Parliamentary questions

Rachael Hamilton

1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Forestry 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 McAllan: The following table provides information on how many applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme there have been, how many have been approved and how many are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015. FGS Case Approval Status Calendar Year Total 2015…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Beef Efficiency 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 for the Beef Efficiency Scheme. There was one application window, which was 2016. Scheme Year Applications R'cd Approved Awaiting Decision 2016 2183 1580 0

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There is no formal right to request an appeal under the Rural Payments (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulation 2015 as these do not apply to the rejection of an application for a contract. If applicants query the reason for the rejection of an application then local …

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the New Entrants Start-Up Grant Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The following table provides information on how many applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme have been rejected, in how many cases the applicant formally requested a review of the approval decision, how many reviews have been upheld and how many are awaitin…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Beef Efficiency Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The application process for the Beef Efficiency Scheme was different to other schemes in as much as it was dependent on the applicant being able to meet the simple criteria for the scheme, and businesses having the ability to update the information submitted …

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Slurry Storage Agri-Environment Climate 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 summarises the number of Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications received, applying specifically for Slurry Storage and of those how many were (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015. The fi…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Improving Public Access Agri-Environment Climate 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 summarises the number of Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications received, applying specifically Improving Public Access (IPA), and of those how many were (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 20…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Organic Farming Agri-Environment Climate 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 summarises the number of Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications received, applying specifically for Organic Farming options, and of those how many were (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Slurry Storage Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table summarises the rejected Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications, specifically Slurry Store, that have been appealed. It records the number of applications that were (a) upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision,…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Improving Public Access Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table summarises the rejected Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications, specifically Improving Public Access (IPA), that have been appealed. It records the number of applications that were (a) upheld following appeal and (b) are awa…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Organic Farming Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table summarises the rejected Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications, specifically Organic Farming, that have been appealed. It records the number of applications that were (a) upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decisi…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision. Please note the L…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision. Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are stil…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the data that shows the efficacy of the Hawick flood defences that are soon to be completed.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The data about the efficacy of the Hawick flood defences is not held by the Scottish Government. The scheme is being taken forward and constructed by Scottish Borders Council and they will be able to provide the relevant data.

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Water and SEPA last conducted a river profile assessment of the Liddel Water through Newcastleton.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The most recent cross section survey of the Liddel Water was commissioned by Scottish Borders Council in 2017. This survey was carried out as part of the flood study for Newcastleton. As part of the flood study, SEPA also provided Scottish Borders Council wit…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Water last undertook an assessment and upgrade of the drainage in Newcastleton.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Monitoring has found previous flooding incidents in Newcastleton to be due to recurring blockages in the network which Scottish Water’s Sewer Response Team duly attended and cleared. Scottish Water is also aware that more recent incidents have arisen from sev…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the James Hutton Institute in each year since 2011.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Details of Scottish Government funding provided to The James Hutton Institute (JHI) is published in their Annual Financial statements available on their website at The James Hutton Institute | Science connecting land and people

29 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to address heat pump installations being put on hold or cancelled due to delays in upgrading power supplies.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government works closely with Ofgem and the network companies to ensure timely network investment adequate to support the transition to net zero across all sectors, including heat in buildings. In March this year the Scottish Government published…

29 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with the UK Government on the delivery of low-carbon alternatives to gas boilers, such as heat pumps.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government is already working with the UK Government across a number of policies to support delivery of low-carbon alternatives to gas boilers. This includes engagement in relation to the UK Government’s proposed market-based mechanism for low ca…

29 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it plans to invest in the installation of heat pumps in homes as a replacement for gas boilers.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has committed to invest at least £1.8 billion over the course of this parliament to support energy efficiency and zero emissions heat. Final spending to support households replacing gas boilers with heat pumps over this period will dep…

29 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help is available for people with oil-based heating systems, who primarily live in rural areas without mains gas supplies, who wish to access grants or loans to replace their heating systems with heat pumps.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government, through Home Energy Scotland, provides loans with cashback grants to enable households in all parts of Scotland to install zero emissions heating systems, including heat pumps. The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan and Cashback scheme …

26 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to set the wood moisture content limit for the sale of firewood to 25% in any legislation that it introduces in this area, in light of reported concerns that a lower limit would not protect small firewood businesses in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04012 on 11 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…

26 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposal in its consultation paper, Cleaner Air For Scotland 2, published in October 2020, to decrease the moisture content limit for the sale of firewood to 20%, what its response is to reported concerns that producers could only ensure compliance with a 20% limit by ki…

26 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to decrease the moisture content limit for the sale of firewood to 20%, as set out in its consultation paper, Cleaner Air For Scotland 2, published in October 2020, and, if so, whether it will provide details of the reasons for choosing the 20% limit, in light of hardwoo…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government published its new air quality strategy ‘Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 – Towards a Better Place for Everyone’ in July this year. The strategy sets out a wide variety of actions. One action is to work with businesses, and others that might …

25 Oct 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of COP26, what action the Scottish Government is taking to showcase the role that Scottish agriculture can play in reducing carbon emissions.

20 Oct 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people across the Scottish Borders receive their COVID-19 booster vaccinations.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The primary objective of the Autumn and Winter vaccination programme is to maintain protection against severe COVID-19 and seasonal flu, specifically reducing the risk of hospitalisation and deaths, by protecting the most vulnerable. The Joint Committee on V…

12 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on free dyslexia tests for adults.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There has been no change in the Scottish Government’s position and we are not currently able to offer support in the funding of adult Dyslexia assessments. However, wider support is provided for people with Dyslexia – including funding for Dyslexia Scotland t…

7 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many female butchers there are in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Quality Meat Scotland estimate that there are around 15-20 female butchers currently working in Scotland. As part of work that Quality Meat Scotland and other stakeholders are doing on encouraging careers in the butchery sector, they are about to survey all i…