Maree Todd

6 Nov 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government provides for veterans.

31 Oct 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of crisis grants awarded as a result of the roll-out of universal credit.

17 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Scottish Parliament’s call to halt the rollout of universal credit.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: On 28 September I wrote, jointly with CoSLA, to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to highlight further substantive evidence of the abject failures in the Universal Credit system and demand a halt to the full service roll-out until the fundamental f…

6 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it will undertake with (a) Kishorn Port Limited and (b) the project developer in light of the reported delays to the development of the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government, and its Enterprise Agencies, are working closely with the project developer to ensure Kishorn Port Ltd, and the wider Scottish supply chain, still benefit, as had been anticipated, from the Kincardine Floating Offshore Wind Project as…

27 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Law Society of Scotland’s report, The UK withdrawal from the EU and the potential impact on health related matters, and the possible challenges that it identifies for Scotland regarding access to new medicines.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomes the Law Society of Scotland’s analysis paper which makes a number of important points and recommendations. From a medicines perspective we share the view raised in the paper that a significant consequence of the potential los…

20 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has with Inverness College UHI.

11 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points on the road network in Orkney.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since 2011, Scottish Government funding has enabled the Orkney Islands Council to install 14 electric vehicle charge points, including 4 rapid chargers as part of the ChargePlace Scotland network. Funding has been offered for this financial year and Transport…

11 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported increase in the number of visitors to Scotland on cruise liners, and whether the existing infrastructure has the capacity to accommodate further increases.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland continues to grow in popularity as a destination and CruiseScotland members expect to welcome 656,000 passengers from 810 ships during 2017. CruiseScotland estimated that ports and their hinterlands around mainland Scotland and the islands shared a m…

11 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual value of tourism is to Orkney, broken down by visitors from (a) overseas, (b) the rest of Scotland and (c) the rest of the UK.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Three year annual average statistics for domestic (UK) overnight visitors to Orkney for the period 2013-15 indicate a spend of £21m, comprised of spend from Scottish visitors during this period of £3m and for the rest of the UK £18m. Information on overseas …

11 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that visitor attractions in Orkney that are of global importance are equipped to deal with the reported increased number of visitors to the islands.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11199 on 21 September 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/parliamentarybusine…

11 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a large increase in the number of visitors to Orkney.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of sustaining a high quality tourism product to Orkney’s economic wellbeing. To this end, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) jointly commissioned with Orkney Islands Council a study into the general …

11 Sep 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking the 20th anniversary of the devolution referendum.

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of whether NHS England's new budget impact test will have an effect on the (a) approval process for new medicines in Scotland and (b) other aspects of NHS Scotland's work.

Answer · Shona Robison: The appraisal process for new medicines in Scotland is entirely separate from arrangements in England. In Scotland we have a clear route for new drugs to be appraised through the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC). The SMC operates independently of Scottish …

6 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the provision of local forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual crimes in Orkney and Shetland.

4 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government in relation to reconsidering planned military base closures in Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government remains opposed to the Ministry of Defence’s planned base closures in Scotland and has made repeated representations to the UK Government to set out concerns regarding their November 2016 announcement, “A Better Defence Estate”. The ex…

28 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent reports published by (a) the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage on deer management.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government welcomes the reports on deer management from the Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and notes that both reports draw similar conclusions in that while progress has been made by Scot…

7 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing the recommendations of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.

2 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people have indicated in the Scottish Health Survey in each year since 1995 that they would like to give up smoking, and what information it has regarding how many succeeded in doing so.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The following table shows information from the Scottish Health Survey on the proportion of adult smokers indicating that they would like to give up smoking in each year since 2003. This information is not available from the two earlier Scottish Health Surveys…

31 May 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey report.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey for 2016, which was published earlier today. These new figures show welcome continued growth in the industry with 6% increases in production of mussels and 31% incre…

16 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much EU funding has been awarded in Scotland to support food processing and manufacturing in each year since 2009, broken down by type of funding.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) awards 2009-2016 in calendar years Total awards made: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 £m £m £m £m £m £m £m £m Total Capital Projects Awarded 6.050 4.658 4.614 8.532 10.820 -…

16 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much EU funding has been awarded in Scotland to support the maritime and fisheries sector in each year since 2009, broken down by type of funding.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2009, the Scottish Government has awarded the following EU funding in Scotland to support the maritime and fisheries sector; 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Aquaculture 3,630,269 2,259,496 79,576 1,469,370 1,024,071.5 18…

10 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a response from the UK Government to its request to halt the roll-out of universal credit in Scotland following reports that the new system is pushing more people into hardship and debt.

3 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to cancer treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: We launched our cancer strategy ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ in March 2016. This strategy, supported by £100 million of investment, will support improvements in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare for people with all types o…

24 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of damage to the Loch Carron flame shell reef by a scallop dredger, and what protections are in place for marine habitats.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: An investigation of the status of the Loch Carron flame shell bed is taking place. This includes collating all existing evidence for a desk based study, camera survey work by Marine Scotland Science, and dive survey work by Scottish Natural Heritage. There i…

17 Apr 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on her visit to the United States.

4 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the environmental impact of military training exercises in Scottish waters on the welfare of whales and dolphins.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with MoD regarding the possible environmental impacts of military training exercises. MoD have shared their most recent Joint Warrior 171 environmental impact assessment with us which was the subject of consultat…

16 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to reinvigorating the core strengths and principles of general practice. On 10 March , the Scottish Government announced that in 2017-2018 £71.6 million will be invested in direct support of general practice, helping tran…

15 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that every tenant in homeless accommodation in the Highlands is in rent arrears following the roll-out of universal credit by the Department for Work and Pensions.

13 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest position is regarding the pay supplement for seafaring staff who work for Marine Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Marine Scotland management has decided to continue to pay the supplement in good faith, and given continuing concerns for recruitment and retention in some areas, at its current level of £2000 per annum until October 2017. This is to allow time for a comparat…

22 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received an update from the Department for Work and Pensions regarding progress of the roll-out of universal credit in the Highlands.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not receive updates from DWP on Universal Credit roll out in individual areas. DWP do publish statistics monthly on Universal Credit volumes across the country and Scottish Government and DWP officials are in regular contact about…