Colin Smyth

22 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it defines multi-year funding for voluntary sector organisations as a three-year minimum commitment.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In line with our Fairer Funding commitment to embed a multi-year grant approach on all third sector grants by 2026, the First Minister has committed to increasing the number of two-year grants in the forthcoming budget, and longer where possible. It must be…

22 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that multi-year funding arrangements for the voluntary sector have annual inflation-based uplifts inbuilt, at a level as close to inflation as possible.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In line with our commitment to develop a fairer funding approach for the third sector, we will increase the number of multi-year grants in the forthcoming budget and ensure timely notification of funding. In the current fiscal climate and within the constrai…

22 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of public sector grants and contracts are currently delivered on a multi-year basis.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Currently, as of 4 December 2023, the Scottish Governments proportion of live contracts, delivered on a multi-year basis, is 65%. Multi-year has been classed as a contract over 12 months. Data on wider public sectors can either be found here: Home - Public C…

22 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that its funding decisions regarding support for the voluntary sector are issued no later than December, and that any funds are paid no later than the start of the tax year in April.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In the 2023-24 Programme for Government we have committed, as part of developing an approach to fairer funding for the third sector, to deliver improvements in grant-making arrangements, including providing greater clarity and consistency of practice. We und…

22 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Age Scotland and others to improve plans for the new Pension Age Disability Payment by including extra mobility and travel support for recipients.

15 Nov 2023 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body under what circumstances Fairtrade products are used in catering in the Scottish Parliament.

8 Nov 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a delivery plan for improvements to the A75 and A77 trunk roads.

1 Nov 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it is providing through the next phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme for schools in the South Scotland region.

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures have been implemented to manage non-native gamebird releases where there is potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission from infected gamebirds to (a) native wild birds, (b) other wildlife, (c) dogs and (d) the shooting community.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government works closely with the game sector to encourage best practice biosecurity measures by keepers of poultry and other captive birds. Advice has been issued frequently through a number of formats including webinars, emails, regular interfa…

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what capacity its agencies have to regulate the release of gamebirds in instances when there is potential for disease transfer to wildlife.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006 prohibits the release of gamebirds in any Protection, Surveillance or Low Pathogenic Restricted Zones, established around an Infected Premises. This Order also provides Ministe…

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many release facilities where cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza infection have been detected (a) had already released gamebirds into the natural environment and (b) were open to wild birds either by being unroofed or through pop holes being open,…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Epidemiological investigations at each of the six infected premises (IPs) involving gamebird establishments, declared in Scotland in 2023, revealed that all of the birds involved were open to direct or indirect contact with wild birds, either through unroofed…

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many gamebirds, broken down by species, have been destroyed at rearing and release facilities due to highly pathogenic avian influenza infection in 2023.

Answer · Gillian Martin: In the previous avian influenza outbreak season (October 2022 to September 2023) 31,570 gamebirds have either succumbed to avian influenza or have been humanely culled for animal welfare and disease control reasons, due to being present at an infected premise…

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many gamebird rearing and release facilities have been found to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2023. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: In 2023 six game bird premises were declared with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Scotland. These were:Near Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, confirmed 08 August 2023 (AIV 2023/29)Near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, confirmed 14 August 2023 (AIV 2023/41)Near Fraserbu…

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place for the early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza on grouse moors. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: In Scotland (and across Great Britain) the GB Dead Wild Bird Surveillance Scheme, administered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Defra (England), allows members of the public to report …

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve biosecurity, for (a) grouse, (b) other wildlife, (c) dogs and (d) the shooting community, in light of the discovery of a highly pathogenic avian influenza in a red grouse in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Gillian Martin: A Scottish Avian Influenza in wild bird Task Force was established in 2022, which brought together colleagues from Scottish Government, NatureScot, the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology, Public Health Scotland, and Local Authorities to coordinate a join…

14 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has been allocated by the UK Government for the upgrade of the A75. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: At present no funding has been allocated by the UK Government for the upgrade of the A75. A detailed business case for the development of improvements to the A75 was submitted by the Scottish Government to the UK Government in April 2023. The UK Minister for…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the Scottish Dental Access Initiative in recruiting dentists in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The purpose of the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) is not for the recruitment of dentists, but to improve access to NHS dental services by encouraging dentists to set up a new practice or extend an existing practice in areas where access to NHS denta…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many adult patients have been deregistered from NHS dental services in Dumfries and Galloway in the last two years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I would advise the member to contact the NHS Health Board to obtain this information.

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many adult patients have been registered with an NHS dentist in Dumfries and Galloway in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. However, dental registration statistics, including the percentage of adults who are registered with a NHS dentist in the Dumfries and Galloway area, are published by Public Health Scotland and …

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the accessibility of NHS dentistry for adults in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18928 on 21 June 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-committee…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact payment reform has had on the (a) recruitment of dentists in Dumfries and Galloway and (b) level of deregistration of adult patients from NHS dental services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Payment reform will be implemented on 1 November 2023. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage to make an assessment on the impact of payment reform on the recruitment of dentists in Dumfries and Galloway and the level of deregistration of adult patients …

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the annual reporting into the incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low impact techniques, as it committed to commissioning in January 2023, will cover the proportion of low-impact fishing allocated for each quota stock in relation to the entire allocation.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The report will set out various facts in relation to quota allocated to incentivise selective fishing gear and low impact techniques such as: the number of vessels involved; tonnages of various species caught; area of landing and proportion for each quota sto…

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the first annual report in relation to the incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low impact techniques will be published, in light of its commitment in January 2023 to commission such work.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In January 2023, the Scottish Government agreed to produce a retrospective report in relation to the allocation of fish quota to vessels fishing by means associated with a lower environmental impact. The report will review how quota was allocated to help inc…

6 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent statistics showing that the number of children in Dumfries and Galloway living in temporary accommodation rose by 67% between 2022 and 2023.

17 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times during harvesting operations machine operators have contacted Forestry and Land Scotland Environment Foresters to report a suspected drey structure since derogated licensing provisions were granted by NatureScot to Forestry and Land Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) does not record this information formally as it is not required for the licence return to NatureScot.

17 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many forestry operations were moved outwith the breeding season for red squirrels, following surveys, since derogated licensing provisions were granted by NatureScot to Forestry and Land Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland does not record this information formally as it is not required for the licence return to NatureScot .

17 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many forestry operations were stalled due to the presence of red squirrels since derogated licensing provisions were granted by NatureScot to Forestry and Land Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland does not record this information formally as it is not required for the licence return to NatureScot.

9 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on developing a cycle path between Cairnryan ferry ports and Stranraer. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland instructed the Operating Company, Amey, to undertake investigation of the active travel route between Stranraer and Cairnryan to establish what infrastructure can be introduced. The route is being considered …

9 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fully implement any of the 23 recommendations in the South West Scotland Transport Study Initial Appraisal – Case for Change, which was published by Transport Scotland on 28 January 2020, and, if so, which ones.    

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The South West Scotland Transport Study Initial Appraisal – Case for Change (SWSTS) was a precursor to the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) and included 23 option packages to be appraised further in STPR2. STPR2 was published in December 20…

9 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides to increase digital demand responsive transport within Dumfries and Galloway. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) is supported, with local authorities receiving £9.1m through the General Revenue Grant in 2023-24, and Dumfries & Galloway receiving £702k. This funding is not ring fenced, allowing local authorities flexibility in allocating…