Andy Wightman

2 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it makes a contribution towards the operation and maintenance of Holyrood Palace and, if so, (a) how much it has provided in each of the last 10 years, broken down by area of expenditure and (b) whether there is a formal agreement in place governing responsibility for operations …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for the provision and maintenance of the Palace and an element of logistical support to functions arising directly from the Palace’s use as an official residence under a Memorandum of Understanding dating from 2000…

2 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the fourth supplementary to question S5F-01113 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 22), what progress has been made in evaluating the criminal sanctions for people that use Scottish Limited Partnerships for criminal enterprises.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy at the UK Government conducted a review of limited partnership law which closed for responses on 17 March 2017. The outcome of the review has not yet been published due to the pre election period. T…

23 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Enterprise can support social and community enterprise and, if so, what support it provides.

Answer · Keith Brown: Internationalising Social Enterprise: A Strategy for Scotland and Scotland’s Social Enterprise Strategy: 2016-2026 set out shared ambitions for growing the sector over the next decade. As a key partner, SE already works collaboratively across the landscape …

23 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how social enterprise will be represented in any new governance structures that it proposes under its enterprise and skills review.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government recognises the important economic contribution that social enterprise makes to the Scottish economy. Social enterprises clearly deliver on our ambition for inclusive growth by not just delivering economic benefits, but tackling inequal…

18 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact is of (a) marine tourism, (b) scallop dredging and (c) creeling and scallop diving on (i) Plockton, (ii) Torridon and (iii) the Applecross peninsula.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government estimates that in 2015 marine fishing employed five people and tourism businesses employed 200 people in the Ross and Cromarty South West area, which includes Plockton, Torridon and the Applecross peninsula. The Scottish Government is…

16 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support or assistance its office in the United States has provided or is providing to Wildcat Haven CIC or Wildcat Haven Enterprises CIC.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Affairs Office in Washington DC has not provided any support or assistance to Wildcat Haven CIC or Wildcat Haven Enterprises CIC, beyond sharing details on social media on one occasion of an event that Wildcat Haven were holding in the United Sta…

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07177 by Joe FitzPatrick on 28 February 2017, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) the information for 2015.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015 130 individuals were seconded to the Scottish Government. As stated in S5W-07177 the funding arrangements for secondments are agreed between the Scottish Government Directorate and the secondees employer; details of…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in relation to the Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Construction of Edinburgh Schools by Professor John Cole in February 2017; what assurance it can give that it will act on each of its 40 recommendations, and whether it will report on the outcome of th…

Answer · Derek Mackay: In response to the findings of the Cole Report, Kevin Stewart ,the Minister for Local Government and Housing, has written to Local Authorities and Industry leaders, and has instructed the Scottish Futures Trust to write to Public Bodies, drawing their attenti…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the milestone set out in its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032, that "by 2032, 80% of domestic buildings’ heat [will be] supplied using low-carbon technologies", how it will support householders in the remaini…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The draft Climate Change Plan is clear that “by 2050, all buildings across Scotland will be near zero carbon - homes will be highly efficient and the heat supply largely decarbonised”. The 2032 milestones articulate the policy outcomes we need to realise as w…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it works with the (a) UK Government and (b) energy companies to promote the use of smart meters.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the roll-out of smart meters as a national modernisation programme that has the potential to bring benefits to Scottish energy consumers if properly implemented. We have and continue to engage extensively,…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage building homes in (a) smaller towns and (b) rural areas.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Our commitment to invest over £3 billion to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament – 35,000 of which will be for social rent – presents a huge opportunity to meet the housing needs of communities across Scotland. Fundin…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with community energy projects to help deliver the commitments in its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government are defining a distinctive approach to Scotland’s future energy provision; putting communities at the heart of decisions about their local energy system; and empowering them to take an economic stake in new developments. This supporti…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) works with small businesses to better forecast and plan long-term work.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The development of the Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) will involve significant public consultation and engagement with delivery partners across Scotland. The SEEP consultation, launched on 24 January, asks key questions around the establishment a…

1 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) tackles (a) fuel poverty and (b) climate change issues arising in housing stock over 100-years-old.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: As part of our development of SEEP we are now inviting local authorities and/or their partners to submit new proposals for phase two pilot projects for delivery by 28 February 2019. This second phase of pilot projects makes £11million of funding available and…

22 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment made by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work on 18 January 2017 (Official Report, c. 50) to "come back to Mr Wightman on the point about legal personality", whether he is now in a position to do so.

Answer · Keith Brown: Highlands and Islands Enterprise will not be abolished and will continue to be locally based, managed and directed providing dedicated support to the local economy with its legal personality unchanged.

22 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the additional revenues accruing to local authorities as a result of Part 6 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act did not, as intimated by paragraph 102 of the Revised Financial Memorandum to the Bill, result in a corresponding reduction in the general revenue grant for 2017-18.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As set out in the Revised Financial Memorandum for the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill the estimated additional non-domestic rates receipts in respect of shootings and deer forests as a result of the commencement of sections 74 to 76 of the associated Act from 1 …

10 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has seconded the director of policy of NFU Scotland to it on a part-time basis; who is paying for his remuneration, and what assessment it has made of any potential conflict of interest.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Seconding external expertise into the Scottish Government is not unusual. As with all secondments, we assessed the benefits and any potential conflict of interest prior to seconding in the Director of Policy of NFU Scotland to provide technical expertise in a…

10 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been seconded to it from other organisations since 2016, broken down by (a) directorate that they are seconded to, (b) the organisation that they have been seconded from, (c) pay grade, (d) who is responsible for their remuneration and (e) the length of secondment.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Between 1 January 2016 and 24 February 2017 82 individuals were seconded to the Scottish Government. The funding arrangements for secondments are agreed between the Scottish Government Directorate and the secondees employer; details of these arrangements are …

10 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to regulate growth in short-term letting of residential property.

6 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine whether housing can be regarded as “affordable”.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Planning Policy defines affordable housing broadly as housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes. This includes social rented accommodation, mid-market rented accommodation, shared ownership, shared equity, discoun…

22 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the recipients of financial contributions from VisitScotland to the strategy, Game for Growth Strategy - Country Sports Tourism in Scotland 2016; what information it has regarding how each recipient will use this; what action it has taken to ensure …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: VisitScotland has approved a grant of £17,925 to the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group to promote Scotland as the destination of choice for all country sports. The Group will use this to develop content and supporting digital activity to attract visitors …

9 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with tenant farmers and their representatives.

14 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its formal response to the final report of the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government’s response to the Commission was announced by the First Minister on 2 March, 2016.

14 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) financial and (b) in-kind support it provided to the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Commission on Local Tax Reform was jointly sponsored by the Scottish Government and COSLA. The Scottish Government’s financial contribution totalled £167,000. This covered a range of financial outlays incurred by the Commission ranging from Commissioners’…

12 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to dispose of land under the re-positioning programme; whether any additional targets have been set and, if so, what these are and what the timescale is for disposal.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Forest Enterprise Scotland notifies land and forest sales to give communities a prior opportunity to express an interest in using the National Forest Land Scheme for community acquisition. Sites currently notified for sale can be viewed at: http://scotland…

12 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to dispose of land held as part of the National Forest Estate.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2005, Forest Enterprise Scotland has been selling land and forests from the National Forest Estate which are contributing least to delivery of public benefits and using the proceeds to invest in projects, particularly land acquisition for woodland creat…

11 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evaluated the method of producing Whole of Government Accounts as produced for the UK by the Treasury and, if so, whether it will publish the results, and what plans it has to publish a version of Whole of Government Accounts for Scotland.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In a letter of 2 November 2016, the Permanent Secretary wrote to the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee, in advance of her attendance at the Committee on 10 November 2016: http://www.parliament.scot/S5_Finance/PAPLS_Papers_10_November.pdf A…

11 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in each year since 1999 to support pupils at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh as part of the aided places scheme under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold all of the information requested. As set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, financial records should normally be retained for six years. The Scottish Government holds the information requested from 2004 onwards. …

12 Sep 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure the long-term future of mountain weather-forecasting.

7 Sep 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in meeting the target it set in 2007 of raising the rate of new housing supply to 35,000 per year by the middle of the current decade.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: After 2007, the financial crisis completely changed both private and affordable housing markets. This included a collapse in private housing output from 20,641 in 2007 to 9,350 in 2009. Since then we have demonstrated a very strong track record in helping bot…