Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12785 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it has on what the total cost was for an (a) adult, (b) concession and (c) young person Direct Debit membership for Historic Scotland in 2023.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: 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…
5 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12786 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it holds on 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 2022-23.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Historic Environment Scotland is making good progress on its inspection programme which is due to conclude at the end of March next year. The Scottish Government supports Historic Environment Scotland’s approach that continues to put the health and safety of …
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the levels of food waste in each local authority area, in each year since 2016.
Answer · Lorna Slater: This information is not held centrally. In early 2024, the Scottish Government intends to publish its Review of the 2019 Food Waste Reduction Action Plan. Alongside this, Zero Waste Scotland will publish the 2021 nationwide statistics for food waste.
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it will give to local authorities to increase gritting services this winter.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Local Authorities are accountable to their local communities and have the financial freedom to operate independently, taking account of local needs. As independent corporate bodies, it is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own…
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that residents in rural communities can access banking services, following reports of a reduction in mobile banking services.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is aware of recent announcements from the banking industry to further close bank branches and withdraw mobile branch services. This is an unfortunate continuation of a trend witnessed across the sector to reduce in-person services in S…
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) NHS boards will start to formally record the number of dog attacks that result in hospitalisation.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Public Health Scotland records inpatient admissions to hospital as a result of a dog attack. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21589 on 5 October 2023, which contains data from Public Health Scotland on the number of inpatient and day case ad…
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is meeting its commitment to reduce food waste by one third by 2025.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government will publish a Review of the 2019 Food Waste Reduction Action Plan early in 2024 which will outline progress towards the 2025 target. We will also publish the second consultation for the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, detailing …
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fixed speed cameras are currently (a) operational and (b) not operational, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Across Scotland, safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme primarily at locations where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions, and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. National managem…
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with third sector organisations in relation to its commitment to reduce food waste by one third by 2025.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has discussed food waste with a range of representative and third sector organisations. For example, an eNGO roundtable event took place with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Scottish Environment Link members, with representatives from:…
1 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what feasibility studies it has conducted into using Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) to transport cargo and passengers in the Highlands and Islands region.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not conducted any feasibility studies but Hybrid Air Vehicles produced the “Airlander feasibility study for the Highlands & Islands of Scotland” in September 2023. Hybrid Air Vehicles are a consortium member of the Sustainable Avia…
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many heat pump engineers it estimates there currently are in Scotland, and what support it will offer to the sector in order to train more engineers to (a) install and (b) maintain heat pumps.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Renewables Installer Finder tool, funded by Scottish Government, provides information on Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified companies who operate in Scotland and wish to list their information on the tool. The tool can be found at: Rene…
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the number of dental student places available at Scottish universities in 2024, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Due to the interruption of dental studies during the pandemic and the need for students to repeat a year of teaching, student places for academic years 2021-22 and 2022-23 were reduced in order to manage capacity within institutions. Targets for the 2023-24 …
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allocate additional funding to promote squash, in light of reports that squash has been approved as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Answer · Maree Todd: Following the inclusion of squash in the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, squash will now be eligible for the UK Sport investment process. UK Sport strategically invests in the summer and winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and other major championship event…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the refresh of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector is still on track to be published in February 2024.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The refreshed Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector is being led by Historic Environment Scotland in collaboration with key stakeholders within the sector and is expected to be published in Spring 2024.
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported warnings from the National Trust for Scotland that the provision of stonemasonry apprenticeships is currently in crisis and requires action immediately.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government continues to engage with key skills stakeholders and Historic Environment Scotland on this matter to ensure that Scotland has the required traditional skills to meet the demands of the historic environment sector. We deliver our suppo…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the provision of micro-grants to support and promote volunteering via Creative Scotland.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government appreciates the contribution volunteers make to society. Volunteering at creative and cultural events offers unique opportunities to gain new skills, get experience and to be part of something special. While there are currently no plan…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the National Trust for Scotland estimate that only 30% of the actions in the 2019 Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector have been delivered, mainly due to a lack of resource.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector to support our workforce in developing the skills required to manage, protect and conserve our built heritage. We acknowledge that acti…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take regarding the number of buildings described by Historic Environment Scotland as "of national importance" that the Church of Scotland plans to release from its estate over the next decade.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: It is for the Church of Scotland to make decisions about its estate management based on the changing needs of its own membership. The Scottish Government has been engaging with Historic Environment Scotland, Church of Scotland and other stakeholders on the c…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to change the current funding mix to Creative Scotland to enable it to introduce a capital programme to support the refurbishment of cultural assets.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Support for the refurbishment of cultural assets, such as small-scale building renovations, accessibility improvements or installing fixed assets, can be accessed by individuals and organisations applying to Creative Scotland’s Open Fund. On a select case-by…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it considers its agencies can better inform the Met Office of possible landslips in the event of adverse weather conditions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government doesn’t inform the Met Office about landslips, as this is not an operational requirement of this UK Weather Agency. The role of the Met Office is to make meteorological predictions across all timescales from weather forecasts to climat…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether and (b) how it will consider any impact on food production and farming of any new national parks being created in Scotland.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Scotland’s National Parks support the communities living and working within them. They work with a wide range of local partners – including farmers, local businesses, third sector organisations, landowners and managers – to support a thriving local economy an…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21873 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 October 2023, whether recent poor weather, including the impact of Storm Babet, has had any impact on how it will allocate funding towards the aims of its Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaption strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As the Member is aware, the Scottish Government has committed to invest £4.2 billion in the Scottish rail infrastructure which investments will focus on climate change adaptation and resilience of the rail network. Network Rail is leading on the delivery of t…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what share of the £350,000 funding to accelerate the distribution of Closed Loop Systems for people with type 1 diabetes was received by each NHS board.
Answer · Jenni Minto: £350,000 was allocated in 2023 to the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway workstream based at the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD). This funding was provided to establish a national onboarding team for closed loop systems, based at N…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided any assistance to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, following reports of a suspected ransomware attack, and what plans it has to prevent similar attacks on (a) local authorities and (b) Scottish Government agencies in the future.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is aware that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is dealing with a significant cyber incident. The Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre are working together to provide advice and support to the Council as …
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been released by Creative Scotland to (a) charitable organisations and (b) businesses/for-profit organisations in each year since 2016.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: This information is being compiled by Creative Scotland. I will write to the member with the requested information as soon as it is received.
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £100 million of funding announced by the First Minister at the Scottish National Party conference in October 2023 will be allocated to Creative Scotland in each year until 2028.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Ministers will take decisions about where the funding is allocated in 2024-25 and future years subject to the outcome of the Scottish Budget process and associated approval by the Scottish Parliament. The draft budget will be published later this year and wi…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "sustainable agriculture" in relation to the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In relation to the ARC Bill, these outcomes bear their ordinary meaning. The Agriculture Reform Route Map published a glossary of terms including an understanding for regenerative agriculture in June this year.
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of teachers who (a) participated in and (b) passed probation training for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools, in each year since 2016.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The numbers of teachers who have participated in the Teacher Induction Scheme since 2016 is provided in the following table: Year Number of probationers as at May allocations 2016-17 2,965 2017-18 3,296 2018-19 3,277 2019-20 3,566 2020-21 3,…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Firework Control Zone provisions following Bonfire Night 2023, and whether any changes will be implemented in advance of Bonfire Night 2024 and beyond.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Firework control zones are a discretionary power for local authorities. The Scottish Government provides support to local authorities in respect of firework control zones, such as by providing funding for consulting on and designating zones. No changes to th…
17 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "thriving rural communities" in relation to the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23112 on 4 December 2023. 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-commit…