Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be reasonable grounds to postpone the passage of legislation through Parliament.
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law, as far as possible within devolved competence. Our intention is to bring the Bill back to Parliament for Reconsider…
1 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made to strengthen the management of the wrasse fishery following the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party Shared Policy Programme commitment to "begin an immediate programme of work to better protect wildlife and the environment".
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Wild harvesting of Wrasse is managed under the licence derogation system introduced following consultation in 2020. In 2021, we added mandatory controls on fishing activity, including obligations for the collection and reporting of data, on a weekly basis, to…
1 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of recently released evidence from NatureScot showing that wrasse is a typical species of rocky reef habitats, which are a Habitats Directive Annex I habitat, and kelp beds, which are categorised as a Priority Marine Feature, what additional wrasse fishery management measur…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Once we report on the 2021 and 2022 fishing seasons, we will undertake discussions with stakeholders via our Regional Inshore Fisheries Group network in order to help determine the effectiveness of existing management measures, and what if any improvements co…
1 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of wild wrasse, and from what source, was included in the latest recorded information on live fish movements to aquaculture facilities.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Marine Scotland management measures for wild harvesting of wrasse mean that only licenced and derogated vessels, in possession of a contract with an aquaculture company, may engage in fishing operations for this species. Those who do so are required to provid…
29 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that teaching staff across all local authority areas receive additional training on neurodiversity including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADD.
29 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an assessment of whether rewilding on deep peat caused by a lack of management risks reducing (a) carbon sequestration and (b) populations of ground nesting bird species.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: There are different forms of active management of vegetation on deep peat including muirburn, cutting and grazing. As far as muirburn is concerned, NatureScot published research earlier this year which reviewed the evidence on the impacts of muirburn on wild…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the letter of 18 November 2022 from the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls regarding the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government received a copy of the letter on the evening of 22 November 2022.
7 Nov 2022 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate the threat of avian influenza outbreaks among domestic poultry populations, in light of its impact on wild bird populations in Scotland.
27 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans it has to introduce legislation in relation to deer management.
Answer · Lorna Slater: We are progressing the recommendations made in the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) report , published in December 2020. The Scottish Government response to the DWG report is at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/news/deer-working-group-response/…
27 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of deer management licences that NatureScot has issued since 1 January 2021.
Answer · Lorna Slater: NatureScot has provided the information below on the number of Deer Authorisations issued between 1 January 2021 to 31 October 2022: Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 Section Purpose No. of Authorisations 10(2) and 10(4) Emergency measures out of season authorisa…
26 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) retriever, (b) cocker spaniel, (c) pointer and setter, (d) hunt, point and retrieve and (e) any other spaniel trials are exempt from the provisions of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill as introduced.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill is concerned with the use of dogs to hunt wild mammals. The Bill does not differentiate between breeds of dogs. Field trials which only involve the hunting of birds are not covered by the provisions of this Bill. For fie…
26 Oct 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consultation on a new Agriculture Bill.
25 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities established a short-term let licensing scheme, as required, by 1 October 2022.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11301 answered on 21 October 2022. 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-an…
24 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Scottish Agritourism Strategy.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I will be addressing the Scottish Agritourism Conference on the 6 December, where I will be giving an update on the progress of the Strategy.
24 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact in Scotland of the Charity Commission’s investigation of the Mermaids charity.
Answer · Shona Robison: Charity law is a devolved matter. Charities registered in Scotland are subject to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 overseen by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Charities registered in England and Wales are regulated…
18 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for flood defences for individual homes, in particular for homes susceptible to flooding.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Grants towards the cost of flood resilient repairs and/or protection measures for individual homes are available from some local authorities. For example, the Scottish Borders Council make flood protection products available through a discount scheme. Further…
21 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its peatland restoration plans.
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will define any harm or ill it seeks to prevent through the licensing of muirburn.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Muirburn undertaken inappropriately has the potential to have serious negative impacts on wildlife, soil quality, carbon sequestration, and the wider environment. These potential negative impacts are outlined in detail in the Muirburn Code. For example, muirb…
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline its (a) rationale and (b) evidential basis for the licensing of muirburn.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government accepted the Grouse Moor Management Group’s recommendation that muirburn should be subject to tighter regulation and only be undertaken under licence. In considering our response to the Grouse Moor Management Group report, we took int…
7 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the responses to its consultation, The use of dogs to control foxes and other wild mammals in Scotland.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The full analysis of the responses to the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill consultation has been completed and a report of the findings will be published on the Scottish Government website shortly.
7 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to undertake a consultation on improving animal transport legislation, and phasing out cages for gamebirds and laying hens, and farrowing crates for pigs.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining high standards of animal welfare. The Scottish Government is currently working closely with the other GB administrations on potential improvements to animal transport legislation and consulting stakeholders …
7 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its Programme for Government 2022-23, whether its proposal to impose a moratorium on evictions will apply to tenants who have been ordered to leave their home as a result of a criminal (a) disposal and (b) court order, including, but not limited to, a domestic abuse prote…
Answer · Shona Robison: The cost crisis is placing huge pressures on households, particularly on those who rent their home. The moratorium on evictions will prevent negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of tenants caused by being evicted and/or being made homeless at a time w…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what metrics it is using to measure the impact of the Regional Land Use Partnerships pilots, and what its assessment is so far of their success.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: We will continue to work with the Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) pilots as they progress towards the delivery of Regional Land Use Frameworks by the end of 2023. Success will be measured in terms of how the pilots meet expectations as set out in the But…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the scale of landholdings affects the ability of land managers to effectively manage deer populations in connection with its consultation, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Deer management is currently carried out across land holdings of varying size from 10Ha to over 10,000Ha. The extent of the deer management and any required collaboration is more dependent on the species and land type rather than any minimum size. For ‘territ…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers increased community ownership will have an effect on the proposals set out in its consultation, Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy, and, if so, in what ways.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Community ownership is an important aim of the Scottish Government and there are numerous examples of communities thriving after being given the opportunity to own and manage their own assets. This leads to better local outcomes, which focus on local needs. I…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the definition of a "family farm" is in its consultation paper, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The consultation document puts forward the following criteria for the purpose of defining a landholding as 'large-scale': a. A fixed threshold of 3000 hectares b. Land that accounts for more than a fixed percentage of a data zone (or adjacent data zones) or…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what methodology it used to determine that 3,000 hectares was the appropriate threshold to categorise an area as a "large-scale landholding" in its consultation paper, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The purpose of the consultation document, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation, is to seek views on a range of proposals for land-related reforms, including specific measures that could be included in the next Land Reform Bill. As part of that, views are sought o…
22 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the research being carried out into the appropriateness of opening the muirburn season in September.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: NatureScot are considering a range of studies regarding the muirburn season when reviewing the evidence for a muirburn licensing system. Research on this topic is continuing and NatureScot will take account of the evidence as it becomes available.
22 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the evidence review of muirburn being carried out by SAC Consulting.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The evidence review of muirburn being carried out by SAC is currently going through NatureScot’s Quality Assurance Process and they will publish the final review shortly once this process has been completed.