Donald Cameron

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to smaller, regional theatres, in light of the cost of living crisis.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with the culture sector, who have been clear that the impact of rising costs are significantly hampering their ability to recover following the Covid-19 pandemic. I refer the member to the answer to the question…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide to Edinburgh Airport in its reported bid to become the first airport in the UK to offer preclearance of immigration for flights to the United States.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Progressing work to enable the establishment of a US pre-clearance facility is primarily a commercial matter for Edinburgh Airport and would ultimately need to be approved by the relevant authorities in the United States. The Scottish Government works closel…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to regional festivals, in light of the cost of living crisis.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government and its agencies support many of our festivals and events in a multitude of ways as set out in the following table: Financial Support – financial year 2022-23 Funding Stream Funding Provided Notes Scottish Government: EXPO £1.8m …

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in response to the reported weeks-long disruption to the mobile signal on Uig.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Telecoms remains reserved to the UK Government and regulated by Ofcom. While this leaves the Scottish Government with limited ability to influence mobile operators directly, officials escalated the issue to senior management in BT Group as soon as the situati…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made to Historic Environment Scotland in each year since it was founded, and how many of those complaints were (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully resolved.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the resolution of complaints made to Historic Environment Scotland are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I have aske…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the efficacy of Historic Environment Scotland’s HistoricScot Youth Forum.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the efficacy of Historic Environment Scotland’s HistoricScot Youth Forum are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I hav…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to help (a) NHS boards and (b) private businesses fill orthodontist vacancies in rural communities.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government has provided over £150 million to date in additional support to maintain the capacity and capability of the independent sector. We have also introduced new incentives for recruitment and retention of dentists in certain remote and rural a…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the members of the Hill, Upland and Crofting Group are from island communities.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The members of the Hill, Upland and Crofting Group were selected on the basis of their experience of their sectors, reflecting as far as possible geographic spread including practical farming experience and academic expertise. The Group had 22 members of whic…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently on a waiting list to see an orthodontist, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. NHS orthodontic services are provided by independent contractors/high street orthodontists and any management information on waiting times will be held by each practice. There is no central co…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "managed decline" in relation to Historic Environment Scotland’s approach to managing Scotland’s historic environment.

Answer · Neil Gray: As I indicated to the Member in response to his question S6O-00815 on 3 March 2022, I will be discussing with Historic Environment Scotland potential future management approaches for the properties in care, particularly in response to the undoubted challenges…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to exhibit the Scottish Portrait Awards in the Highlands and Islands region, and, if so, when.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Arts Trust is an independent charitable trust that gives artists the opportunity to showcase their work through the Scottish Portrait Awards exhibition. This is held each year in Edinburgh and Glasgow and on alternate years at the Kirkcudbright G…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Hill, Upland and Crofting Group (a) last met and (b) will next meet.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Hill, Upland and Crofting Group last met in March 2021 and the work of the group is completed. I am grateful for the work they undertook in very short order which has informed our work on Agricultural Reform, the National Test Programme and issues being c…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Historic Environment Scotland has allocated for the activities of its HistoricScot Youth Forum.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to how much funding Historic Environment Scotland has allocated for the activities of its HistoricScot Youth Forum, are best answered directly …

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Hill, Upland and Crofting Group publication, A Blueprint for Sustainable and Integrated Farming and Crofting Activity in the Hills and Uplands of Scotland, in March 2021, what further work the group will undertake.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12798 on 12 December. 2022. 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-commi…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage dentistry students to specialise in orthodontics.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is not taking any specific actions with respect to encouraging orthodontics as a specialty. A degree in dentistry offers students a well-rounded dental education that sets them up for a strong career. There are three dental schools ac…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authority areas the members of Historic Environment Scotland’s HistoricScot Youth Forum reside in.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the members of Historic Environment Scotland’s HistoricScot Youth Forum, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I hav…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the financial implications of restoring all of the sites managed by Historic Environment Scotland, and, if so, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the restoration of each site.

Answer · Neil Gray: Historic Environment Scotland continues to review the budgetary requirements during its ongoing inspections programme. Findings from this programme will allow informed decisions to be made regarding the capacity and resources required to carry out any subsequ…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many members of Historic Scotland there have been on 30 November in each year since 2007.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to Historic Scotland membership numbers, are best answered by Historic Environment Scotland. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to res…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Freedom of Information requests have been made to Historic Environment Scotland in each year since it was founded, and what percentage of those requests were answered on or within 20 working days.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to Freedom of Information requests made to Historic Environment Scotland are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I have a…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many sites that are managed by Historic Environment Scotland and its predecessor agencies have been (a) open, (b) temporarily closed and (c) permanently closed in each year since 2007.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the status of sites managed by Historic Environment Scotland and previously by Historic Scotland, are best answered directly by Historic Env…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of an (a) adult, (b) concession and (c) young person Direct Debit membership for Historic Scotland has been in each year since 2007.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to Direct Debit membership prices, are best answered by Historic Environment Scotland. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond d…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the organisers of the Ullapool Book Festival following the announcement that the 2023 event will be the last, and what support can be provided to ensure the continuation of this event.

Answer · Neil Gray: Organised by volunteers since 2005, the Ullapool Book Festival has become a feature of Scotland’s literary calendar of events. Following the announcement, neither Scottish Government nor Creative Scotland have been approached for discussions with the organis…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have closed in each of the last five years in NHS (a) Grampian, (b) Highland, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Western Isles.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This information is not held centrally and is a matter for the Care Inspectorate.

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Continuity Act draft Annual Report 2021-22, which was considered by the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 17 November 2022, and states that the Scottish Government plans to "implement certain requirements" of the Directive (EU) 2020/2184 …

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government proposes to take a phased approach to the alignment with the recast Drinking Water Directive. This prioritises the health based standards that can be implemented now and recognises that some parts of the Directive apply at a later date…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much funding has been allocated to improve ventilation in public buildings since January 2019, and how much of this funding has been spent.

Answer · John Swinney: Funding allocations for ventilation upgrades and maintenance will be at the discretion of each individual local authority or public body, on the basis of local needs and priorities whilst also fulfilling any statutory obligations where applicable. I refer th…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much funding has been allocated to improve ventilation in schools since January 2019, and how much of this funding has been spent.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In August 2021, funding of £10m was made available to local authorities in relation to improving ventilation in schools, and this was claimed in full. Additionally, in January 2022, funding of up to £4.8m was made available to local authorities. Of that fund…

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress is being made with designing a National Towns of Culture scheme.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is continuing to consider options for the delivery of a National Towns of Culture scheme. As this progresses, the Scottish Government will consult with the culture and creative sectors and community groups to help inform its decision m…

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applicants there were for Creative Scotland’s tender for a partner organisation for young people’s creative development in 2023.

Answer · Neil Gray: Four bids were submitted for Creative Scotland’s recent tender for a partner organisation to deliver ‘Youth-led Arts Funding For Young People’. The successful organisation will be announced early in the new year.  

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Historic Environment Scotland sites (a) are earmarked for closure and (b) will receive a decrease in funding over the next 12 months.

Answer · Neil Gray: Historic Environment Scotland is currently undertaking a prioritised inspection programme on each Property in Care affected by High Level Masonry issues. Access restrictions, while regrettable, remain necessary to prioritise the health and safety of staff, co…

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Historic Environment Scotland grants have been awarded for conservation-standard repairs in each financial year since 2007, and what the current available grant money for the financial year 2023-24 is.

Answer · Neil Gray: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to grants and awards for conservation repairs, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. Information on grants that have be…