Donald Cameron

16 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the cytosponge diagnostic service has been used, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold Cytosponge diagnostic service data broken down by individual Health Board, however the following press release provides detail on the national total delivered by NHS Scotland as at 15 November 2022: https://www.gov.scot/…

16 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any plans to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Plans for the Coronation of The Monarch are traditionally led by the Royal Household. Any consideration of planning in Scotland cannot be made public until the Royal Household share their intentions.

16 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11274 by Mairi Gougeon on 16 November 2022, what its position is on the NatureScot guidance that states that "there may be a case made for removing [bird] carcasses from sites where there is very high public access", and, if it agrees with this guid…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: With regard to the safe collection and disposal of dead wild birds suspected of having been infected with this strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), current government disease control guidance is for carcases to be left in situ. At present ther…

14 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s section 46 report for 2021-22, which reported a 29% increase in Freedom of Information appeals.

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland has had any recent discussions with the Scotch whisky industry about establishing a separate freight-only service to and from Islay.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12129 on ? 22 November 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-c…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways island communities are currently able to influence timetabling changes for (a) CalMac and (b) NorthLink ferry services.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: (a) CalMac Ferries carry out bi-annual timetable consultations with nominated ferry groups ahead of each timetable period (summer/winter). During this community consultation the groups are expected to liaise with their respective communities and submit the co…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11423 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022, in what circumstances would Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd have the ability to reject the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 regarding (i) deadweight tonnage, (ii) speed and (iii) fuel consumption.

Answer · Ivan McKee: CMAL will only accept the vessels if they are fit for purpose. The vessel will not be able to enter service until it has received all clearances required by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Class society approval from Lloyds Register.

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it requires (a) CalMac and (b) NorthLink to regularly engage with members of the public regarding the performance of ferry services, and, if so, how it monitors such engagement.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CalMac and NorthLink are required to regularly engage with stakeholders and communities as per their commitments in the ferry service contracts. There are established forums set up to ensure this engagement is inclusive of relevant stakeholders. Full details …

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11423 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022, whether any tests have been carried out by Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd on the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 to determine what the (i) deadweight tonnage, (ii) speed and (iii) fuel consumpti…

Answer · Ivan McKee: An interim inclining test of MV Glen Sannox is planned for late January 2023, with the full inclining test and sea trials scheduled for April 2023. Inclining tests for hull 802 will take place in 2023 with sea trials scheduled for early 2024. The test results…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11423 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022, whether Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has expressed any concerns to Transport Scotland about whether the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 will meet the target for (i) deadweight tonnage, (ii) spe…

Answer · Ivan McKee: CMAL previously advised that achieving the deadweight as per the contract was a risk. However Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow now has a better weight prediction for the vessels. Speed prediction was measured at model tests and sea trials are planned for April 20…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland has considered establishing a separate freight-only service to and from Islay.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has no plans to establish a freight-only service. We understand that there are commercial operators who have considered such a proposal and it would be for them to consider further. Were a commercial operator to provide any specific proposa…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11423 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022, for the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802, whether it will confirm what the target for (i) deadweight tonnage, (ii) speed and (iii) fuel consumption is.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The contract for MV Glen Sannox and Hull 802 confirms a deadweight of 878 tonnes, speed of 16.5 knots and fuel consumption of 7770 kilojoule per kilowatt-hour for liquefied natural gas and 196 grams per kilowatt-hour for marine gas oil.

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it monitors the effectiveness of how (a) CalMac and (b) NorthLink engage with island communities regarding timetabling changes.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The timetable process is embedded and set out in both (a) Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) and (b) Northern Isles Ferry Service (NIFS) contracts and is monitored through the management of these contracts by my officials in Transport Scotland. Both ope…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11423 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022, whether it is confident that the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 will meet the target for (i) deadweight tonnage, (ii) speed and (iii) fuel consumption.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12136 on ? 24 November 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-comm…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) VisitScotland has carried out on any impact of the recent cancellations and disruptions to ferry services on the depopulation of the islands.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific analysis, regarding the impact of disruption to ferry services on depopulation, however, recognise the importance of the provision of safe and reliable lifeline ferry services for our island populations. Hi…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has carried out on the impact of the recent cancellations and disruptions of ferry services on investment in the Scotch whisky industry in the islands.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific analysis, regarding the impact of disruption to ferry services, and how this impacts upon island economies. We recognise the important contribution that the Scotch Whisky industry makes to the Scottish econo…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has carried out on any impact of the recent cancellations and disruptions to ferry services on investment and employment in the islands.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific analysis, regarding the impact of disruption to ferry services on investment and employment in the islands, however, recognise the importance of the provision of safe and reliable lifeline ferry services for…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reintroduce a passenger ferry service to Europe, and when it expects any such service to be operational.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is very supportive of the reintroduction of a passenger ferry service from Scotland to Europe. My officials in Transport Scotland have engaged with a number of interested parties proposing such services and we will continue to engage w…

8 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it is making available to help (a) GP and (b) dental practices cover any increases in energy bills as a result of higher prices.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government will be applying an uplift of 5.6% to the value of the GP contract later this year. This uplift will be backdated to 1 April 2022 and will include funding to cover a 4.5% increase in non-staff expenses. Scottish Government are also a…

8 Nov 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people living in rural communities can access a nearby dentist.

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist Ukrainian households out of their temporary welcome accommodation into longer-term accommodation.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government doesn’t want anyone to stay in a hotel or temporary accommodation for longer than necessary. We are therefore taking action to strengthen the matching process to help more displaced people access host or longer-term accommodation as qu…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be an impact on the roll-out of R100 in the Highlands and Islands region from the reported £16 million reduction in Digital Capital Projects announced in its Emergency Budget Review on 2 November 2022.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Budgets have been realigned to take into account the updated plan agreed between the Scottish Government and our R100 delivery partner, Openreach, following on from the 19 August announcement that coverage through the R100 North contract has been extended. Th…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to maintain active connections between Ukrainian artists (a) inside Ukraine and (b) currently living in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scotland stands with the rest of the UK, Europe and the world in condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is a nation with a rich cultural heritage, and it is of vital importance that this is protected for future generations – which in…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) cities, (b) towns and (c) villages in Scotland are twinned with those in Ukraine, and what action it is taking to increase this number.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Two Scottish cities are currently twinned with Ukraine. Our respective capital cities Edinburgh and Kyiv, have been twinned since 1989, and Newport-on-Tay entered into a twinning relationship with Zolotarevo in 2002. Twinning enables local communities to form…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement of two new ferries for the Uig, Harris and North Uist triangle, whether it can confirm what type of fuel the two new ferries will use.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The two new vessels intended for the Uig, Harris and North Uist routes have the same specification as the Islay vessels currently under construction and will both have a Diesel/Electrical hybrid propulsion system.  

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects the vacuum safety sensors to arrive for the MV Glen Sannox; how long it will take to install them, and when it expects the MV Glen Sannox will be able to run off LPG.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Due to issues with global supply chains Ministers are advised the process may take of the order of 36 weeks. Ministers are seeking urgent options on the next steps and expect all possible measures to be taken to deliver the vessel to serve islanders as soon …

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what date it has set as the target for the resumption of its Super Sponsor Scheme for displaced people from Ukraine.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Super Sponsor Scheme continues and displaced Ukrainians are still arriving and benefiting from welcome accommodation, advice and support. The scheme is paused to new applications, and reopening to new applications must be predicated on ensuring we are abl…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it is (a) monitoring and (b) recording the number of properties being (i) placed into and (ii) taken out of the rental market.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Official statistics on trends in the number of properties in the rented sectors over time can help to track the net effect of additions and removals of stock. These include survey based estimates of the number of households living in the private rented sector…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of every event that received funding from the Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund, broken down by (a) how much funding each event received and (b) local authority area.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scotland’s Event Recovery Fund (SERF) was open for applications from November 2020 until June 2021. It was established to help Scotland’s event sector plan and deliver events and to provide support as the industry responded and the effects of COVID-19. Admin…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total pay-out has been for projects that have received funding from the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund since its introduction, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: To date, just under £6.1 million has been paid out under the fund. It is worth noting that grants awarded by the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) are drawn down by recipients in arrears. As such, the fund is scheduled to pay out an additional £1.…