Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to town-twinning organisations to help foster international relations between communities.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government greatly values the positive effects that twinning can offer to communities home and abroad and the opportunities it can provide to maintain close international relationships with partnering countries. With the financial challenges we …
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis to ascertain the estimated total value of Scotland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, and, if so, whether it can provide details of this.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government has long identified the intrinsic importance of Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH) for local communities and as part of our national identity. We therefore support and welcome UK Government finally deciding to notify their intention to …
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what level of demand for culture funding it anticipates from organisations over the next five years, and whether that will impact on its plans for future funding.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Creative Scotland received applications from 361 cultural organisations with a total ask of £96m per year for their Multi Year Funding programme, which will commence from 2025-26. The Scottish Government expect the £96m indicative request figure for the Mult…
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to conduct an economic appraisal of the seaweed aquaculture sector, in line with the Green Book guidance issued by HM Treasury on how to appraise policies, programmes and projects.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government recognises the emerging seaweed industry is growing in scale and can provide a host of benefits to local communities, the environment, and contribute to the sustainable development of a Blue Economy through production of innovative and…
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will establish a project board to take forward the development of a regulatory framework for seaweed aquaculture in accordance with the recommendation in A Review of the Aquaculture Regulatory Process in Scotland, which was published in February 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In response to the recommendations of the independent review of aquaculture which were accepted in principle, I established and chair the Scottish Aquaculture Council (SAC) which was convened in June 2022 as a strategic forum to advise Scottish Ministers. I…
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a chapter on seaweed aquaculture in the National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) to reflect the value of this activity within the Scottish marine area.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: We are committed to the sustainable development of our seas and are working with stakeholders on our updated National Marine Plan (NMP2), a key delivery mechanism for Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision. NMP2 will provide the guiding planning framework to support …
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all parties with an interest in seaweed aquaculture are represented on any project board that is established to take forward the development of a regulatory framework, as recommended in A Review of the Aquaculture Regulatory Process in Scotland, which was publishe…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24265 on 15 January 2024. 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-committ…
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to deliver on the recommendation in A Review of the Aquaculture Regulatory Process in Scotland, which was published in February 2022, that a 10-year regulatory framework should be produced for the seaweed part of aquaculture within 12 months of the publication of its vision…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain, with the aim of ensuring that aquaculture is sustainable an…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 0% for Diagnostic Neuropathology ST3 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Diagnostic Neuropathology ST3 is a small specialty wi…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its proposed £2 million reduction to its Agricultural Transformation budget, as set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, will have on (a) farmers and (b) crofters seeking to invest in (i) installing and (ii) upgrading slurry storage facilities.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: This has been the most challenging budget for Scotland since devolution. The UK Government’s Autumn Statement was very disappointing and cut the Scottish Government’s capital allocation by over 10%. This means the Scottish Government faces tough choices on wh…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its proposed £720,000 reduction in the allocated funding for the Hydro Nation, as set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, will have on its Hydro Nation agenda.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Much has already been delivered under the Hydro Nation Strategy, as set out in the annual reports. https://www.gov.scot/policies/water/hydro-nation/ Going forward the programme will continue to benefit from Scottish Government spend, with a proposed £2.8 m…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its proposed £5,869,000 reduction to the VisitScotland budget, as set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, will have on its ability to promote Scotland as a prime tourist destination.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The funding provided in the Autumn Statement fell far short of what we need. Instead, the Autumn Statement delivered a real terms reduction in the total block grant. The Tourism budget sits within the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio which s…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the attrition rate for each NHS medical specialty in each year since 2021, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Below are four tables which confirm the attrition rate for each NHS medical speciality, also broken down by NHS board, since 2021 . Resigned by Employing Board Count of Registration Number Column Labels Row Labels 2021 2022 2023 Grand Total Gr…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 33.33% for Medical Oncology ST3 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 5 posts were advertised in Medical Oncology at ST3 level and 1 (or 20%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial recruit…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the total number of posts advertised in round (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 of the 2023 NHS medical specialty recruitment process, also broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) speciality and level.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Below is a breakdown of posts that were advertised in Round 1 and Round 2 by region, speciality and level. These set of results were published in July 2023 by NHS England. The total number of posts advertised in Round 3 cannot be disclosed as end-year results…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the total number of NHS 24 call handlers have been medically trained in each year since 2016.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS 24 call handlers are not medically trained, they are classed as healthcare support workers. Callers to NHS 24 will initially have their symptoms triaged by a call handler before being passed on to a clinician within the Service or to another area of the …
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its proposed £2,441,000 reduction in resource funding for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, as set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, will have on its ability to maintain and operate regional airports.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The resource grant funding budget of £39,446,000 for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) in 2024-25 is intended to close the gap between HIAL’s commercial revenue and operating costs. As passenger numbers and commercial revenue have continued to rec…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 61.54% for General Psychiatry ST4 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Maree Todd: Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 13 posts were advertised in General Psychiatry at ST4 level and 8 (or 61.54%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial r…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to revise its growth target for rail freight, in light of reports that the UK Government has set a target to grow rail freight by at least 75% by 2050.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has led on rail freight growth, setting the first target of its kind in 2017 for the period 2019 -2024. This was consolidated further in 2023 with a more stretching rail freight growth target of 8.7% for the rail period 2024-2029 (thro…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 57.14% for Neurology ST4 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 7 posts were advertised in Neurology at ST4 level and 4 (or 57.14%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial recruitment…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 0% for Thoracic Surgery ST4 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Thoracic Surgery ST4 is a small specialty with only 1…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its proposed £205.1 million reduction to its Housing & Building Standards budget, as set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, will have on the future of its (a) Rural and (b) Islands Housing Fund.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The UK Government did not inflation-proof their Capital Budget which has resulted in a 9.8% real terms fall in our UK capital funding over the medium term between 2023-24 and 2027-28. Scottish Government will invest more than half a billion pounds in affordab…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 0% for Medical Ophthalmology ST3 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Medical Ophthalmology ST3 is a small specialty with o…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 75% for Acute Internal Medicine ST4 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). The actual fill rate in recruitment rounds 1 and 2 for Acute Internal Medicine ST4, is 100%. The figure of 75%, published by HEE on 17 June…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its proposed £17,496,000 reduction in funding for Ferguson Marine, as set out in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, will have on its ability to deliver Hull (a) 801 and (b) 802 within its respective revised timescale.
Answer · Neil Gray: The level of funding set out in the Scottish Budget reflects that the delivery of Glen Sannox (801) is now at an advanced stage. The costs and delivery schedules of both 801 and 802 continue to be scrutinised closely, with updates provided regularly to the Sc…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 27.78% for Clinical Oncology ST3 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 18 posts were advertised in Clinical Oncology at ST3 level and 5 (or 27.78%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial re…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards over-recruit for positions, and, if so, how many posts have been over-recruited for in each year since 2016, also broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) position.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government collates data by job family rather than by position, and as such, does not hold the information on recruitment to positions. As the employer, Health Boards hold individual responsibility for recruitment to ensure appropriate staffing l…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 81.25% for Paediatrics ST1 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 81.25% is still a high fill rate for Paediatrics ST1in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a fill rate of 33% for Emergency Medicine ST4 in the 2023 recruitment round 1 and 2 for the NHS, and what action it is taking to improve this fill rate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 15 posts were advertised in Emergency Medicine at ST4 level and 5 (or 33.33%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial r…
20 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the Storm Babet Recovery Grant to Argyll and Bute Council, in light of the reported written request from the Leader of Argyll and Bute Council.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government acknowledges the profound impacts and hardships inflicted by the October storms on local communities. The Government has been working closely with affected local authorities on a package of support to help people whose homes and busine…