Jamie Greene

9 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) police and (b) fire stations contain asbestos, and whether it will list them.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. Responsibility for the management of the (a) police estate is for Police Scotland, which is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority; and (b) the fire estate is for the Scottish Fire and Re…

9 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its buildings do not have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least band C, and whether it will list them.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are 17 owned buildings on the Scottish Government Core Estate. 11 have EPC ratings lower than C. Thainstone Court Inverurie B St Andrew's House Edinburgh C Victoria Quay Edinburgh C Longman House Inverness C Cameron House Oban C Marine L…

9 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17423 by Patrick Harvie on 9 May 2023, how much funding has been allocated for the loans to date, and whether it has a target for the number of private rented sector landlords that it hopes will use the scheme.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme was launched in April 2020 to support landlords with the cost of installation for energy efficiency improvements, renewable systems and energy storage systems. The funding allocated for the scheme is set out in …

8 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Royal College of Nursing Scotland report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland, published in May 2023.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the RCN Scotland report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland, and notes the report's recommendations. On 21 February 2023 we announced that a Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce had been established to build on e…

5 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the A8 Greenock Flood Alleviation Project is still anticipated to finish within Scottish Water’s originally projected timeframe of eight months.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, and the Scottish Government does not hold this information, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows: Work within Inverclyde Council’s Pottery Street depot has been progressing well, althoug…

5 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether construction work on HMP Glasgow is still expected to commence in September 2023 and whether it will be operational by September 2026.

Answer · Angela Constance: The HMP Glasgow project was advertised to the market in March 2022 to commence procurement of pre-construction services as part of a two-stage procurement process in order to progress the overall delivery of the programme. The Scottish Prison Service awarded …

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Social Security Scotland has provided for burials and cremations since 2021, broken down by local authority area. 

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland routinely releases information on payments issued for Funeral Support Payment as part of quarterly official statistics releases. Excel tables released as part of these publications include information on the value of payments issued …

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15303 by Elena Whitham on 7 March 2023, how many non-harassment orders (NHOs) have been handed down, and on how many occasions NHOs were breached in each year for which data is available, broken down by (a) court and (b) local authority area.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Section 8 and section 8A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (the 1997 Act) make provision for civil non-harassment orders (NHOs). Since 2018-2019, we have included data in the Civil justice statistics in Scotland on all legal remedies (craves) so…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many restriction of liberty orders have been (a) handed down by courts, and (b) breached in each year for which data is available, broken down by court.

Answer · Angela Constance: In the following table, data on all restriction of liberty orders imposed since April 2013 is provided, covering two contractual periods of the current electronic monitoring service provider (G4S Monitoring Technologies & Services). The data set out shows “st…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands will meet with fishermen in (a) Inverclyde and (b) North Ayrshire over summer 2023 during her planned tour of rural and coastal communities regarding the proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I, and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, are always open to meeting with stakeholders to hear their views and understand their concerns. Any organisation or individual who wishes to meet on any issue that falls under our respec…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland’s most recent inspecting and monitoring report on HMP Addiewell, including the findings about abuse, threatening behaviour, bullying and assault by staff towards prisoners.

Answer · Angela Constance: Whilst the management of the prison estate – including privately operated HMP Addiewell - is an operational matter for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), I take very seriously the significant issues highlighted in the Inspectorate’s report. It is clearly una…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16923 by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023, at which train stations does ScotRail charge for toilet use, and how much revenue has ScotRail received from charging for toilet use in each year since 2019.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Currently, there are charges in place for the use of toilet facilities at Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen, and Glasgow Queen Street stations. ScotRail advises that the revenue from each requested station toilet facilities since 2019 is as follows: Fiscal …

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it requires the three mandatory tenancy deposit schemes to be Accredited Living Wage Employers.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The role of the Scottish Government is to monitor each of the three deposit schemes for compliance with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011. This includes being satisfied that the tenancy deposit schemes have clear and substantial processe…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to endorse or promote the Plant Based Treaty, including for any of its non-ministerial departments.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to endorse the Plant Based Treaty. We are keen to explore ways to both encourage a healthy diet and reduce the environmental impact of our food system. We continue to work with Public Health Scotland, Food Standa…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of student withdrawals from (a) college and (b) university courses have been (i) male and (ii) female in each year since 2020.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) publishes information on college withdrawals, as well as retention statistics for undergraduate courses at colleges and universities. These statistics are measuring different things and are not comparable. College withdraw…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the rate of care experienced students completing college or university courses, and when it last discussed this issue with representatives from the academic/education sector.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Attracting more people from a care-experienced background to further and higher education continues to be a priority for Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). SFC have a National Ambition for Care-Experienced Students for the college a…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many students are currently enrolled in the Rural Skills National Progression Award (NPA) at SCQF level 5, broken down by campus.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The following table shows the number of entries to the Rural Skills National Progression Award at SCQF Level 5 for the 2022-23 academic year broken down by centre. Entries to Rural Skills NPA at SCQF 5, 2022-23 Centre Name Entries Ardrossan Academy 15 A…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is the NatureScot report, Scottish Wildcat Action (SWA) - Final Summary Report 2023, published in March 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We welcome NatureScot’s, Scottish Wildcat Action (SWA) – Final Summary Report 2023 and agree that the ultimate goal for wildcat conservation in Scotland must be to establish a long-term, viable population of wildcats that does not require further intervention…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15766 by Patrick Harvie on 22 March 2023, how many unclaimed deposits are currently in each of Scotland’s rental deposit schemes, and what their financial value is.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The following table provides how many unclaimed deposits are currently in each of Scotland’s rental deposit schemes, and what their financial value is at end February 2023.  No. of unclaimed deposits Financial value of unclaimed deposits Letting Protection…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16796 by Siobhian Brown on 21 April 2023, whether it can provide an estimated or intended year for the implementation of the restricted days of the supply and use of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles, in order to allow retailers to plan ahead.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government is currently planning to implement provisions from the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 restricting the days when F2 and F3 fireworks can be supplied to and used by the general public, as well as the compensation …

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17105 by Paul McLennan on 27 April 2023, whether it is aware that SafeDeposits Scotland has two versions of its Scheme Rules on its website, both dated 12 December 2022, which have different wordings for scheme rule 22.5, and whether it will investi…

Answer · Paul McLennan: SafeDeposits Scotland annually check the scheme rules and some wording changes were made for clarity. There have been no significant changes to the revised scheme or original proposal referred to the Scottish Government for approval. Any considered changes wo…

2 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation NatureScot is undertaking, or plans to undertake, with relevant stakeholders before it extends its conservation management advice for freshwater pearl mussels to include lochs.

Answer · Lorna Slater: This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked their Chief Executive to write with the relevant information.

2 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many remotely-operated (a) underwater and (b) aerial drones are currently available for use by NatureScot.

Answer · Lorna Slater: This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked their Chief Executive to write with the relevant information.  

2 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent research from the British Dental Association, which shows that 83% of dentists in Scotland expect to reduce the amount of NHS work they do in the year ahead. 

2 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17320 by Lorna Slater on 2 May 2023, what its response is to reports that, of the beavers culled under licences issued by NatureScot, only a small fraction of the carcasses are being submitted for an independent post-mortem.

Answer · Lorna Slater: NatureScot previously requested that carcasses from licensed control should be submitted for independent post mortem on a voluntary basis in order that aspects of beaver health and welfare could be monitored. As set out in my previous answer to you in Parlia…

2 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the number of registered veterinary surgeons, and what steps it is taking to increase their (a) presence and (b) availability in (i) rural and (ii) remote areas.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Governance of the veterinary profession is a Reserved Matter and the number of registered veterinary surgeons in the UK is available from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. On behalf of the Scottish Government, the Chief Veterinary Officer Scotland ch…

1 May 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association that its plans for juryless trials would be an affront to justice and that any proposed pilot could result in boycott action.

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will send a representative, such as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair in Perth from 1 to 3 July 2023.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Ministers have very much appreciated opportunities to visit the GWCT Scottish Game Fair in previous years. I am currently considering attendance at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair alongside other Parliamentary commitments and will respond to outstanding invitati…

25 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Historic Environment Scotland sites are not equipped with CCTV, and whether it will provide a list of any such sites.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: As the operation, maintenance and security of Historic Environment Scotland sites are matters for Historic Environment Scotland, I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to write directly to the member with the answer to his question.

25 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16058 by Elena Whitham on 19 April 2023, whether it can provide an estimate of the number of people treated by ear, nose and throat specialists for conditions caused by the delivery and absorption of drugs through the nasal cavity route, in any year…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. We advise the member to contact the NHS Boards directly.