Rachael Hamilton

4 Mar 2020 · 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 have been (i) approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Less Favoured Area Support Scheme   Year Number of Applications Approved Number of Applications awaiting decision 2015 11396 1 2016 11312 3 2017 11153 1 2018 11011 2 2019 Payments not due to start until April applications still being process…

4 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 have been appealed, also broken down by how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Answer · Fergus Ewing:  Less Favoured Area Support Scheme   Year Number of Appeals Appeals Upheld Awaiting Decision 2015 0 0 0 2016 0 0 0 2017 0 0 0 2018 1 0 0 2019 Payments not due to start until April applications still being processed     Agri-Environmen…

3 Mar 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the decision by the National Laundry Programme Board not to maintain a full production laundry service at the Borders General Hospital.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: No proposals relating to the future of NHS laundries have come to Scottish Government ministers to consider because NHS Chief Executives have still to review the business case. It is unlikely that Chief Executives will complete this in the near future given …

25 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to the rural organisations, including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Scottish Land and Estates and the Countryside Alliance, that are instigating a voluntary transition away from lead and single use plastics in shotgun ammunition within…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government welcomes the statement from UK field sports bodies on phasing out the use of lead shot and the use of plastics in shotgun cartridges. We look forward to working with shooting organisations to ensure the highest standards of protection …

25 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement the communities secretary has had with community councils regarding community ownership of land through the Scottish Land Fund.

17 Feb 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to communities affected by recent flooding.

12 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of potential customs checks on the Scotland-England border, in light of comments by the First Minister during an address at the European Policy Centre.

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legislation is in place to ensure that new developments incorporate electric vehicle charging points into infrastructure plans.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: At present there is no specific legislation in place requiring new developments to incorporate electric vehicle charging points into infrastructure plans. However, local authorities in Scotland have a statutory responsibility to prepare Local Development Plan…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the last 10 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers have invested in the region of £54m in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the last 10 years. This has been invested through a range of programs.   Program Investment £m Local Authority Installation Programme 30 Switched On T…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle charging points there are in each local authority area.

Answer · Michael Matheson:  At 31 December 2019 there were 1,226 publicly available charge points registered on Scotland’s electric vehicle charging network ChargePlace Scotland. The following table shows the number of publicly available charge points in each local authority area:   …

20 Jan 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the rise in pollution levels on main thoroughfares in Scotland’s cities.

6 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when new rolling stock will be in operation on the Borders Railway.

16 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the non-domestic rates exemption for private nurseries after 2020.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government introduced a new 100% non-domestic rates relief from 1 April 2018 for all day nurseries in the public, private and charitable sectors. This is one of a series of actions to support private and third sector early learning and childcare …

3 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing concerns that delays in redeveloping parts of the prison estate are presenting significant risks.

26 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action ScotRail is taking to prepare for the festive season.

26 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help bring woodlands back into favourable condition for biodiversity, including by reducing levels of invasive non-native species.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Action to bring woodlands into favourable condition for biodiversity is being taken on a number of fronts, in particular to address the key drivers of unfavourable condition which are inappropriate grazing and invasive species, principally Rhododendron . Sco…

12 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to National Galleries Scotland's decision to end sponsorship from BP.

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate have completed work on their single shared inspection model for early learning and childcare and, if not, when it will be completed.

Answer · Maree Todd: Education Scotland, the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Government have agreed to defer further development of a single shared inspection model for early learning and childcare (ELC) until after the expansion of funded ELC has been fully implemented. Unti…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the review of the curriculum for excellence is expected to be completed.

Answer · John Swinney: We are in the process of developing the terms of reference for the review and therefore a precise timeline has yet to be agreed. Further discussions are needed with the OECD, who I have asked to lead the review, and with national partners through the Curricul…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional childcare staff and workers have been recruited in each local authority since March 2018.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Delivery Progress Report published by the Improvement Service in September 2019 reported that 4,069 full time equivalent additional staff were in place in local authorities across Scotland as at August 2019. The full…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many active child daycare centres have been built in each year since 2009, also broken down by local authority.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold information on this prior to August 2017. Scottish Futures Trust has been collecting data on this since the aforementioned date and this information is provided in the answer to S5W-26303 on 21 November 2019. All answers …

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurseries in each local authority area have been (a) built, (b) expanded and (c) refurbished since August 2017, and how many will be (d) built, (e) expanded and (f) refurbished by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Futures Trust has been tracking progress since August 2017. The following table provides details of projects completed as of November 2019, in relation to how many nurseries and other early learning and childcare facilities have been built, expanded …

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff in the last six months have worked in its (a) Brexit and (b) constitutional affairs policy area, broken down by how many were (i) transferred from its other policy fields, (ii) seconded from its agencies and national public bodies and (iii) hired from external sources.

Answer · Michael Russell: Work on EU Exit permeates the majority of directorates across Scottish Government. Officials undertake this work as part of their normal duties. We collect snapshot information as part of our wider workforce planning processes but do not centrally record numb…

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to help develop tourism in the Scottish Borders, and how much it has provided to the area in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recently invested £1.1m in Glentress for forest tourism development. The Scottish Government also committed £10m in 2018-19 and £13.3 million in 2019-20 to support the South of Scotland Enterprise Partnership and the delivery of South …

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how VisitScotland engages with VisitEngland to develop cross-border tourism links.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: VisitScotland engaged with VisitEngland through the Borderlands Growth Deal ensuring that the Visitor Economy and Collaborative cross-border projects are highlighted as an opportunity. Following the submission of a Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal proposal …

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how VisitScotland ensures that less popular tourist destinations are given appropriate funding to assist with boosting visitor numbers.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: VisitScotland operates a number of funding streams to support local tourism. VisitScotland’s Growth Fund supports collaborative tourism marketing projects that focus on growth in the tourism sector and ensure that visitors experience the true Spirit of Scotl…

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how VisitScotland engages with smaller businesses in developing tourism strategies.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: VisitScotland's Regional Directors, Regional Leadership Directors and Development Managers are tasked with developing and strengthening tourism partnerships within their region. Working in collaboration with local authorities, destination organisations, touri…

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings Transport Scotland has had with Highways England to discuss signage to help improve cross-border tourism.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has not met with Highways England to discuss signage to help improve cross-border tourism.

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated from the Connect Local Regional Food Fund to businesses and projects in (a) the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency and (b) each local authority.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not hold the information in the format requested. Details of all projects, including funding allocation, that have been supported through the Regional Food Fund are published on the Connect Local website. https://connectlocal.sco…

4 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects the completion and operational use of Hull 802, which is under construction at the Ferguson Marine shipyard.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work has set up a Programme Review Board to report on the revised schedule and costs for the delivery of vessels 801 and 802 under construction at Ferguson Marine shipyard. The report is expected to be subm…