Parliamentary questions

Donald Cameron

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

17 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support charity-run art venues with (a) operating costs and (b) energy costs during the winter season.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government values the important role our third sector plays in communities across Scotland, working to tackle tough social issues at source. We continue to invest widely in the third sector and have committed to increasing multiyear funding where…

17 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all funding that it has allocated to NHS boards to assist with increasing the provision of diabetes technologies (a) has been spent or (b) will be spent on diabetes technology hardware.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The role of the Scottish Government is to provide frameworks, policies, and resources to enable Scotland’s NHS Boards to deliver healthcare services. It is for NHS Boards to determine how they utilise the funding provided by the Scottish Government to meet th…

17 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the recently reported landslides at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful have had any impact on the delivery timescales of the (a) medium- and (b) long-term resilience solutions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22478 on 9 November 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-committ…

17 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what share of the £19.6 million funding for the increased provision of diabetes technologies was received by each NHS board.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The £19.6 million of additional funding for diabetes technology consisted of £5.1 million in 2020-21 and £14.5 million in 2021-22. It was allocated based on the percentage of patients with Type 1 diabetes within each given NHS Board area relative to the Scott…

17 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "high-quality food" 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…

17 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm the costs associated with the (a) production and (b) publication of the paper, An independent Scotland in the EU.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The external costs associated with the production and publication of the Building a New Scotland paper, ‘An independent Scotland in the EU’, are set out in the following table: Costs Task VAT % VAT Net Price Formatting and Online Publication 20 1,1…

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the EU policy priorities and forward look in Annex D of the letter of 31 October 2023 from the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, which states that the Scottish Government …

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that Scotland operates to the highest environmental standards, and that we protect the strengths of Scottish agriculture and food production. Regulation of genetic modification (GM) is a devolved area of respon…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the National Records of Scotland has not published a Migration Statistics Quarterly Summary for Scotland since February 2021.

Answer · Angus Robertson: I have asked Janet Egdell, interim Chief Executive of the National Records of Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows: The Migration Statistics Quarterly Summary for Scotland (MSQS) provided Scottish-specific secondary analysis of the Migration Stat…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Records of Scotland will provide an update on Scotland’s net migration for the year up to June 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: I have asked Janet Egdell, interim Chief Executive of The National Records of Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows: These statistics are planned for publication in February 2024. The publication date has been delayed in order to incorporate the ne…

7 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm the costs associated with the (a) production and (b) publication of the paper, Migration to Scotland after independence.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The external costs associated with the production and publication of the Building a New Scotland paper, ‘Migration to Scotland after independence’, are set out in the following table: Costs Task VAT % VAT Net Price Formatting and Online Publication …

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce an equivalent scheme to the Community Facilities Programme in Wales, which provides small and large grants to community and voluntary sector organisations to improve community facilities that are well used by local people, such as churches, post offi…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In Scotland we have a well established policy framework supporting our communities, delivered through a range of programmes and funds including funding to develop and improve community facilities. For example, our Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) has …

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to increase the funding available to preserve the heritage of Scotland’s churches and chapels, in light of the reported announcement by the Church of Scotland that it is to close and sell up to 40% of its churches.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, which is the lead public body to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. Historic Environment Scotland prov…

30 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support disabled people in accessing gym facilities.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understands the importance of physical activity in Scotland and the positive impact that has on physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. We should all feel included, and able to take part and access the benefits of being activ…

27 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19938 by Fiona Hyslop on 4 August 2023, whether it will provide an update on whether Stantec’s community needs assessments report on transport connectivity for Cowal and Rosneath has been finalised, and, if so, when it will be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Stantec's Community Needs Assessment report on transport connectivity for Cowal and Rosneath has recently been finalised and is intended for publication by Transport Scotland in the new year once its contents have been reviewed and considered.

25 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any additional financial assistance to Argyll and Bute Council to assist with the permanent replacement of the A816 Kilmelford Bridge, following the recent demolition of the old bridge due to flood damage.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. However, I can confir…

25 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any additional financial assistance to Argyll and Bute Council to assist with the removal of debris at the A816, south of Kintraw, following reports that it could take up to four weeks to remove debris.

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps NHS boards are taking to increase the availability of insulin pumps for people with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes, including people with good diabetic control.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Our Diabetes Improvement Plan contains a specific commitment to support further roll-out of technologies such as insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), as well as emerging technologies such as hybrid closed loop and artificial pancreas system…

12 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its updated artificial intelligence strategy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland’s AI Strategy was published in March 2021. Taking account of recent and fast-paced technological developments and a growing international focus on the opportunities and threats which AI can offer, it is essential that Scotland has in place a strategy…

5 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to take forward a review of the expressive arts curricular area, as set out in its response to the recommendations from the National Partnership for Culture.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: A review of the expressive arts curriculum as outlined in the Scottish Government’s response to recommendations made by the National Partnership for Culture, is being coordinated by Education Scotland. The review is currently at the planning stage, the aim be…

5 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a similar scheme in Scotland to the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) delivered by Arts Council England, which is an open-access capital fund for non-national accredited museums and local authorities to apply for funding to undertake vital infrastru…

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government allocated an additional £500k in capital funding to Museums Galleries Scotland in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.This was in recognition of the important contribution museums make to our communities, and was directed towards crucial repair a…

5 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking regarding the concerns raised by the Museums Association in its submission to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee's pre-Budget scrutiny that the majority of museums in Scotland are in historic and vitally important listed buildings an…

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Government officials will continue to engage with stakeholders to ascertain the current backlog in repairs and maintenance across the sector. The Scottish Government has provided strategically targeted additional funding of £500k in capital funding to Museum…

5 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its refreshed Culture Strategy Action Plan, in light of it being delayed from summer 2022 and spring 2023.

Answer · Angus Robertson: As confirmed in my evidence to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 5 October, we will publish our Culture Strategy Action Plan Refresh in the coming months, in line with our commitment in the current Programme for Government. T…

5 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to work jointly across the health and culture portfolios to ensure that culture is represented in social prescribing discussions, as set out in its response to the recommendations from the National Partnership for Culture.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: As set out in Programme for Government 2023, the Scottish Government is continuing to prioritise working across the Health and Wellbeing portfolio to maximise the contribution of culture to achieving key cross-policy outcomes. The Scottish Government has se…

5 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its new youth arts strategy, as set out in its response to the recommendations from the National Partnership for Culture.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Our response to the National Partnership for Culture’s recommendations committed to begin the scoping of a new Youth Arts Strategy, which we are taking forward with Creative Scotland. Our refreshed Culture Strategy Action Plan, which will be published in the …

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm what additional deprivation weighting payments were made to dentists for each (a) adult and (b) child patient that is registered with them, in each year since 2007, also broken down by (i) month and (ii) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Practitioner Services is the body that pays independent contractor dentists on behalf of the Health Boards.

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the monthly payment made to dentists was for each (a) adult and (b) child patient that is registered with them, in each year since 2007, also broken down by month.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W- 22039 on 30 October 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…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further measures it can take to develop intelligent wastewater networks.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government supports the further development of Waste Water Intelligent Networks (WWIN) and the benefits they will deliver. However, as this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked its Chief Executive to respond. His response is …

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much investment it has allocated to the recruitment of education welfare officers in each year since 2016, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is a matter for local authorities to decide how much funding they allocate to specific services. The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Information on the number of hours of support staff provision per week, including home-schoo…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on developing HMP Highland, including in relation to any further costs that are required to be met to complete the prison, and any potential delay in its opening.

Answer · Angela Constance: HMP Highland will expand provision of custodial services available within local community and reduce reliance on accommodation in other locations. Its completion will allow the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to better serve the local community, meet the needs …

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop an artificial intelligence strategy in relation to the culture sector, and how it plans to ensure that any such strategy is safe and ethical in its implementation.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Scotland’s AI Strategy , published in 2021, set out a vision for Scotland to become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI. Creative Scotland were represented on the steering committee during its development. The Scott…