to develop practical solutions. The discuss…

16 Jan 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in appointing new members to the board of the Crofting Commission.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Following a recent Ministerial appointment round, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Malcolm Mathieson as a Commissioner to the Crofting Commission board from 1 January 2017. I will be in a position to announce a further appointment shortly. I am als…

19 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of the proposal to introduce travelling domestic abuse courts in the Highlands.

5 Dec 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how much the Scottish Government has allocated to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in this parliamentary session.

23 Nov 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the outcome of Rio Tinto's strategic review of the Lochaber assets.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Rio Tinto informed its workforce and the Stock Exchange this morning (Wednesday 23 November 2016) that it had reached agreement to sell its shareholding in Alcan Aluminium UK. This comprises the aluminium smelter at Fort William, two hydroelectric facilities …

9 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to people from Scotland who are engaged in legal proceedings in jurisdictions outside Scotland.

21 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to upgrade primary school buildings in the Highlands.

Answer · John Swinney: The 1980 Education (Scotland) Act places a statutory responsibility on local authorities to provide and maintain schools across Scotland. However, through this Government's Schools for the Future programme we are currently replacing three primary schools, C…

12 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on promoting opportunities for 18 to 23-year-olds to experience overseas voluntary work.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government's International Development Fund (IDF) began in 2005, with a budget of £3 million for Malawi. In 2008, the IDF was increased and now has a budget of £9 million per annum, currently supporting projects in our seven priority countries of…

12 Sep 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will achieve 100% broadband rollout across Scotland.

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many churches are powered by renewable energy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We do not hold information directly regarding churches and their energy sources and this information might best be sought from central contacts for each denomination in Scotland. However, the Energy Saving Trust has supported four churches with funding to ins…

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many homes were powered by renewable energy in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The information requested is not held centrally. However, we do have some information that may be useful. The reply refers to electricity and heat, both of which can be generated from renewable sources.It is estimated that, in 2015, Scotland generated enough …

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in compiling the Land Register of Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Registration of the Scottish Governments’ land and property in the Land Register of Scotland is underway. Currently 21% of the Scottish Governments’ eligible land and property has been registered; applications for a further 12% have been submitted to Register…

28 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes in the Highlands and Islands are powered by renewable energy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the following information may be useful. The reply refers to electricity and heat, each of which can be generated from renewable sources. It is estimated that in 2015, Scotland generated enough renewa…

21 Jun 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing schemes to harness wave and tidal energy.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government continues to provide strong support to developers of schemes to harness wave and tidal energy. In 2014, we established Wave Energy Scotland (WES), which brings together experts to accelerate wave technology further. With a new budget…

7 Jun 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to reintroduce passenger flights from Ashaig Airfield on Skye.

27 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children have access to dedicated Gaelic-medium language classes and how this compares with (a) 1999 and (b) 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: In 1999 there was a total of 2051 children throughout Scotland receiving Gaelic-medium education and in 2007, this had risen to 2486. The current figures show that this has risen to 4197. As shown in the following table, this covers primary and secondary but …