Donald Cameron

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Sky UK Limited since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Since May 2021, the Scottish Government has not held any Ministerial meetings with Sky UK Limited. Within this period, Scottish Government culture officials have also not met with Sky UK Limited on either a formal or informal basis.

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Library and Information Council since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Scottish Ministers have met with the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on three occasions since May 2021. On 4 August 2021, Ms Gilruth, then Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with SLIC for an introductory meeting. T…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Channel 4 since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Since May 2021, the Scottish Government has had 2 Ministerial meetings with Channel 4. As outcomes the Scottish Government reiterated its opposition to the proposals from the UK Government to privatise Channel 4. We welcome that these proposals have now been…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether Historic Environment Scotland awarded any performance payments to staff at executive level since 2015, broken down by year.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: No such payments have been made since the establishment of Historic Environment Scotland in 2015. Scottish Government pay policy for public bodies has not permitted performance-related payments for Chief Executives or for staff at director/executive level ove…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Opera since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Scottish Opera is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Companies and has met with Scottish Ministers on two occasions since May 2021. On 7 October 2021, Scottish Opera held an introductory meeting and tour of the Scottish Opera studios with the Ministe…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm the total amount that Historic Environment Scotland has spent on advertising its sites, in each year since it was founded in 2015.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including how much it spends on advertising its sites, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond dir…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Dance Base since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Since May 2021, Scottish Ministers have met with Dance Base on two occasions. On 24 February 2022, the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine met with the Edinburgh Cultural Venues Gro…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the National Library of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government Ministerial team has met with National Library of Scotland (NLS) on several occasions since May 2021. The meetings were as follows: 30 Nov 2021 Jenny Gilruth as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with the N…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the BBC since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Since May 2021, the Scottish Government has had 5 Ministerial meetings with the BBC. As outcomes there is a shared their commitment to working positively and constructively to help deliver programming and skills training that benefits Scotland culturally and…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Edinburgh International Book Festival since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Since May 2021 Scottish Ministers have met with, or attended events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the following dates. We have included meetings with the strategic umbrella organisation for Edinburgh festivals, Festivals Edinburgh. The disc…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Royal Society of Edinburgh since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government recognises the invaluable contribution of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to Scotland’s research and innovation. As Scotland’s National Academy, the RSE meets regularly with a wide range of Scottish Government ministers and offici…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with National Galleries Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government Ministerial team has met with National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) on several occasions since May 2021. The meetings were as follows: 31 Aug 2021 Jenny Gilruth, in her role as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19247 by Fiona Hyslop on 27 June 2023, how many ChargePoint Scotland public electric vehicle charging points there are per square kilometre in Scotland, broken down by local authority area, and how these figures compare with the rest of the UK. 

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government do not routinely hold data on ChargePlace Scotland charge points per square kilometre. The latest figures from the Department For Transport show that Scottish electric vehicle drivers benefit from over 70 public charge points per one …

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of (a) each operational vessel owned by CMAL and (b) the piers that each vessel can dock at.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The operation of vessels and ports for scheduled services is a matter for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, CalMac Ferries Ltd and Serco NorthLink Ferries. Information on the vessels owned by CMAL is available on their website. Home | CMAL Caledonian Maritime…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15176 by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023, what further measures it is considering implementing that are similar to the UK Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Further measures to tackle waste crime in Scotland include those being developed through the Circular Economy Bill, the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy and the Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF). The Circular Economy Bill includes specific prov…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17512 by Kevin Stewart on 11 May 2023, whether it will provide an update on any actions from the Road Safety Framework Local Partnership Forum – North meeting on 15 June 2023 to (a) mitigate and (b) reduce the number of speeding offences on the Nort…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Local Partnership Forum North last met on 15 June to discuss a range of measures to enhance safety across the north of Scotland. Since then a range of additional targeted safety camera resources have been deployed at locations across the region, including…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of students graded by the SQA are being assessed based on "alternative evidence" in the academic year 2022-23, also broken down by subject.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The information requested relates to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) operational data and is not held by the Scottish Government. This is an operational matter for the SQA and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you.

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage the development of a new economic zone in the Highlands.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is committed to developing the economy of the Highlands and Islands to its full potential. We are working with partners including local authorities, businesses and our enterprise agency and supporting a broad range of activities backed…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review future fares for ferries, and whether it will publish any feedback that it receives on this.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is progressing the Fair Fares Review to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the future long term viability of a public transport system that is accessible, available and affordable for p…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19246 by Fiona Hyslop on 27 June 2023 and in light of reports that ChargePoint Scotland may be privatised, whether it will monitor the (a) number and (b) type of privately-run electric vehicle charge points in future. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not made a decision to privatise charge points on the ChargePlace Scotland network. ChargePlace Scotland’s charging assets are owned by over 400 separate organisations across the public, private and third party sectors. These or…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18451 by Michael Matheson on 14 June 2023, whether it can confirm the number of withdrawn trainees per year, since 2018, as a percentage of the total (a) nominated and (b) allocated to Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It will always be the case that a percentage of students will withdraw from Foundation placements The information as to the reason for withdrawal is limited based on the reliance of the student to provide the detail, but could be university related - either e…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action the (a) Scottish Police Authority and (b) Chief Constable took in light of the recommendation in the Scottish Police Federation’s 2019 Deep Dive Interim Report that "Oban Police Station should be closed forthwith [as] it does not provide a…

Answer · Angela Constance: (a) The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) considered the Scottish Police Federation’s (SPF) Deep Dive report in detail and was satisfied with the remedial actions which were planned and put in place by Police Scotland. The condition of the police estate remains…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with An Comunn Gàidhealach since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19700 on 31 July 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-committees…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action the (a) Scottish Police Authority and (b) Chief Constable took in light of the recommendation in the Scottish Police Federation’s 2019 Deep Dive Interim Report that "the police accommodation at 326 and 328 Argyll Street Dunoon be closed im…

Answer · Angela Constance: (a) The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) considered the Scottish Police Federation’s (SPF) Deep Dive report in detail and was satisfied with the remedial actions which were planned and put in place by Police Scotland. The condition of the police estate remains…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in the Scottish Police Federation's 2019 Deep Dive Interim Report, whether the Scottish Police Authority ever referred itself to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to cause an investigation into whether it breached the provisions of the Housing…

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) did not refer itself to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The SPA considered the Scottish Police Federation Deep Dive report in detail and was satisfied with the remedial actions put in place by Police Scotlan…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/202300359656, what action it will take to expedite the connection of premises in the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency to superfast broadband via the R100 scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Building on the success of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) Programme, which connected over 15,000 premises in the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency to fibre broadband, the Reaching 100% (R100) programme is ensuring that all homes and businesse…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action the (a) Scottish Police Authority and (b) Chief Constable took in light of the recommendation in the Scottish Police Federation’s 2019 Deep Dive Interim Report that "custody operations cease immediately at Oban and an alternative custody s…

Answer · Angela Constance: (a) The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) considered the Scottish Police Federation’s (SPF) Deep Dive report in detail and was satisfied with the remedial actions which were planned and put in place by Police Scotland. The condition of the police estate remains…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Fèis Rois since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19700 on 31 July 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-committees…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Fèisean nan Gàidheal since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government recognises the value in having a range of Gaelic organisations with different functions and the SG aims at all times to remain informed and supportive of the work of these bodies. The SG will meet with An Comunn Gidhealach on average t…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action the (a) Scottish Police Authority and (b) Chief Constable took in light of the recommendation in the Scottish Police Federation’s 2019 Deep Dive Interim Report that "Lochgilphead Police Station (including the custody facility) be closed fo…

Answer · Angela Constance: (a) The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) considered the Scottish Police Federation’s (SPF) Deep Dive report in detail and was satisfied with the remedial actions which were planned and put in place by Police Scotland. The condition of the police estate remains…