Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the implementation of a four-tiered agricultural payment structure, as consulted on in relation to the Agriculture Bill, would require the appointment of external consultants in order to administrate such a system.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government is leading on development of the new payment system, and the intention is to create a system that is streamlined, accessible, and administered internally.
8 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold more online events on the Agriculture Bill in 2023.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Engagement on the Bill, on the Bill proposals, and on the wider Agriculture Reform Programme is constant and extensive. The Agriculture Reform Programme is currently hosting engagement sessions across Scotland to hear from farmers and crofters and increase a…
8 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the minutes that were taken during each of its online events for the Agriculture Bill in 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the Agriculture Bill - Analysis of Consultation Responses which details the findings of this extended engagement.
7 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deer there are in Scotland.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The review of deer management by the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) found that deer populations in Scotland have grown significantly since 1990, when the population estimate was approximately 512,000 wild deer. The DWG estimated the current deer populat…
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total level of attendance was at the online events for its proposed Agriculture Bill that were held on 29 September, 27 October and 9, 15 and 16 November 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the Agriculture Bill - Analysis of Consultation Responses which details the findings of this extended engagement and total number that attended the events.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold more public workshops on its proposed Agriculture Bill in 2023.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Ministers have no plans at present for further bill workshops. The Agriculture reform programme is currently hosting engagement sessions across Scotland to hear from farmers and crofters, and increase awareness of Agricultural Reform. The Agricultural Refor…
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the minutes that were taken at each of its public workshops on its proposed Agriculture Bill.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the Agriculture Bill - Analysis of Consultation Responses which details the findings of this extended engagement.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total level of attendance was at the workshops on its proposed Agriculture Bill that took place in 2022 on 5 October in Inverness, 6 October in Skye, 25 October in Inverurie, 1 November in Oban, 3 November in Melrose, 8 November in Stirling, 10 November in Dumfries, 14 November …
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the Agriculture Bill - Analysis of Consultation Responses which details the findings of this extended engagement and total number that attend the events.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the view expressed in responses to the consultation on its proposed Agriculture Bill that the proposed payment system could be complicated or unwieldy for some users, what measures it is taking to adapt the proposed four-tier payment system to take such views into account.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A consultation on the Bill’s proposals ran from 29 August 2022 to 5 December 22, where a wide range of views were received. On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the Agriculture Bill - Analysis of Consultation Responses which details the findin…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to award compensation to people who undertook Asulox treatments legally before the emergency authorisation was refused in June 2023.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Scottish Ministers agreed to HSE refusing the 2023 emergency authorisation application for the use of the herbicide Asulox, to control bracken, because of the risks it poses to the environment and human health. There is no reason to suggest compensation for…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether doubling the total amount of land under organic management will have a positive or negative impact on (a) greenhouse gas emissions and (b) Scotland’s reliance on food imports.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to doubling the land area devoted to organic farming by 2026 and supporting the growth of organic food production in Scotland, in recognition of the benefits of nature-friendly farming practices. The Scottish Government is…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of Scotland's dependence on imports of plant proteins.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20927 on 19 September 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-commi…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of food health and nutrition.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20927 on 19 September 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-commi…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of increasing the resilience of crops to diseases and pests, and improving yields and reliability.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20927 on 19 September 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-commi…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of improving the sector's efficiency and profitability.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20927 on 19 September 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-commi…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of improving biodiversity.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20927 on 19 September 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-commi…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of reducing carbon emissions.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20927 on 19 September 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-commi…
30 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any benefits of gene editing for the Scottish agriculture and horticultural sectors in terms of nitrogen efficiency.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government commissioned a review of gene editing for the benefit of plant health, published in January 2022, from the Plant Health Centre. The review included evidence gathering and participation from a wide range of Scottish academics and resear…
29 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what grounds the Energy Consents Unit would reject an application to build a battery storage site.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Decisions on applications for section 36 consent are made on a case-by-case basis, weighing consideration of the benefits and impacts of the proposal, relevant policy, and all other material considerations.
29 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for battery storage sites have been rejected by the Energy Consents Unit between 2013 and 2023.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Applications for the construction and operation of onshore electricity generating stations with an installed capacity in excess of 50 megawatts are made to Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. No such applications made for generati…
29 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Energy Consents Unit assesses the potential impact on communities of battery storage sites that are to be built around them when approving or denying an application.
Answer · Gillian Martin: An applicant is expected to undertake pre application consultation prior to submission of an Electricity Act application for construction of a battery storage development. Such pre application allows local communities to have their say at an early stage, and …
22 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to quantify the impact of women's health leads in the NHS.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board is the decision making body responsible for the delivery of the Women’s Health Plan programme. The Board provides strategic oversight of the programme and ensures that the actions outlined in the Plan are…
22 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in women's health since the appointment of women's health leads in each NHS board.
Answer · Jenni Minto: A short update paper has recently been provided to the Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board. The ‘Women’s Health Plan: Interim Progress Update’ describes further progress made since the Report on Progress, which was published in January 2023. T…
22 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria, in relation to experience and skills, were applied in the appointment of women's health leads in each NHS board.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The appointment of Women’s Health Leads is an important cross cutting action in the Women’s Health Plan. It is for NHS Boards to identify their women’s health leads according to local need and priority and with reference to the aims set out in the Plan.
18 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the definition of adultery to include homosexual relations outside of marriage for the purposes of divorce proceedings.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: No. The Scottish Government understands that, for the purposes of the law of divorce, adultery is defined in the common law (case law) as voluntary heterosexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse. The issues relating t…
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of stakeholder organisations that it has consulted with regarding the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023.
Answer · Lorna Slater: We held a written consultation from May – June 2023 on proposed changes to night sights, ammunition weights and close seasons for male deer. The full Deer Management Round Table was invited to respond to this consultation. Responses will be published on the S…
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the potential animal welfare issues that could arise as a result of the normalisation of culling deer at night.
Answer · Lorna Slater: As outlined in response to S6W-20504 on 1 September 2023, culling deer at night can only be done under authorisation from NatureScot. In order to be authorised to shoot deer at night applicants must be able to evidence fit and competent status and comply with…
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence there is to support the use of ultra-high frequency electronic identification (EID) technology as a means of identification for Scottish beef, and whether it has considered other methods of EID.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Ultra High Frequency (UHF) electronic identification (EID) for cattle has been trialled progressively in Scotland over the past decade through an Industry led Bovine EID ‘pilot’. The findings from this pilot, which has also considered Low Frequency (LF) techn…
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to hold a summit on tackling violence in schools.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Details of the upcoming summit have been confirmed with the Education, Children and Young People Committee. In order to provide opportunity for sufficient depth of discussion across core topics, a multi-stage approach is planned, with the first taking place …
8 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered any evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, that would suggest that a reduction of the minimum weight of bullet permitted to be used in the culling of deer could lead to increased suffering by the animal when shot.
Answer · Lorna Slater: NatureScot undertook a trial into minimum bullet weights to shoot deer to ensure that animal welfare would not be compromised. We considered this, alongside advice from NatureScot on deer welfare when making these proposals. A copy of that report is availab…