Parliamentary questions
Colin Smyth
990 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outcome of both the statutory review of snaring and its additional review, which was considering a potential ban on snaring in Scotland.
6 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding for the upgrade of the A75 and A77 has been committed by the UK Government.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: To date, we are not aware of the UK Government committing any funding for the upgrade of either the A75 or the A77. The UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review (UCR) published its interim findings in March 2021 and identified both the A75 and A77 as critica…
6 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Transport Scotland has reportedly not pursued its proposed scheme to extend the National Cycle Network Route 73 between Stranraer and Cairnryan.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has had no direct involvement in any scheme to extend the National Cycle Network (NCN) route 73 between Stranraer and Cairnryan. The NCN in Scotland is managed by Sustrans who, as custodians of the NCN, gave intentions to explore impro…
9 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the responses to its consultation on mandatory calorie labelling in the out of home sector.
Answer · Maree Todd: We will publish the consultation responses at the same time as the publication of the independent consultation analysis report. A firm date for publication has not been set at this time.
9 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional public charging points for electric vehicles (EV) are planned for South Scotland, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has invested over £50m in developing the ChargePlace Scotland Network. We are now working with the private sector to invest a further £60m in coming years. Through our investments, electric vehicle owners in the South of Scotland have …
9 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03448 by Graeme Dey on 29 October 2021, what plans it has to extend the National Cycle Network Route 73 between Stranraer and Cairnryan, and whether any steps have been taken to carry out any such extension.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has no direct plans at present to extend the National Cycle Network (NCN) route 73. Sustrans manage the NCN in Scotland and have set out ambitions to improve and extend the NCN in their 2018 Paths for Everyone Document. The Scottish Go…
20 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when repair work on the A77 at Carlock Wall is anticipated to be completed.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The slope stabilisation and wall reconstruction is currently programmed to be completed by late Autumn 2022.
27 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the use of anthelmintics through medicated grit to treat wild red grouse, what monitoring is in place for (a) how much is being used and (b) where it is being dispensed.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Medicated grit can only be used under licence administered by a veterinarian. A veterinary prescription is required to purchase flubendazole coated medicated grit and it is recommended following predetermination of worm levels in grouse . The Veterinary Medi…
27 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the recommendations of the SEPA report, Preliminary environmental assessment of Flubendazole use in Scotland for parasitic worm control in Moorland Grouse, published in November 2020.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will – ‘deliver the recommendations of the Grouse Moor Management Review Group as a matter of urgency, including the licensing of grouse moors. Licensing or further regulation will cover the key areas iden…
27 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research is being carried out into the potential for resistance from use of veterinary medication on wild red grouse.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is not aware of any research being carried out specifically on the potential for resistance from the use of veterinary medication in wild red grouse. However, Moredun Research Institute are currently leading on a Strategic Research Pr…
15 Jun 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the reinstatement of inpatient births at the Community Maternity Unit within the Galloway Community Hospital.
1 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a maximum bidding price has been applied to commercial-scale ScotWind projects, but not to 100MW innovation projects looking to progress through the forthcoming Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas leasing round.
20 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for extended opening hours for licensed premises between 2 and 4 June 2022 to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Answer · Ash Regan: Independent Licensing Boards in Scotland can grant general extensions of licensed hours if they consider it appropriate to do so in connection with a special event of local or national significance – as was the case during the Queen’s 60 th Jubilee celebratio…
11 May 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support a town centre first approach to the development of new housing.
16 Mar 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current levels of unmet need and staff vacancies in social care.
16 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Ministers last discussed increasing rail services from Lockerbie railway station with train operators.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Lockerbie railway station is serviced by Avanti West Coast and Transpennine Express, known as cross-border rail operators. These operators are managed by the Department for Transport. Transport Scotland officials have frequent meetings with all cross-border …
16 Feb 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to encourage dentists to continue treating NHS patients.
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all Scottish Ministers are of the same view regarding the allocation of government resources for the establishment of freeports in Scotland.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is very committed to the delivery of two Greenports in Scotland, which will create new, well-paid jobs, deliver a just transition to net zero and support economic transformation based on fairness. As an Annex to the Bute House Agreeme…
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial resources and (b) other support will be provided for the establishment of freeports in Scotland.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Each successful Green Freeport applicant will have the opportunity to access up to £25 million of capital funding to assist with site infrastructure costs. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to access up to £1 million of revenue funding to assis…
2 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to the consultation on the Draft Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government will publish the responses within 3 months of the consultation closing date of the 26 January 2022. Consultation responses will be analysed and will inform the final Hydrogen Action Plan and the scope of the £100m funding programme, du…
2 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the next steps are for the Hydrogen Action Plan, and when it anticipates that they will take place.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Draft Hydrogen Action plan public consultation closed on the 26 th January 2022. All responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence and will feed into the final Hydrogen Action Plan due to be published later in 2022.
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the annual deer cull returns for (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: NatureScot, in their role as Scotland’s deer authority, gather and publish data on annual deer cull returns. Formal cull return requests are now being issued for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. The requests were delayed due to difficulties in sending out cu…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when NatureScot will publish a progress report on the implementation of each of the Deer Working Group recommendations that the Scottish Government accepted.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As set out in the answer to S6W-06070 on 25 February 2022, work to implement the recommendations of the Deer Working Group is underway. Part of this work involves considering the most appropriate method of reporting on progress and further details on this wil…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward any new incentives for land managers in relation to deer management.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Work to improve the sustainability of Scotland’s deer management systems, including recommendations made by the Deer Working Group, will be taken forward under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. Priorities will be broadly split across four streams: legislat…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for new cull targets for deer populations.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will: ‘modernise deer management, implementing the recommendations of the Deer Management Working Group.’ The Deer Working Group report includes recommendations relating to cull targets, including those f…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on data published by NatureScot reportedly stating that the deer population in Scotland now exceeds one million and is increasing.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The review of deer management by the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) found that deer populations in Scotland have grown significantly since 1990, when the population estimate was approximately 512,000 wild deer. The DWG estimated the current deer populat…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact COVID-19 restrictions had on the numbers of deer culled in 2021-22.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As the 2021-22 season is ongoing, NatureScot do not yet have a complete picture of the number of deer culled and so it is not possible to give an accurate assessment of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. NatureScot will publish cull return data for 2021-22 …
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an updated deer management strategy to implement the recommendations in the Deer Working Group report.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Work to implement the recommendations of the Deer Working Group is underway. A project board has been established under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Programme. Further details about this work will be made available in due course, including arrangements …
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported £700 million revenue from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction will be entirely ringfenced to support the transition to net zero and investment in infrastructure to maximise the supply chain job opportunities in Scotland from the auction.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As stated in the recent Programme for Government, some of the ScotWind revenues will be utilised for actions which tackle the twin crises of biodiversity and climate change, creating a legacy for the future, and some monies have already been identified to und…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the reported £700 million revenue from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing auction is projected to be received in the financial year 2022-23.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Budget allocations are agreed and published as part of the annual Scottish Budget process, with option fee income expected to be recognised over a number of years, to a maximum of ten years in line with the lease period. To date a prudent estimate of ScotWin…