Oliver Mundell

17 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will detail what provision of ear wax removal services there are in the NHS (a) in general and (b) for older people.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Ear syringing is no longer the recommended procedure for clinicians due to concerns about uncontrolled water pressure. Instead NICE recommends that patients should be asked to self-administer with ear drops first and follow up care should be irrigation or suc…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the deferred £33 million of ring-fenced agriculture funds will be returned to the budget for the portfolio covering rural affairs and islands.

Answer · Shona Robison: The cost crisis created an unprecedented challenge with the Scottish Government exploring all financial options to support the emergency response to help people and businesses through its Emergency Budget Review (EBR) in 2022. The then DFM and Cabinet Secret…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to ensure that rural communities have access to local GP services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-02058 on? 17 April 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the Official Report can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/officia…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations from the Suckler Beef Climate Scheme: Final Report will be put into effect.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The concept of a Suckler Beef Climate Scheme (SBCS) was one output of the Farmer Led Group initiative, which was followed by the establishment of the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB). The ARIOB is supporting the Scottish Government t…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for slurry storage have been received through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme for 2023.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: 61 Slurry Storage applications will be considered for funding through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme for 2023.

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the issue of marine protection.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scottish Ministers have not met with the Defra Secretary of State to discuss marine protection. I have written to consecutive Defra Secretaries of State on two occasions (June 2022 and October 2022) regarding powers for Scottish Ministers to designate HPMAs i…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it used as evidence for its decision to bring forward licensing of grouse moors in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government have used evidence, data and advice from a range of sources to inform the decision to bring forward legislation to licence grouse shooting in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill. The Policy Memorandum which accompan…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will release a statement on updating legislation on the use of snares.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We will bring forward further proposals on snaring in good time to allow any necessary consultation and introduction at Stage 2 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to monitor the development of new regulations on gene editing (a) in the EU and (b) around the world.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We have been observing the European Commission’s consideration of new genomic techniques with interest, and look forward to further information on their legislative proposals. We note that the Commission has stated these will be published in the second quarte…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Highly Protected Marine Areas in offshore waters around Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I have written to the Defra Secretary of State twice regarding the designation of HPMAs in Scottish offshore waters. A meeting between Scottish Ministers and the Defra Minister of State for Biodiversity, Marine and Rural Affairs is currently being arranged to…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Department for International Trade regarding the interests of Scotland's agricultural sector in future trade negotiations.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has repeatedly made the case, to all relevant departments of the UK Government (in correspondence and in a range of established forums) for a guaranteed role in all stages of the negotiation and implementation of UK Free Trade Agreemen…

21 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the (a) use and (b) provision of sensors in NHS Scotland to monitor blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are aware that flash glucose sensors, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM), and other diabetes technologies can significantly benefit people living with diabetes. Our Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in 2021, contains a key commitment to further increase …

21 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the re-opening of railway stations in Dumfriesshire.  

14 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any COVID-19 reimbursement applications from Cunninghame Housing Association on behalf of contractors, and when it expects any outstanding sums owed to be paid.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Covid-19 support for contractors through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme was a discretionary award dependent on the circumstances of the of individual organisations, developments and contractual arrangements. Cunninghame Housing Association submitted…

8 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to address the situation whereby the available noise budget at Eskdalemuir Seismic Array is being allocated to Section 36 wind farm projects at scoping stage, while wind farm applications to Dumfries and Galloway Council have to wait until the application is submi…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and any decision to amend the seismic noise budget for the array is a decision for the UK Government. The Scottish Government acknowledges the seismic noise budget fo…

28 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reported concerns from the Church of Scotland in relation to the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land, and, if so, what steps it is taking to address these.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is aware of the points raised by the Church of Scotland (hereinafter ‘CoS’) and has been in regular and ongoing contact with CoS on these matters. Officials met with representatives including the Church of Scotland in August last year…

28 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its Covid Recovery Strategy is supporting the tackling of health inequalities, including in relation to accessing key services such as dentistry. 

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Food Standards Scotland’s annual budget has been spent on investigations in each of the last three years.

Answer · Maree Todd: Food Standards Scotland has a dedicated Food and Feed Incident Team comprising a Head of Incidents, an Incident Manager and three incident officers. The team is also assisted by a Support Team comprising a Support Manager and Support Officer. These two indivi…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Food Standards Scotland has spent on investigations in Dumfries and Galloway in each of the last three years.

Answer · Maree Todd: In the last three financial years, Food Standards Scotland has coordinated the response to eighteen food/feed safety incidents which have been investigated by Dumfries and Galloway Local Authority. Three of these incidents have related to the detection of Lis…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria Food Standards Scotland uses to decide whether to (a) launch and (b) continue an investigation into a food producer.

Answer · Maree Todd: FSS use the following to define an incident. “any event where, based on the information available, there are concerns about actual or suspected threats to the safety, quality or integrity of food and/or feed or fraud that could require intervention to protec…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protections are in place for victims of domestic abuse when an exclusion order ends.

Answer · Elena Whitham: Under the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 a spouse can ask the court for an exclusion order to remove the other spouse from the matrimonial home. Civil partners have a corresponding right under the Civil Partnership Act 2004. A c…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many case officers are currently employed by Food Standards Scotland, and what qualifications they require.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Incidents branch sits within the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit in Food Standards Scotland under the direction of the divisional head. The head of Incidents has a team of six incidents officers, each with varying levels of experience. There are no…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent briefings ministers have received regarding listeria in the food chain in Scotland, and whether any strains of listeria have been identified as being of particular concern.

Answer · Maree Todd: I have received three ministerial notes since April 2022 in relation to an ongoing incident of listeria in the food chain. These were dated 1 April 2022, 11 August 2022 and 16 December 2022. Reference is made to a specific strain of listeria which is highly u…

20 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding SEPA receives annually, and what its position is on whether SEPA has the necessary resources to fully exercise all of its statutory functions in a timely manner.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: SEPA’s grant in aid funding from Scottish Government has increased over the last five-year period from £34,936,000 to £41,406,000. SEPA determine the amount of resources allocated to meeting their statutory obligations through their Annual Operating Plan in e…

14 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with the health secretary regarding any disproportionate impact on households experiencing poverty, and any other social justice impacts, of the reported lack of NHS dental care provision in some parts of Scotland.

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason evidence generated throughout the year, in particular through prelims, will reportedly not be able to be used to support an appeal when a pupil underperforms on exam day.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Decisions relating to the operational delivery of the qualifications, including appeals, are a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). While alternative approaches were adopted in 2020, 2021 and 2022, these were temporary, emergency measures …

7 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support the Scottish Qualifications Authority is providing to Ukrainian pupils in Scotland wishing to sit examinations, including with the translation of exam papers.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has confirmed that the approach for Ukrainian students sitting exams in Scotland is consistent with the approach that is taken for all candidates for whom English is an additional language. Any candidates undertakin…

7 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any delays to responding to subject access requests at the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the Scottish Ambulance Service and is kept informed of performance against a range of operational processes, including subject access requests (SARs). The Scottish Ambulance Service deals with a number of SARs e…

7 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions its transport officials have had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the possibility of using the A75 road bridge across the River Annan (River Annan Bridge) as a temporary footbridge.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has recently been made aware of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s internal discussions relating to the possibility of using the A75 160 Annan Road Bridge for foot traffic. Dumfries and Galloway Council has yet to decide whether to make an ap…

7 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce planning application costs for retro-fitted solar panels in domestic properties.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Permitted development rights already allow solar panels to be retro-fitted on domestic properties without a planning application, subject to relevant criteria being met. Permitted development rights grant planning permission for specified types of development…