Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what evidence it considers that the existing timescales for local authorities to establish a short-term let licensing scheme by 1 October 2022 is reasonable and achievable.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government announced in January 2020 that it intended to establish a licensing scheme for short-term lets using powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and we have been engaging with local authorities on implementation of a licensin…
3 Dec 2021 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to treat people with heart valve disease.
26 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04529 by Mairi Gougeon on 26 November 2021, how many hectares of peatland will be restored under the scheme as a result of the 251 successful applications, and how many hectares in total were the subject of the 49 unsuccessful applications.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Agri-environment Climate Scheme (AECS) does not contain a standalone Peatland Restoration option. AECS contributes to peatland restoration indirectly, mainly through the funding of certain capital items. As there is no AECS contract data regarding the ar…
24 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the amount of affordable housing in rural communities, in light of reports that the projects that it is funding have only been able to build 131 homes up to November 2021.
Answer · Shona Robison: Over 6,000 affordable homes were delivered in rural and island areas across Scotland during the last parliamentary term. Our Programme for Government commits to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which at least 70% will be available for social ren…
24 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises are unable to access (a) superfast broadband and (b) full fibre ultrafast broadband, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Through a combination of the £600 million Reaching 100% (R100) contracts, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme and continued commercial coverage, every premises in Scotland will be able to access a superfast broadband connection. We do not hold data on…
24 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote agriculture in the (a) primary and (b) secondary school curriculum, and how much funding has been allocated for this purpose since 2007.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to deliver a broad general education suited to the needs of learners in their own contexts, including on agriculture. For example, the Social Studies Experiences and Outc…
24 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the cost of rural crime to rural communities, broken down by (a) livestock theft, (b) machinery theft, (c) fuel theft and (d) livestock worrying.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not publish information on the costs of rural crime. However, I am aware of the most recent NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report, published in August, which suggested that rural theft cost the UK an estimated £43.3 million in 2020. The …
24 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of livestock worrying have been recorded in each local authority area since 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: Information is available on the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 – which relates to dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land. A table showing the information requested has been prepared and …
23 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support people in education or training in rural areas who have dyslexia.
18 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to establishing a gamekeeping taskforce.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is clear that we expect gamekeepers, alongside other land managers, will play a key role in our plans to protect and restore biodiversity, and ensure that the land is managed to help us mitigate and adapt to climate change. We also rec…
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will commit to expanding agritourism.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government recognises the value Agritourism brings to the Scottish economy and has committed to allow funds of between £50,000 to £80,000 to support a delivery plan for the Agritourism Growth Strategy.
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government in relation to the dualling of the A1.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The section of the A1 between Edinburgh and the border with England is a trunk road and therefore responsibility for investment decisions on the route rests with Scottish Ministers. There has been no recent meaningful engagement with the UK Government on thei…
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hectares of peatland have been restored in each year since 2003, and how this compares to the (a) relevant annual target and (b) overall target.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government first established firm annual peatland restoration targets in 2018 in its report Climate Change Plan: third report on proposals and policies 2018-2032 (RPP3) . Based on a 1990 baseline, this set a commitment to restore 50,000 hectares…
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers who have applied for peatland restoration funding through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in receiving funding.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: To date 251 businesses have been successful and 49 unsuccessful in receiving funding contributing to peatland restoration through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme.
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many successful applications to the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme there were from women in each year for which the scheme was open for applications.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table successful applications to the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme from women in each year for which the scheme was open for applications. Scheme Year Applications successful from women 2016 25 2017 10 2018 26 2019 1
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many successful applications to the New Entrants Capital Grant Scheme there were from women in each year for which the scheme was open for applications.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table displays the number of applications to the New Entrants Capital Grant Scheme from women which were approved in each year of the scheme : NECGS Successful applications from women 2015 1 2016 17 2017 30 2018 80 2019 42
17 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund there have been, and of those how many (a) were approved, (b) were not approved and (c) following appeal, were (i) approved and (ii) not approved.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In total 585 applications for the Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund were received. Of this: - 460 applications were approved. - Where an application was not approved (125 applications), there was always a reason provided, specific to the applic…
16 Nov 2021 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) whether the central register of interests held by the People and Culture Office is (a) published and publicly available in the interests of transparency and (b) monitored regularly to prevent breaches of the code of conduct for SPCB staff, including clerks, and w…
Answer · Jackson Carlaw: The central register of interests is not published. The register is updated as and when new interests emerge and on an annual basis Group Heads are requested to review entries on the register for their staff to ensure that it remains accurate. …
16 Nov 2021 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) how many staff employed by the SPCB have been (a) advised by their office or group head to declare a potential conflict of interest and (b) in a circumstance that might reasonably give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest, due to a financial, political …
Answer · Jackson Carlaw: The process for declaring an interest is outlined in the SPCB staff conduct rules. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to set out standards of behaviour required of SPCB staff. The Code of Conduct is a tool for ensuring that SPCB staff meet their contra…
16 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04175 by Mairi Gougeon on 12 November 2021, how many applications, following appeal, were (a) approved and (b) not approved, in each year since 2015.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04170 on 12 November 2021. 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…
16 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle domestic charge point grants have been provided to customers in the Scottish Borders area, and what the total value is of these grants.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Domestic chargepoint scheme, this scheme provides grant funding to support individuals across Scotland install electric vehicle home chargepoints. To date Energ…
16 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many loans have been provided to customers through the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme to cover the purchase of new electric vehicles in the Scottish Borders area, and what the total value is of these loans.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan, this interest free loan has supported individuals and businesses across Scotland purchase new electric vehicles. As of the 23 rd Nove…
16 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many loans have been provided to customers through the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme to cover the purchase of used electric vehicles in the Scottish Borders area, and what the total value is of these loans.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan. In September 2020, this interest free loan scheme was extended to support individuals and businesses across Scotland purchase used ele…
12 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in and improve the ferry network.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has announced investment of £580m in ports and vessels to support and improve Scotland’s ferry services over the next five years, as part of our wider Infrastructure Investment Plan, unveiled in February 2021. This builds on this Gover…
12 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the age is of each CalMac ferry.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Details of the vessels in fleet operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL), including age, can be found on both the CFL website The Fleet | CalMac Ferries and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) website CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets LtdFerries - CMAL Caledon…
12 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to replace vessels on CalMac services, in light of reports that the average age of each is 23.6 years old, compared with 13 years old in 1974.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has announced £580 million investment in vessels and harbours over the next five years, in addition to the completion of vessels 801 and 802. These plans are set out in the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan published…
3 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03472 by Mairi Gougeon on 3 November 2021, when the Private Storage Aid scheme will be put in place for the pig industry.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Private Storage Aid Scheme (Pigmeat)(Scotland) Regulations 2021 were laid in the Parliament on the 5th of November. The scheme went live on the 9th of November and is now open for applicants.
3 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme there were, and of those how many (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Information relating to the number of applications to the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme, as well as how many were approved and are awaiting a decision are shown in the following table. Scheme Year Applications R'cd Approved Awaiting Decision 2015 5…
3 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme there were, and of those how many (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table displays the number of applications submitted and approved in each scheme year during the period that the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme was open for applications. Scheme Year Applications R'cd Approved Awaiting Decision 2015 30…
3 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the New Entrants Start-Up Grant Scheme there were, and of those how many (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table displays the numbers of applications submitted and approved in each scheme year during the period the New Entrants Start-Up Grant Scheme was open for applications. Scheme Year Applications R'cd Approved Awaiting Decision 2015 47 12 …