Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Katarina Barley MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, on 30 August 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley MEP and I held a positive meeting in August last year, in which we spoke about Scottish Government's draft hydrogen action plan. The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussi…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Urmas Paet MEP on 1 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Urmas Paet MEP and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about Scotland maintaining close relationships with Northern European neighbours on a range of issues such as energy, innovation and cohesion. The subject of Scottish independ…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the French National Assembly on 5 October 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Jean-Louis Bourlanges and I had a constructive meeting last year during which we discussed my visit, relations between France and Scotland, and the wider political situation, including Ukraine. The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in d…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Danuta Hübner MEP on 31 May 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Danuta Hübner MEP and I held a positive meeting in May last year, in which we spoke about the Scottish Government's EU alignment and Energy policies. The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will …
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Seamus Boland, of the European Economic and Social Committee, on 1 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Seamus Boland of the European Economic and Social Committee and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about Scottish civic society's involvement in the EU’s Domestic Advisory Group. The subject of Scottish independence was not an age…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Nathalie Loiseau MEP on 1 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Nathalie Loiseau MEP and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about the work of the Scottish Government's Brussels office and areas of potential future cooperation with Europe such as energy. The subject of Scottish independence was…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the UK's Ambassador to Germany on 5 December 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Ambassador and I had a constructive meeting in December last year during which we discussed green hydrogen and education. The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the UK's Ambassador to Slovenia on 30 August 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Ambassador and I met on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum in August last year during which she gave an outline of the Embassy’s work in Slovenia and provided me with an update on the political situation in the country. The subject of Scottish ind…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic on 30 August 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Deputy Minister and I had a constructive meeting at the Bled Strategic Forum in August last year during which we discussed the priorities for Czechia’s EU Council presidency. The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. How…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU on 1 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU and I held a positive meeting in June last year in which we spoke about the Czech Republic's priorities for the Presidency of the European Council, including energy policy. The subject of Scottish …
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Head of the UK Mission to the EU on 31 May 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Head of the UK Mission to the EU and I held a positive meeting in May last year, in which we spoke about issues such as the Scottish Government's Retained EU Law and Horizon Europe.The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU on 1 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about energy policy and the latest developments regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol.The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and New Zealand's Ambassador to EU and NATO on 1 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The New Zealand's Ambassador to EU and NATO and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about cultural, trade and civic links between Scotland and New Zealand. The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions,…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Germany's Federal Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Foreign Energy Policy on 5 December 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Commissioner Hicken and I had a constructive meeting in December last year during which we discussed Scotland’s green hydrogen priorities in Germany.The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers …
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15567 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown of the information in the table showing the name and location of each bridge, and the date that the repair work (a) was first identified as required and (b) is projected to…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Please find the following table providing the name and location of each bridge on the trunk road network highlighted in our previous answer to S6W-15567. The dates that upgrades were first identified as required and projected to be completed are also containe…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the cost of any future working capital loans for Ferguson Marine, in 2023, in addition to the working capital loan of £25,000, with interest, to support cash flow, as announced by the Deputy First Minister in a statement to the Parliament on 16 Marc…
Answer · Neil Gray: Decisions about applications for working capital loans from the Scottish Government are a matter for the CEO and Board of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) (FMPG). Should Scottish Ministers approve any working capital loans in the future for FMPG then Parliament…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to raise tree-planting rates from 10,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares per year by 2024-25, how many hectares of trees were planted in each of the past five years.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government’s woodland creation target will rise to 18,000 hectares per year by 2024-25, with an annual target for a minimum of 4,000 hectares of this newly created woodland to be native woodland. Forest Research publishes official statistics for…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Deputy First Minister's statement to the Parliament on 16 March 2023, whether it will provide a list of the “design gaps and build errors” regarding Hull 801, which were cited as the cause for the further revision to the timescale for delivery of the vessel by Ferguson Ma…
Answer · Neil Gray: This is a matter for the CEO of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow however the Member may wish to note that Ministers are committed to publishing the monthly progress updates on progress with the build of both vessels on the Scottish Government website .
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of any time-related increases in the overhead costs in 2024 due to the extension of the timescale for delivery of Hull 802 by Ferguson Marine to later in 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government continues to conduct the necessary and proper financial due diligence on the delivery of 801 and 802, including on the funding request submitted by Ferguson Marine in September 2022 and following the revised delivery schedule submitted…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish new export statistics.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A date for the next Export Statistics Scotland publication has not yet been announced. Scottish Government statisticians are currently reviewing the methodology and results and will pre-announce the date of publication in line with the Official Code of Practi…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total running costs of the Scottish National Investment Bank have been in each year since it was established.
Answer · Neil Gray: The following table (taken from the Scottish National Investment Bank’s annual reports) shows the Bank’s operating costs and income for 2020-21 and? 2021-22. The Scottish Government provides budget to cover all operating costs which are not covered by the Ban…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects to receive an indication of any time-related increases in the overhead costs in 2024 due to the extension of the timescale for delivery of Hull 802 by Ferguson Marine to later in 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: As advised in the answer to question S6W-16147 on 11 April 2023, the Scottish Government continues to conduct the necessary and proper financial due diligence on the delivery of 801 and 802, including on the funding request submitted by Ferguson Marine in Sep…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what level of funding has been invested each year by the Scottish National Investment Bank since it was established.
Answer · Neil Gray: The level of funding invested each year by the Bank since it was established is as follows: 2020-21 (November to March): £23,097,000 2021-22: £130,414,000 2022-23: The Bank’s final outturn is still being finalised and it is too early to provide a provision…
21 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15622 by Maree Todd on 21 March 2023, for what reasons the percentage of adults participating in the General Dental Service fell from 98.6% in September 2007 to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level of 66.2% in September 2019.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The total number of adults who have participated in NHS GDS has increased by 45.6%, from 1,902,885 in 2007 to 2,788,692 in 2019. However, the participation rate is the proportion of the registered population who have seen a dentist in the last two years. The…
21 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15621 by Maree Todd on 21 March 2023, for what reasons the percentage of children participating in the General Dental Service fell from 97% in September 2007 to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level of 84.2% in September 2019.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The total number of children who have participated in NHS GDS has increased by 17.6%, from 693,307 in 2007 to 815,317 in 2019. However, the participation rate is the proportion of the registered population who have seen a dentist in the last two years. The p…
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to contribute any additional funding to Edinburgh's festivals, in light of the announcement in the UK Spring Budget of £8.6 million of new funding.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government have been urging the UK Government to recognise the valuable role that Scotland's culture sector plays for both the Scottish and wider UK economies. While this funding from the UK Government for two of our many major and world-class fe…
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set aside any contingency funding to meet any unforeseen additional costs associated with the planned repairs of Bute House, and, if so, how much it has set aside.
Answer · George Adam: As part of the tender process contractors have set aside 10% of the contracted tender cost as contingency. We will confirm the tender value in due course.
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Deputy First Minister during the ministerial statement on Ferguson Marine on 16 March 2023, whether the planned operational lifespan of (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 has changed.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: There has been no change to the planned operational lifespan of either MV Glen Sannox or Hull 802.
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes in the Highlands and Islands region currently (a) have and (b) do not have access to broadband.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2022 report for Scotland – published on 15 th December 2022 – stated that 198,196 properties across the electoral region of the Highlands and Islands were capable of receiving a superfast broadband connection of 30 Megabits per secon…
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of running repairs of CalMac vessels has been in each year since 2007, or the earliest year for which data is available, also broken down by ferry.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15776 answered on 28 March 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-…