Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what government business it plans to bring forward for the current parliamentary year.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to increase the number of island-based members of the Islands Programme Investment Panel, following a commitment from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands to consider this in response to a letter from the Convener of Rural Affairs, Islands and Natu…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: My officials are currently considering additional island based, non-conflicted potential members with infrastructure investment experience and have asked local authority partners to put forward names for consideration by 18 January.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported statement by Transport Scotland, that the delay to the publication of the 2023 ferry fares for CalMac is due to the cost of living crisis, is credible.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Yes.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Transport Scotland held back the publishing of CalMac’s 2023 summer sailing timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The delay was due to the necessary detailed consideration and discussions required at all levels of Government in order to find a way to mitigate the impact of an unprecedented level of CPI of 9.1%.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether reported delays to CalMac’s new booking system is contributing towards the late publication of its 2023 summer sailing timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Ar Turas Booking system implementation is not related to the timetable publication delay.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) Transport Scotland and (b) CalMac carried out an Island Communities Impact Assessment when it determined that there would be a delay to the publication of CalMac’s 2023 summer sailing timetable, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: An ICIA was not carried out on the delay. The delay was not a policy choice but was due to the necessary detailed consideration and discussions required at all levels of Government in order to find a way to mitigate the impact on fares of an unprecedented lev…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it anticipates CalMac will publish the (a) first and (b) second phase of its 2023 summer sailing timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) issued communications to stakeholders on 17 January confirming it will open up all routes for the whole summer timetable period by Friday 20 January – with the exception of Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles and Mallaig-Lochboisdal…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason CalMac is reportedly delaying the publication of its 2023 summer sailing timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The delay was due to the necessary detailed consideration and discussions required at all levels of Government in order to find a way to mitigate the impact on ferry fares of an unprecedented level of CPI of 9.1%. I announced on 15 January that fares on the …
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported decision by CalMac, to publish its 2023 summer sailing timetable in two phases, will have a detrimental impact on island businesses and those who rely on advanced bookings.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CFL will open up all routes for the whole summer timetable period by Friday 20 January – with the exception of Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles and Mallaig-Lochboisdale, (which will open by 31 January). For the Mallaig routes, CFL are still working thro…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date Transport Scotland will confirm the 2023 ferry fare rates for CalMac.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I announced on 15 January that fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks will be frozen for six months. The decision on fares allows operators to now release their timetables for booking until the end of September.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason CalMac is reportedly planning to publish its 2023 summer sailing timetable in two phases rather than in its entirety.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CFL will open up all routes for the whole summer timetable period by Friday 20 January – with the exception of Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles and Mallaig-Lochboisdale (which will open by 31 January). For the Mallaig routes, CFL are still working throu…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by Cllr Uisdean Robertson that the ferries division of Transport Scotland should be relocated to an islands base, rather than being based in Edinburgh, in light of reports of delays to the publication of CalMac’s 2023 summer sailing timetable and…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The delays to the publication of the timetable and confirmation of fare levels were not related in any way to the geographical location of Transport Scotland staff. The delay was wholly due to the necessary detailed consideration and discussions required at …
9 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much water it estimates was lost due to burst pipes in the Highlands and Islands region in December 2022.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water does not maintain information by parliamentary region, however it is able to provide information for the closest equivalent area. For this large geographical area ( Argyll Islands, Argyll Mainland, Caithness, Fort William, Orkney, Ness, Shetlan…
9 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many incidents of burst water pipes were reported in the Highlands and Islands region in December 2022, and how this compares with December 2021.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water does not maintain information by parliamentary region, however it is able to provide information for the closest equivalent area. There were 151 reports in December 2022 in this large geographical region ( Argyll Islands, Argyll Mainland, Caith…
9 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action Scottish Water is taking to prepare for the impact of any increasing extreme weather events, including the impact of episodes of freezing weather leading to increasing instances of burst pipes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water is investing over £87 million during the current regulatory period (2021-27) to improve its network of water mains and reduce the risk of interruptions to supply for customers. It is also continually working throughout the year to actively find…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants have worked on helping to implement its New Scots strategy in each year since 2018.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The New Scots refugee integration strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council, and involves a wide range of partners across different sectors. From 2017-22, the Scottish Governmen…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it assesses the efficacy of its New Scots strategy.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The New Scots refugee integration strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council, and involves a wide range of partners across different sectors. The strategy provides a clear framew…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has invested in digital technology to help improve access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications for (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers in each year since 2017-18, including the current year to date.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government’s aim is to support high quality, relevant, appropriate and accessible ESOL provision that meets learner need. The Scottish Government’s ESOL funding is currently provided through colleges. Colleges are instructed to work with Communi…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10312 by Ash Regan on 29 August 2022, whether any future legislation on legal services regulation reform will include preventing solicitors who are suspended from practising from being advertised by the Law Society of Scotland until the conclusion o…
Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government responded to the legal services regulation reform consultation analysis report on 22 December 2022. The response may be viewed at the following link: Legal services regulation reform - consultation analysis: Scottish Government respon…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has delivered "an 'Exit Pack' for new refugees, to ensure they know how to access services to set up their new home”, as outlined in its New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy 2018-2022, and whether it will provide details of what it contains.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The New Scots refugee integration strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council, and involves a wide range of partners across different sectors. The development of an ‘exit pack’ fo…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to its New Scots strategy in each year since 2017-18.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The New Scots refugee integration strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council, and involves a wide range of partners across different sectors. The Scottish Government funds a numb…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Freedom of Information request, FOI/202200330247, for what reason 32,200 properties in the Highlands and Islands region are still to be connected through R100 contracts.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The 32,200 figure quoted in response to FOI/202200330247 is the number of premises in the Highlands and Islands Region currently planned to be connected upon completion of the Scottish Government Reaching 100% (R100) North contract. As of the 30th November 20…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12372 by Maree Todd on 8 December 2022, what percentage of (a) childminders, (b) playgroups, (c) early learning centres and (d) nurseries are currently signed up to the Daily Mile scheme, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held by The Scottish Government.
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it monitors the uptake of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications across education providers for (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13597 on 19 January 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-committe…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers have (i) commenced and (ii) successfully completed English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications ranging from SCQF Level 2 to Level 6 since 2017.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: ESOL qualifications are delivered in a number of settings, including schools, colleges and community settings. The Scottish Government approach to monitoring the uptake of ESOL qualifications across education providers is not sub-categorised into the individ…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10312 by Ash Regan on 29 August 2022, whether it plans to introduce legislation on legal services regulation reform following the publication of its response to the findings of the consultation analysis report.
Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government has committed to developing a Bill on the regulation of legal services within this parliamentary session, and will continue to engage with stakeholders representing the consumer and legal perspective taking that forward.
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS 24 call handlers who can speak more than one language there have been in each year since 2017.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS 24 does not hold information on the number of its call handlers who can speak more than one language. To ensure clinical safety, NHS 24 uses professional interpreters with advanced language skills who can support callers through the clinical process.
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school pupils received instrumental music tuition in 2020-21, and what percentage this is of the total number of school pupils.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Improvement Service report on Local Authority Instrumental Music Services sets out that 41,594 pupils received instrumental music tuition in academic year 2020-21, this is 6% of the total number of school pupils. The full report is available here : Instr…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Creative Scotland board’s reported decision to use a proportion of its National Lottery reserves to maintain funding for regularly funded organisations at 2022-23 levels in light of a reduction in Scottish Government funding of £6.6 million.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises the difficult situation that the culture sector is facing currently. I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-01744 11 January 2023. The answer to the Oral Question can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamb…
22 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the new international office in Warsaw, announced in the Programme for Government 2021-22, will become operational.
Answer · Angus Robertson: We intend to open a Scottish Government Office in Warsaw within the lifetime of this Parliament. The office will contribute to a fairer, greener Scotland by promoting Scottish culture and expertise, attracting inward investment and fostering people-to people …