Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated towards the planned repairs of Bute House.
Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government are in the process of competitively tendering for parts of the Bute House repair schedule and therefore the full cost of the planned repairs has yet to be determined. We will publish all the costs proactively at the conclusion of the w…
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 periods between maintenance for (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802, once they are operational, has changed.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: There has been no changes to the maintenance periods following these comments. Every vessel within the CalMac fleet requires regular maintenance work and CalMac are contractually obliged to ensure annual overhauls are completed successfully. Planned maintena…
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04824 by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many website domain names that it owns and pays for are currently (a) active and (b) inactive.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government spent £16,662.50 (ex VAT) on 1,164 domains in 2022. Of these, 645 are categorised as active, and 507 are inactive.
17 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Creative Scotland has distributed to organisations registered in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in each year since 2016-17.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Since 2016-2017, Creative Scotland has awarded a total of £17,135,309 to cultural organisations registered in England, £105,996 to those registered in Wales and £22,780 to those registered in Northern Ireland. The majority of these awards have been made thro…
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum slurry storage grant amount is that farmers and crofters can apply for from the Agriculture Transformation Fund.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Support for slurry storage in 2023 is available through Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), funded by the Agriculture Transformation Fund (ATF). No minimum level of grant has been set for the scheme. The maximum grant available for slurry storage specific…
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding each local authority received for the provision of free music tuition in schools in the 2022-23 academic year, and how much each local authority will receive for the 2023-24 academic year.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: With respect to the following tables please note:The final term of the 2023-24 academic year allocation will fall in 2024-25 financial year.This commitment began between academic years and funding has so far been agreed on this basis. From 2024-25 the Scottis…
10 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the user interface of The Scottish Register of Tartans website.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The National Records of Scotland (NRS) are responsible for the Scottish Register of Tartans website. NRS has no immediate plans to update the user interface of the Scottish Register of Tartans website but will be considering the Scottish Register of Tartans …
10 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01852 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 February 2023, whether it has any plans to encourage local authorities to record different types of absences in order to provide more targeted support to young people on the autism spectrum.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Our national guidance ‘Included, engaged and involved part 1: promoting and managing school attendance’ encourages Education Authorities to consider the underlying reasons for absence, including those which arise from an additional support needs. The guidanc…
10 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions a Litter Abatement Order has been issued in each year since 2007.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold data on how many occasions a Litter Abatement Order has been issued in each year since 2007. This information can be obtained by contacting relevant public bodies.
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, how many pieces of secondary legislation it has introduced in the Parliament under the "keeping pace" provision that were subject to the (a) affirmative and (b) negative procedure.
Answer · Angus Robertson: For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the publ…
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, how many pieces of primary legislation it has introduced in the Parliament under the "keeping pace" provision.
Answer · Angus Robertson: For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the publ…
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) people and (b) businesses have used the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme to purchase electric vehicles in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since the scheme was introduced.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust to administer the Low Carbon Transport Loan on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Details of the number of individuals and businesses in the Highlands and Islands region (Including Argyll and Bu…
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in spring 2023 in the Highlands and Islands region in response to reported figures from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stating that, between March and April 2022, 95 incidents of wildfires were recorded across Scotland.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Many remote and rural communities in Scotland are hugely impacted by wildfire incidents, which can also cause significant environmental and economic damage. This is something the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is very aware of, and it works closely w…
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the "keeping pace" power, as set out in the Policy Memorandum for the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, has been used to update Scottish legislation on (a) drinking water standards, (b) food and livestock updates and (c) digital content and s…
Answer · Angus Robertson: For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the publ…
2 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the General Dental Service, what action it is taking to reverse the decline in the number of registered (a) adults and (b) children participating in the service.
Answer · Maree Todd: An assessment of participation - defined as the proportion of registered patients who saw a dentist in the last 2 years - needs to be seen against the backdrop of pandemic restrictions to March 2022. Since April 2022, with the relaxation of restrictions, NH…
2 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the percentage of children participating in the General Dental Service fell from 97% in September 2007 to 63.9% in September 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: Due to the onset of the pandemic in Scotland all routine dental services ceased from 23 March 2020, with emergency and urgent dental care being provided by dedicated urgent dental care centres from NHS Boards. The majority of dental services require the use …
2 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the percentage of adults participating in the General Dental Service fell from 98.6% in September 2007 to 50.2% in September 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15621 on 21 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-committee…
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies to take action to address empty homes in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The range of powers include:Compulsory Purchase Orders - that enable local authorities and public bodies to compulsory purchase land or buildings.Provision within Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 for local authorities to issue a work notice requiring a home own…
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that care homes in the Highlands and Islands region can stay open, in light of reports that some are struggling to stay open due to rising energy costs.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is aware of the severe pressures which rising energy and other inflation-related costs are putting on the sector. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has established a Ministerial Advisory Group to ensure we collaborate ef…
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in Scotland have received NHS treatment in the rest of the UK in each of the last five years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The following tables show the number of people from Scotland who have received elective or emergency treatment as an inpatient or day case in hospitals in other parts of the UK in each year since 2017. Information is provided in the following table on the nu…
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is specialist psychological support available for Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: Ensuring the safety and supporting the wellbeing of those fleeing the illegal war in Ukraine is central to our Scottish response. Even before arrival in Scotland, our National Services Scotland engage with applicants to identify and triage people ensuring tho…
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine on 1 November 2022, whether it will provide an update on its plans to work with Palladium to deliver modular housing for Ukrainia…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is working with Palladium to consider how modular housing could be used to provide longer-term sustainable housing. . The contract that the Scottish Government entered into with Palladium in August last year will end on 15 March 2023. …
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the working group investigating the viability of local authorities operating rental guarantee schemes for Ukrainian refugees in Scotland will report, and whether the report will be published.
Answer · Neil Gray: We are still considering the feasibility of a grant scheme or other assistance to help displaced Ukrainians into private rented sector accommodation (PRS), and working through options for this in partnership with COSLA, local authorities and the third sector.…
28 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Ukrainian refugees who are currently in short-term accommodation in Edinburgh and Glasgow it estimates will be able to remain in the same local authority area when they move into longer-term accommodation.
Answer · Neil Gray: As at 14 February 2023 there were 370 Ukrainian displaced people in Welcome accommodation in Edinburgh, with a further 1,140 on board MS Victoria. There were 650 Ukrainian displaced people in Welcome accommodation in Glasgow, with a further 995 on board MS Am…
27 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency measures Transport Scotland has in place in the event that the A828 Connel Bridge closes for a (a) short and (b) long period of time.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: When undertaking trunk road maintenance works, Transport Scotland and its operating companies plan operations to minimise disruption to the public and businesses. Closures are avoided where possible, with works’ timings and traffic management operations desig…
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the impact of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 on instances of livestock worrying and attacks since its introduction, and, if so, whether it will publish this.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not conducted any analysis of the impact of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021.
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to findings by NFU Mutual that 39% of dog owners state that their dogs do not always come back when called while roaming off-lead in the countryside, and what action it is taking to (a) support dog owners and (b) identify and promote effective training for dogs, to t…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Dog owners must take responsibility for their pet and responsible behaviour is central to the concept of exercising access rights. Increasing awareness is a key factor in the prevention of livestock worrying incidents and the associated unnecessary suffering.…
15 Feb 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Deposit Return Scheme.
14 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13796 by Kevin Stewart on 19 January 2023, how many new Changing Places toilets it estimates it will create during the course of this parliamentary session.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets during this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to …
14 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any provisional plans as to where any new Changing Places toilets may be located, and, if so, whether it will publish that information.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets over this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to ev…