Parliamentary questions

Donald Cameron

1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has supported Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland in meeting the aim to "expand and develop", as set out in the 2020 Culture Strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The £10,000 grant awarded to Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) to scope the development of the Arts, Culture, Health and Wellbeing Scotland (ACHWS) supported the network to develop an infrastructure, systems and develop a brand identity that would help the netw…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the National Partnership for Culture has met, and when it will next meet.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The National Partnership for Culture met on: 24 June 2020 23 July 2020 4 September 2020 4 November 2020 12 March 2021 29 April 2021 1 July 2021 10 September 2021. The date of the next meeting has not yet been identified.

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Creative Scotland status review of cultural workforce and leadership development, as referred to in the 2020 Culture Strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Creative Scotland has commissioned a review of fair work, leadership, workforce and skills development across the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland. The review will take place between August 2021 and February 2022.

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is helping the culture and heritage sector meet its 2025 Fair Work Nation target.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government continues to engage with the culture and heritage sectors to build fairer and more inclusive workplaces. Culture and Fair Work is an initial priority theme for the National Partnership for Culture (NPC), with the partnership currently …

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated each year from its Investing in Communities Fund, and what the (a) total and (b) average pay out has been, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: A B C D E F Local Authority Total grant awarded for 2019-2020 Total grant awarded for 2020-2021 Total grant awarded for 2021-2022 Total grant awarded 2019-2022 Average grant award per project 2019-2022 Aberdeen City 107,925 243,776 246,850 5…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last held a joint meeting with local authority culture conveners and culture trusts, and when a similar meeting will next be held.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The previous Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Economy and Fair Work met with the local authority culture conveners on 2 March 2021. This was the second meeting since the Culture Strategy was published. Scottish Government officials are working with COSLA to org…

6 Sep 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on HIAL’s proposed centralisation of air traffic control services.

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles faces a projected overspend of £312,000 because of the loss of tourist treatment income.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: To date, the Scottish Government has provided more than £2 billion to NHS Boards and Integration Authorities, with NHS Western Isles receiving £7.7 million, to address pressures arising from Covid-19. We will continue to assess the impact of Covid-19, and it…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Highland cancelled its orthopaedic elective programme throughout August 2021.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: To relieve some pressure on acute services, NHS Highland took the decision to pause their orthopaedic elective programme through August, and the board are continuing to treat patients on the basis of their clinical urgency and in line with the Clinical Priori…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Gaelic Capital Fund has been allocated for 2021-22, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Gaelic Capital Fund is an important support mechanism for Gaelic projects across Scotland. The Scottish Government is currently considering a range of bids from across Scotland and a decision will be made on these shortly.

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria (a) musicians and (b) venues will be required to meet to be eligible for support from the Scotland on Tour fund.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The criteria for the fund is currently being developed by the Scotland on Tour steering group, which is made up of representatives from the music industry, the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland. Detailed guidance will be published shortly, with artist…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of people seen within four hours in A&E departments in NHS Highland was at a record low in the week ending 15 August 2021.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The COVID pandemic has inevitably affected A&E attendance and the pressure is being felt across the UK. While Scotland continues to have the best performing A&E in the whole of the UK, our NHS staff are facing unprecedented pressures as they work tirelessly a…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will meet the commitment to "provide additional support for rural and islands homes, which require bespoke and targeted advice", as set out in its Shared Policy Programme with the Scottish Green Party.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy notes that communities, large and small, will play an important role in driving forward the transformation of the nation's building stock. An Islands Communities Impact Assessment is being finalised alongside the Strategy …

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will "ensure community housing trusts are adequately funded so that they can support the delivery of our enhanced rural home building plans", as set out in its Shared Policy Programme with the Scottish Green Party.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our shared policy programme with the Scottish Green Party recognises the important role that community housing trusts play in supporting our remote, rural and island communities and the delivery of more affordable homes in these areas. We will work with these…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pet thefts have been reported in each police division area in each year since 2007, also broken down by how many (a) subsequent (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions there have been and (b) pets were returned to their owner.

Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. The data the Scottish Government receives from Police Scotland is a general count of the number of crimes and offences recorded by the police, split by local authority, and the number cleared up by the police. …

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plan it has to maintain the Gaelic Capital Fund throughout the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has a range of manifesto commitments for Gaelic. It is essential that we maintain mechanisms, such as the Gaelic Capital Fund, as we maintain the growth and expansion in Gaelic education across Scotland.

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many play parks in each local authority are earmarked for refurbishment.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We do not currently hold this information. The Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed that the whole play estate will be considered and all play parks that have been identified for refurbishment in line with nationally agreed principles and influenced by …

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the distribution of its first round of funding to refurbish play parks, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The funding distribution and allocations are provided in the following table: Local Authority Renewing every Play Park in Scotland - Initial capital allocation for 2021-22 Aberdeen City 188,000 Aberdeenshire 296,000 Angus 108,000 Argyll and But…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the UK Government Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, and what its position is on introducing a similar initiative.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government believes that, where appropriate, family cases should be resolved outwith court. The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act), which gained Royal Assent on 1 October 2020, contains the following provisions:Section 23, which places …

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) new and (b) reconstituted working groups and taskforces it will establish as a result of its cooperation agreement with the Scottish Green Party.

Answer · John Swinney: The co-operation agreement between the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party seeks to provide effective and responsible leadership in the interests of the people of Scotland. A number of machinery of government changes are being made to reflect the ag…

31 Aug 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS Highland’s independent review into allegations of staff bullying in Argyll and Bute.

25 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has prepared an Island Communities Impact Assessment in relation to its proposed short-term lets Licensing Order, and, if so, whether it will publish it.

Answer · Shona Robison: An Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) was published on 10 December 2020 in our 2020 consultation report on proposals for a licensing scheme and planning control areas for short-term lets in Scotland. The ICIA can be found at: Short-term lets – licen…