Jamie Greene

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Offshore Energies UK's Business Outlook Report 2023, published on 28 March, including the Scotland-specific matters contained within the report.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The OEUK report argues that hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) will be crucial in reducing UK emissions while also creating domestic industrial and economic growth. We welcome the announcement in the UK Government’s ‘Powering Up Britain’ plan that …

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding any impact on Scotland, on the UK Government’s proposal to restrict the sale of nitrous oxide.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is reserved legislation so any changes made to the classification of substances (such as nitrous oxide) will affect the whole of the UK. We await the outcome of the UK Government’s consultation into the exemptions which will apply…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Age Scotland’s Annual Impact Report 2022, which was published in March 2023, and when it next plans to meet with Age Scotland.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government welcomes the Age Scotland 2022 Impact report and recognises the work Age Scotland undertakes to support and benefit Older People in Scotland. We will meet with Age Scotland and other Older People Strategic Action Forum stakeholders la…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15827 by George Adam on 23 March 2023, whether it will provide an update on progress towards the objectives outlined in the FOI Improvement Plan, including the 95% target on compliance with timescales.

Answer · George Adam: Work on the FOI Improvement plan continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government. Progress has been made in a number of areas contained in the Improvement Plan to strengthen internal processes and delivery of this statutory function. In his evidence to…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to NatureScot’s Pollinator Strategy - 2022 Progress Report.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that pollinators play in agriculture and horticulture as well as supporting our biodiversity, and that Nature Networks are key to helping pollinators thrive. Enabling land managers to support biodiversity …

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the number of spaces currently available for bike storage (a) within and (b) immediately outside of its buildings, such as bike racks and bike-specific structures.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following buildings have dedicated cycle parking spaces:- Building No of Cycle Parking Spaces 4 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow 10 5 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow 41 Bothwell House, Hamilton 4 The Courtyard, Callendar Business Park, Falkirk 5 Cameron House, Ob…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many spaces for bikes were available for use on ScotRail (a) trains and (b) carriages, in the most recent year for which data is available, and how many train stations currently have bike racks or other bike storage and locking facilities available.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: ScotRail has confirmed that 422 train carriages across the fleet have the capacity to store bicycles which equates to 1,506 spaces for bikes available on ScotRail trains. There are 343 stations across the network that have cycle storage facilities available…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the Sentencing Young People guidelines from the Scottish Sentencing Council.

Answer · Angela Constance: The independent Scottish Sentencing Council's guideline for sentencing young people took effect from 26 January 2022. The development of a sentencing guideline has 8 stages associated with it. Stage 8 is monitoring and review once a guideline is in force. It …

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans (a) last visited a police station, and where that police station was, and (b) next plans to visit (i) a police station and (ii) Police Scotland's headquarters.

Answer · Angela Constance: I’m very much looking forward to meeting with police officers and staff across Scotland as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. My predecessor met with police officers at Wester Hailes Police Station on 14 December 2023 and was pleased to atte…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers are currently funded by local authorities from council budgets, rather than by it directly.

Answer · Angela Constance: Local police deployment is a matter for the Chief Constable and, while the Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally, Police Scotland has informed us that there are currently 118 full time equivalent police officers attributable to Local Au…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects that officer numbers in Police Scotland will be restored to the target of 17,234 officers.

Answer · Angela Constance: Policing is and will continue to be a priority for the Scottish Government. Scotland has a higher number of officers than at any time during the last administration – and more per head of population than England and Wales (30 officers per 10,000 population in…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers discussed Police Scotland’s Q3 Performance Report for 2022-23 with any representative of Police Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: It is for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to scrutinise Police Scotland's quarterly performance reports. This is done as part of the Authority's quarterly Performance Committees, the most recent of which took place on 19 March. Ministers and Scottish Gov…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any indication of the number of people who have self-assessed that they are eligible for a pardon under the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Act 2022.

Answer · Angela Constance: The pardon provided for under the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Act 2022 recognises the disproportionate impact felt by former miners and those closest to them, as a result of taking part in the strike. The purpose of the pardon is to remove the stigma …

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Police Scotland's tweet of 19 March 2023, which stated that "A new Emergency Alert mobile phone warning service is being trialled in Scotland from today by the Scottish Government", whether it told Police Scotland that the trial of the UK-wide Emergency Alert system was …

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has been clear in its communication with partners and stakeholders that the Emergency Alerts System is fully funded and owned by the UK Government; and that the Scottish Government has agreed to participate in a trial coordinated by UK…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the UK Government regarding the implementation of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government’s Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) attended the Home Office ESMCP Programme Board on 22 March 2023.

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any official or minister is due to give evidence to the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry.

Answer · Angela Constance: No Scottish Government official or Minister has been called to give evidence to the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry. As the Inquiry is independent of Ministers, it is for the Chair to determine how the Inquiry’s terms of reference are interpreted and direct how th…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the cost of the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry in each financial year since the Inquiry was established.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry publishes its expenditure on a quarterly basis on its website: http://www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/inquiry-costs The latest published figures show that the Inquiry has spent £10.4m since its setting-up date on 30 November 2020 …

23 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many burst allowances have been granted by Scottish Water in each year since 2018.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked Douglas Millican, Chief Executive, to respond. His response is as follows: Since 1 April 2018, Scottish Water has approved 2775 burst allowance applications. The number by year is detailed in …

23 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on (a) what the average wait time was for customers calling Scottish Water’s customer helpline and (b) how many calls were handled, in each year since 2016.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is not required to hold this information. As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked Douglas Millican, Chief Executive, to respond. His response is as follows: The average wait time for customers calling Scottis…

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it is considering to reduce teenage vaping, in light of the Health and Wellbeing Census Scotland 2021-22 finding that one in 10 school pupils in S4 regularly vape.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The results of the Health and Wellbeing Census Scotland 2021-22, and reports from schools and parents about young people vaping, are of great concern to the Scottish Government. Vapes are an age restricted product and should not be sold to anyone under the a…

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15763 by Maree Todd on 22 March 2023, in light of the reported increase in vaping-related illnesses and disorders among young people, whether it will consider recording and holding the data that was requested.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Parliamentary question S6W-15763 asked “how many patients under 18 have been admitted to an NHS facility for vaping-related illnesses or disorders in each year since 2019”. At that time (March 2023) Public Health Scotland (PHS) responded that these data were …

22 Mar 2023 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what feedback it has received from MSPs and their staff regarding the roll-out of Webex.

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): The roll-out of Webex, the new phone system being used to replace our aging phone system at Holyrood, began for MSPs and their staff in February.  While it is still in the early stages, so far feedback from offices using the new system, has been very positive…

21 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of fires attended to by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service that were caused by, or suspected to have been caused by, electric (a) scooters, (b) bikes and (c) cars, in each year since 2017.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are working with key stakeholders and partners to understand the risks that lithium-ion batteries (LIB), contained within most electric vehicles, prese…

21 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that CalMac’s new Ar Turas ticketing system no longer offers the option of a season ticket for residents of the Isle of Cumbrae, what plans are in place to offer suitable and appropriate discounts in line with historic benefits.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: CalMac are focussing their efforts on the Ar Turas Go-Live event. However, TS officials have had an initial meeting with CalMac to investigate potential options for eBooking of multi-journey tickets. This is at an early stage. It is important to note the wide…

21 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15590 by Keith Brown on 14 March 2023, whether it will provide the data that it holds on forced marriage-related offences in Scotland in each year since 2016.

Answer · Angela Constance: Please see the data requested on Police recorded forced marriage related offences in Scotland since 2016 in the following table.  2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Forced marriage under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Polici…

20 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15289 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023, whether it will list the 56 railway stations equipped with defibrillators, and what plans it has to increase the number of defibrillators in public spaces.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Stations fitted with defibrillators to date are: • Aberdeen  • Croy  • Insch  • Morar • Airdrie  • Dalmarnock  • Inverkeithing  • Motherwell • Alexandria  • Dalry  • Inverness  • Mount Florida • Alloa  • Dingwall  • Kilwinning  • Newton • Arb…

20 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scotland-specific findings in the Night Time Industries Association report, Electronic Beats, Economic Treats - The benefits of the electronic music industry to the UK, which was published on 9 February 2023.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government values the contribution the electronic music industry makes to our cultural and economic offer in Scotland. Those in the industry are talented and skilled artists, and are held in high regard. According to the Night Time Industries Ass…

20 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently reported call from NSPCC Scotland for the Scottish Government to develop a comprehensive and coordinated national approach to prevent child sexual abuse.

Answer · Natalie Don: Keeping children safe from abuse and exploitation is a key priority for the Scottish Government. We are committed to ensuring that robust child protection measures are in place across Scotland. That is why we are taking forward a range of work with our partn…

20 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns raised by the Edinburgh Bar Association that as a result of funding issues and staff shortages there have been no new Drug Treatment and Testing Orders imposed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for almost 12 months, leading to drug users being deprived of vital …

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government is aware that drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) services in Edinburgh were temporarily suspended in 2022 and has worked with the local authority and other partners over recent months to understand the issues behind this and offer…

20 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will send representatives to the Scottish Pollinators Conference 2023 on 15 June. 

Answer · Lorna Slater: The third Scottish Annual Pollinator Conference on 15 June 2023 is an online only event organised and staffed by our conservation agency, NatureScot. The 2023 theme is monitoring, with the intention of highlighting pollinator monitoring schemes, and, in line …