Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the occupied range of feral pigs in Scotland, and the extent of any damage being caused by the pigs.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: NatureScot commissioned the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to prepare a non-native species risk assessment as part of their feasibility study into options for controlling feral pigs in Scotland. APHA completed the risk assessment in 2015 and was publi…
7 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to tackle the reported encroachment of muntjac deer in Scotland.
Answer · Lorna Slater: While there is no established population of muntjac in Scotland, NatureScot are cognisant of concerns around their potential impact should that change. We recognise that the two main risks are that either existing populations in other parts of Britain may e…
24 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a complete breakdown of the fee structure for NHS dental payments (a) before and (b) after 1 November 2023.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24861 on 5 February 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-commit…
24 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average length of time between an application being received and a final decision being taken regarding support through the Scottish Dental Access Initiative is for (a) each NHS board area and (b) Scotland as a whole.
Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not recorded by the Scottish Government. Scottish Dental Access Initiative applications are first submitted to the individual NHS Boards for processing and approval. Therefore, the Scottish Government does not have sight of all applicati…
24 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative in the NHS Borders area, and, of those, how many have been successful.
Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Boards are responsible for receiving and approving applications for the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI). Successful applications are then sent to the Scottish Government for processing. As such, the Scottish Government does not hold information…
24 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much grant funding has been awarded through the Scottish Dental Access Initiative in the NHS Borders area, in each year since the scheme began.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has awarded the following amounts since the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) was granted in the NHS Borders area in 2009: Year Amount 2009 £100,000 2010 £100,000 2011 £185,000 2012 0 2013 0 2014 £35,000 2015 0 …
24 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many dental practices, broken down by geographical location, offered NHS services (a) before and (b) after the NHS dental payment reform was introduced on 1 November 2023.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Information in relation to the number of dental practices providing NHS dental services is held by each Health Board.
24 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long NHS Borders has qualified for the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) was introduced in 1997. Over the course of this period, areas of NHS Borders included within the scheme have varied depending on the access to NHS dental services at a particular time. The whole area of NHS Border…
24 Jan 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of annual woodland planting targets have been met in each year since 2017-18.
9 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on future funding for South of Scotland Enterprise.
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Rural Affairs and Islands budget for 2023-24 has been spent, broken down by (a) the £33 million of “Ring fenced rural funding” received from the UK Government and (b) Scottish Government funding.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The final spend for 2023-24 will not be known until year end. The latest budget position for 2023-24 is set out in the Autumn Budget Revision 2023 to 2024: supporting document .
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many civil servants have worked on the Highly Protected Marine Areas proposal and subsequent consultation, broken down by pay band, and (b) what the total cost of civil service resources for work on the proposal and consultation has been, in each month since it was proposed.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: A Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) team was set up within the Marine Directorate in September 2021. While the team contributed to other work programmes, it was principally engaged in the development of HPMA proposals, engaging with stakeholders and the d…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many civil servants have worked on the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill, broken down by pay band, and (b) what the total cost of civil service resources for work on the Bill has been, in each month since it was proposed.
Answer · Gillian Martin: It is not possible to provide information on staffing costs for this work because in line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants, including the number of hours spent on them, are not routinely recorded as there is no bu…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many civil servants have worked on implementing the provisions in the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, broken down by pay band, and (b) what the total cost of civil service resources on implementing the Act has been, in each month since it came into force.
Answer · Gillian Martin: It is not possible to provide information on staffing costs for this work because in line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants, including the number of hours spent on them, are not routinely recorded as there is no bu…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the proposed Land Reform Bill will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As I noted in my response to a question from Jackie Dunbar MSP on 12 December, the Scottish Government remains committed to introducing Land Reform legislation to further improve transparency of land ownership, help ensure large scale land holdings deliver in…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for a licence under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 for (a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands or crops and (b) environmental benefit have been granted.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The following table sets out how many applications for a licence under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 for (a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands or crops and (b) environmental benefit have been granted: Preventing serious damage E…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic impact assessment it has undertaken regarding the introduction of grouse shoot licensing on land in the (a) Aberdeenshire, (b) Angus, (c) Dumfries and Galloway, (d) Highland, (e) Perth and Kinross, (f) Stirling and (g) Scottish Borders Council area.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The economic impacts of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill, which contains provisions to licence the activity of grouse shooting, are set out in the Financial Memorandum to the Bill, and in the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time taken to process a Hunting with Dogs licence is for (a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands or crops and (b) environmental benefit.
Answer · Gillian Martin: NatureScot has received eleven applications to-date for a Hunting with Dogs licence for either (a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands, or crops, or (b) environmental benefit. Of these eleven applications, six have not yet been processed as they…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic impact assessment has been carried out regarding its plan to ban the use of snares.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government held a public consultation on its proposals to prohibit the use of snares and other cable restraints which concluded in October 2023. The consultation highlighted that some individuals and businesses may see cost changes associated wi…
18 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for a licence under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 for (a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands or crops and (b) environmental benefit have been rejected.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The following table sets out how many applications for a licence under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 for (a) preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands or crops and (b) environmental benefit have been rejected. Preventing serious damage …
13 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to establish a specialist endometriosis centre within every NHS board in Scotland.
5 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve social care provision in rural communities.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is undertaking a range of work to improve social care provision across Scotland, including for rural communities. The Self Direct Support (SDS) Improvement Plan 2023-2027 has been developed to make sure that work taking place to impro…
23 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of all the stakeholder groups that it engaged with when producing its paper, Our marine sector in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government engages with a wide range of stakeholders on the future of the marine sector on a very regular basis. This has included, for example, detailed engagement with Scottish seafood stakeholders on Brexit and the new costs and barriers it ha…
22 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any examples of environmental harm caused by the appropriate use of Asulox for the control of bracken in the last 10 years.
Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23236 on 7 December 2023. 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-committ…
22 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any examples of the appropriate use of Asulox for controlling bracken having had a detrimental effect on human health in the last 10 years.
Answer · Lorna Slater: A robust regulatory process governs UK pesticide authorisation and use. Authorisation is granted only where data demonstrates that the proposed use of the product will not have unacceptable effects on human health or the environment. This regulatory approach …
16 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has spoken to any farmers whose crops or livestock have been affected by Storm Babet as part of its Storm Babet recovery taskforce, as of 16 November 2023.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government Ministers and officials have been in frequent contact with farmers and farming representatives regarding the impacts of the extreme weather and severe flooding in October, including Storm Babet. I held a roundtable with NFUS and other agri…
16 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations representing local communities affected by Storm Babet have been part of any meetings involving its Storm Babet recovery taskforce up to 16 November 2023.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The extreme conditions of Storm Babet had significant impacts on a number of local communities in Scotland, particularly Brechin and the Angus Council area. Given the unprecedented nature and scale of the storm’s impacts, a Ministerial Taskforce was establis…
16 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scott…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006 and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants. As a result,…
13 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the just transition secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding whether a national strategy for battery energy storage system sites could form part of Scotland’s plans for a just transition.
7 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to restore a reported £6.6 million reduction in funding to Creative Scotland for 2024-25.