Ross Greer

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many projects have received funding from the Nature Restoration Fund, and what the value is of that funding, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) makes funding available through two main strands: the competitive strand administered by NatureScot, and the Edinburgh Process strand, which provides direct allocations to Local Authorities and National Parks.In total, to dat…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment in each local authority area in the West Scotland parliamentary region.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland routinely publishes information on Scottish Child Payment applications, payments and the number of children actively in receipt of the payment by local authority area.As of 30 June 2024, the number of children aged 0-15 years actively…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many journeys have been taken by young people under the age of 22 in (a) Inverclyde, (b) North Ayrshire, (c) West Dunbartonshire and (d) East Dunbartonshire using the concessionary bus travel scheme since its launch.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: As of the end of day 30 September 2024, the amount of journeys made by young people under the Young Persons’ (under 22) Free Bus Travel Scheme since its launch, was (a) Inverclyde – 2,578,637, (b) North Ayrshire – 4,719,775, (c) West Dunbart…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27244 by Jim Fairlie on 13 May 2024, whether it will provide an update on how many concessionary bus passes have been issued to young people under the age of 22 since the launch of the scheme in (a) Inverclyde, (b) North Ayrshire, (c) West Dunb…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: As of 1 October 2024 the number of valid cardholders under the Young Persons’ (under 22) Free Bus Scheme was (a) Inverclyde – 11,793, (b) North Ayrshire – 20,581, (c) West Dunbartonshire – 14,156 and (d) East Dunbartonshire – 14,…

1 Oct 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what would be required for the frequency of service on the Milngavie rail line to return to quarter-hourly throughout the day, as was the case before the COVID-19 pandemic.

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many residential properties for which a right of lease in land is registered and granted for a period of more than 175 years were not converted to ownership under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) Report on Conversion of Long Leases (2006). Report on Conversion of Long Leases (Scot Law Com No 204) provides several tables on the number of leases and the variations o…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward legislation or regulation in respect of the legal status of residential properties for which a right of lease in land is registered and granted for a period of more than 175 years and were not converted to ownership under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has no plans to bring forward legislation on long leases at this time.The Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012 converted certain ultra-long leases (over 175 years long) with an unexpired duration of 100 years (on the appointed day) into out…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to those living in residential properties for which a right of lease in land is registered and granted for a period of more than 175 years and were not converted to ownership under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not offer support for individuals whose lease did not meet the criteria to convert under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.Individuals with leases which did not convert should consider making contact with their landlord to estab…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government with whom it has met to discuss a potential power of general competence for local government, and on how many occasions.

Answer · Shona Robison: As part of discussions around the development of a fiscal framework, and in direct response to specific requests to explore a general power of competence, both officials and Ministers have held numerous meetings with COSLA, SOLACE and Local Government represe…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its policy of opposition to unconventional oil and gas extraction, or fracking, continues to apply in Green Freeports.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Ministers announced their finalised position of no support for unconventional oil and gas, commonly known as fracking, in 2019 having concluded that it is incompatible with our policies on climate change, energy transition and the decarbonisation of …

18 Sep 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with East Dunbartonshire Council regarding the condition of Milngavie Primary School.

16 Sep 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the decision by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park regarding the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application. 

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S6W-27753 by Mairi McAllan on 3 June 2024, by what date it expects to (a) receive and (b) publish the full report from Petroineos regarding the ground investigation into the pipeline leak in Glen Fruin in January 2024.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The ground investigation report is being prepared by Petroineos for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The Scottish Government would not expect to receive it formally and has no plans to publish it, as this is an operational matter for SEPA.We…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who it has sought advice from on the policy of issuing bonds to fund additional spending.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government sought advice from the Investor Panel on how we can attract investment to Scotland that supports our transition to net zero, and bring investor intelligence to policy and regulatory development early in the process. One of the recommen…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the relative value of issuing bonds versus borrowing via the National Loans Fund.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is continuing with its due diligence process, which includes a value for money assessment.

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to begin issuing bonds, as announced by the previous First Minister.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government remains committed to taking forward a Bond issuance subject to ongoing due diligence.This will be done in line with our Capital Borrowing strategy and the objectives we published in December 2023 in the Memorandum available at Scottish…

12 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that any guidance produced pursuant to section 23 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 will be published.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The duty to prepare and publish guidance under section 23 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 falls on VisitScotland. We anticipate they will send a draft of the guidance to Scottish Ministers in the next few weeks.

12 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a local authority can introduce a visitor levy scheme where the guidance referred to in section 23 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 has not been published.

Answer · Tom Arthur: A local authority can introduce a visitor levy scheme where the statutory guidance produced under section 23 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 has not been published.

12 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a local authority can undertake the actions specified in section 13 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 where the guidance referred to in section 23 of the act has not been published.

Answer · Tom Arthur: There is no requirement under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 for guidance made under section 23 of the Act to be published before a local authority consults on potential visitor levy scheme.

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what matters of human rights and equalities were discussed by the First Minister and the Chinese ambassador at their meeting in Bute House in August 2024.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Ministers regularly raise concerns about human rights abuses with the Chinese government. The First Minister reiterated these concerns in his meeting with Ambassador Zheng Zeguang.

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, during the meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Bute House in August 2024, whether the First Minister raised the issue of reported threats from the Chinese consulate in Scotland to Scottish universities in relation to the City of Edinburgh Council entering into a friendship agreement …

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government take seriously reports of pressure being put on universities in relation to a proposed arrangement between the City of Edinburgh Council and Kaohsiung. The decision as to whether to enter a friendship arrangement with Kaohsiung is for …

31 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to begin consultation on its previously proposed cruise ship levy.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government plans to launch a public consultation on a cruise ship levy before the end of the year, to formally hear the views of those potentially affected by such a levy.

31 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27745 by Graeme Dey on 6 June 2024, what its position is on whether all current college principal salary and remuneration packages meet its expectation of "value for money, affordability and sustainability".

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28357 on 23 July 2024. 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-committees…

31 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27748 by Jenny Gilruth on 4 June 2024, when the relationships, sexual health and parenthood education consultation analysis will be published.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The relationships, sexual health and parenthood education consultation report will be published in the coming weeks. I will ensure the member is sent a link to the report when it is published.

31 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made to date against the actions contained in its Learning for Sustainability Action Plan.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The refreshed Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Action Plan was published in June 2023. The Learning for Sustainability Leadership Group – which meets quarterly – is overseeing delivery. The Leadership Group commenced an annual stocktake process in July to as…

30 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to introduce a cruise ship levy.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Government is open to giving local authorities the power to introduce a cruise ship levy. We will therefore be engaging with local authorities, the cruise ship industry, and others over the coming months to explore this issue further and develop more deta…

30 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to progress the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government's previously-stated commitment to exploring a power of general competence for local government.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continue to work at pace with COSLA to develop a Fiscal Framework underpinned by an Accountability and Assurance Framework. The concept of a power of general competence for local government is a consideration in those discussions. Thi…

30 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have made a request under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to transfer funds into their Housing Revenue Account since 1999, and how many of any such transfers were authorised by the Scottish Ministers.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Between 1999 and 2023, 28 of the 32 Local Authorities transferred funds into their Housing Revenue Account. It is important to note that Ministerial consent is not necessarily required for such transactions and would depend on the fund from which the transfer…

29 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government with which (a) organisations and (b) individuals it has engaged regarding the potential reintroduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement for large retailers in advance of the 2025-26 Budget, as set out in the 2024-25 Budget.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the Budget, the Scottish Government has had exploratory discussions with a range of business and public health stakeholders. This includes Alcohol Focus Scotland, British Heart Foundation, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems in their roles as mem…

18 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the values of the fixed monetary penalties, which are issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and set by the Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Order 2015.

Answer · Gillian Martin: There are no plans to review the monetary penalties at this time. It should be noted however that SEPA continues develop relationships with relevant parties with the aim of taking a prevention-based approach, where penalties are viewed as a last resort. Whi…