Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with CS Wind UK Ltd following the announcement that it has entered into administration.
Answer · Ivan McKee: As owners of the site Highlands & Islands Enterprise are a listed creditor of CS Wind in the administration process. They are therefore working closely with the administrators rather than the company, CS Wind.
20 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any assessment of the value of any public subsidies provided to CS Wind UK Ltd, and if so, whether it will publish this information.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Any public sector financial/grant support received by CS Wind would have been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). It would therefore be for them to undertake any such review.
20 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has offered to employees of CS Wind UK Ltd following the announcement that it has entered into administration.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The manufacturing facility in Machrihanish is a major asset to the local Kintyre area and should be fully active and providing valuable local employment. The majority of the workforce was made redundant throughout late 2019/early 2020 following a significant …
20 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages onshore and offshore wind farm developers to work with businesses in Scotland in the construction and installation of wind turbines.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Renewable energy is a crucial element of our transition to deliver a net-zero economy and We are determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain from both our onshore and offshore wind potential. We remain fully committed to usin…
20 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the announcement that CS Wind UK Ltd has entered into administration.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Officials within Scottish Government have regular, sometimes daily discussions with equivalent renewable energy sector team officials within Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Immediately following the announcement that the company had entered into admin…
28 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Police Scotland in its upkeep of the police estate.
20 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether there are any services in Scotland that provide assistance dogs for people with autism or autism spectrum disorders.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The information requested is not held centrally.
20 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it assists people with autism or autism spectrum disorders to get an assistance dog for support.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government continues to be committed to improving the lives of autistic people in Scotland. We published our Learning/Intellectual Disabilities and Autism: Towards Transformation Plan in March 2021, which builds on existing autism and learning di…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many outpatient appointments in each month since March 2020 have taken place (a) face to face, (b) over the telephone and (c) virtually, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Weekly information on the mode of outpatient clinical interactions by NHS Board is published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) as part of the Wider Impacts Dashboard . Table one shows new and return outpatient face to face appointments by NHS Board of Treatm…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many GP appointments in each month since March 2020 have taken place (a) face to face, (b) over the telephone and (c) virtually, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: (a) & (b) We collect high quality data from across the health system, and are working with stakeholders to improve the quality of data we can collect from GP practices to ensure it is comparable and robust. There is no obligation on practices or health boards…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a contingency plan is in place, should the Scottish Libraries and Information Council be oversubscribed with applications for funding from the £1.25 million Public Libraries COVID Recovery Fund.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government will be advised by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), if there is likely to be an unrealistic demand placed on the fund. We will continue to engage and work collaboratively with the sector and SLIC, which provides le…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many paramedics have taken early retirement in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2007.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested information is not centrally held. NHS Education for Scotland publish annual data on joiners/leavers, but this information is not available by reason or destination. Information on joiners/leavers by staff group for each financial year can be f…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which islands and remote communities it plans to examine for potential new fixed links, as part of its Strategic Transport Review 2.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Following publication of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), Initial Appraisal: Case for Change Reports in February 2021. The following fixed links were included for consideration as part of the appraisal process for Phase 2 of the review:…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many consultants have taken early retirement in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2007.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested information is not centrally held. NHS Education for Scotland publish annual data on joiners/leavers, but this information is not available by reason or destination. Information on joiners/leavers by staff group for each financial year can be f…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of staff it anticipates hiring for its proposed international offices in (a) Copenhagen and (b) Warsaw, and how much it will set aside for the cost of staffing each office.
Answer · Angus Robertson: It is anticipated that these will follow a similar staffing model to that present in Scotland’s other Innovation and Investment Hubs. We are reviewing the staffing options for the Copenhagen office and will confirm the number of staff and associated costs in …
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many allied health professionals have taken early retirement in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2007.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested information is not centrally held. NHS Education for Scotland publish annual data on joiners/leavers, but this information is not available by reason or destination. Information on joiners/leavers by staff group for each financial year can be f…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the eligibility criteria for libraries to apply for its £1.25 million Public Libraries COVID Recovery Fund, which is to be distributed through the Scottish Libraries and Information Council.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The eligibility criteria for the Public Library Covid Relief Fund have already been made public via the relevant Scottish Government press release issued on 10 September 2021. It can be accessed here . The fund will support libraries to re-open or extend t…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the total cost will be to set up an international office in (a) Copenhagen and (b) Warsaw.
Answer · Angus Robertson: As previous Scottish administrations have done in the past, we are committed to enhancing our external reach and voice. Our new offices in Copenhagen and Warsaw will promote Scotland’s interests and expertise in the Nordic and Central European regions, attrac…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates its proposed National Towns of Culture scheme will be launched.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We will start work this year on designing an open scheme for National Towns of Culture, which will be launched over the course of this Parliament. Officials will provide the me with delivery options and recommendations by the end of this year, and we will of…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it plans to commit to its proposed National Towns of Culture scheme.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As referenced in the answers to S6W-03093 and S6W-03094 on? 29 September 2021, officials will provide me with delivery options and recommendations – including on funding – by the end of this year, and we will offer a further update at that point. All answers…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members it anticipates will participate in its proposed ministerial working group on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development, and whether it will commit to publishing participant details.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The number members, and the makeup, of the Working Group, which is to be chaired by me, will depend on the issues to be discussed. I believe that in order to get the best out of the group we should be flexible in its membership. Ministers will be invited to a…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered trialling the use of graphene in road surfacing projects, following the announcement from National Highways that it will be doing this in England.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland is aware of the ongoing research and development into the potential uses of graphene in various sectors, including within road surfacing materials. Transport Scotland is also aware of the proposed trial in England and is engaged with Nation…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to keep ferry travel affordable for Scotland’s island communities, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The roll out of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET), which delivered significant reductions in ferry fares, was completed on the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service network in October 2015 and led to an estimated average fare reduction of 34% for passengers and 40% for c…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) aims and (b) objectives of its proposed ministerial working group on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development will be.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to contributing to international development as an essential part of being a good global citizen. Within that, we have committed to Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as part of a holistic, cross-Governmen…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) aims and (b) objectives of its proposed National Towns of Culture scheme will be.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Culture is more important than ever to Scotland’s collective wellbeing and prosperity. A central aim of our Culture Strategy is that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in, develop and enjoy culture, and we know this helps individuals and comm…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses have taken early retirement in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2007.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested information is not centrally held. NHS Education for Scotland publish annual data on joiners/leavers, but this information is not available by reason or destination. Information on joiners/leavers by staff group for each financial year can be f…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often it anticipates its proposed ministerial working group on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development will meet.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The frequency of Working Group meetings will be decided by the group itself when it meets, as it will depend on the issues to be considered.
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it anticipates that the completion of the North Lot of the R100 scheme will be delayed until 2026-27.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The R100 North lot contract was signed one year later than planned due to a legal challenge which resulted in a necessary pause in the procurement process. The contract we subsequently signed with BT plc will go far beyond our superfast commitment of 30 Mbps …
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it plans to commit to improving rural hotel facilities, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Ivan McKee: This year we support to hotel facilities, including rural hotels, with £900k by means of our enterprise agencies as part of our highly targeted £14m COVID-19 Hotel Support Programme. As we look forward beyond immediate business support, we are working closel…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand on its work with Scottish diaspora networks in the coming year.
Answer · Angus Robertson: In the Programme for Government 2021-22, we committed to “engage with our Scottish Connections international community and expand on our work with Scottish diaspora networks across the world.” Across the Scottish Government, we already have a wide range of a…