Rachael Hamilton

17 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making in delivering digital connectivity in (a) the Scottish Borders and (b) other rural and remote areas, and whether it is on target to deliver 100% coverage by 2020.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Latest figures show that 78.9% premises in the Scottish Borders have access to fibre broadband, with 76.4% capable of receiving superfast speeds. These percentages assume that commercial rollout is completed on time and in line with plans submitted to the Sco…

14 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many acid attacks there have been in each of the last five years, and what action it is taking to reduce the number of and prevent such attacks.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on the number of acid attacks over the last five years is not held centrally. Where someone uses acid or other corrosive substances to attack another person, a range of general criminal offences can be used to prosecute including the common law of…

3 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when proposals for the south of Scotland enterprise agency will be presented to the Parliament.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In legislative terms we intend to introduce primary legislation in this Parliament to bring into effect a new public body, the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency. Recognising the time required for the parliamentary passage of a Bill, which is, of course, dep…

27 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the implementation of expanded early learning and childcare; how it is ensuring that childminders are included in this, and what guidance regarding the inclusion of childminders it has produced or plans.

Answer · Mark McDonald: On 23rd March 2017 we published our Blueprint for 2020 Action Plan. This sets out 31 key steps we will take in 2017-18 to progress delivery on our commitment to nearly double funded early learning and childcare entitlement to 1140 hours a year by 2020, for el…

27 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the implementation of the recommendations of the report, Getting the Best From our Land: A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021, and how this is impacting on the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: An online Reporting Framework has been developed to provide easily accessible information on the progress being made with the delivery of the Land Use Strategy 2016 – 2021. This framework will be available on the Scottish Government website this summer. The …

13 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the tourism industry will be of the rise in business rates.

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) benefits and (b) other financial support it makes available to deaf people, including what financial help it provides towards the purchase of specialised mobile telephones and other devices.

Answer · Maureen Watt: A range of benefits are being devolved to Scotland through the Scotland Act 2016, though at present the Scottish Government does not deliver any benefits specifically for deaf people. The Scottish Government has committed to putting dignity and respect back i…

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what procedures are in place to ensure that schools provide a safe environment for their students and staff, free from all forms of discrimination.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government want all children and young people to be free from discrimination so that they can learn and reach their full potential. That is why education in Scotland is underpinned by polices and legislation which have equality and diversity at t…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is it taking to encourage apprenticeships in the agricultural sector and what information it has regarding how many people (a) started and (b) completed an apprenticeship in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government's Skills Agency, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has been proactive in promoting the opportunities available for Modern Apprenticeships (MA) in the agricultural sector through a number of initiatives including the following: SDS has…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to prevent businesses from being displaced by social enterprises.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that all business make, including social enterprise, to creating a more successful economy with opportunities for all to flourish. We will continue to support inclusive growth, consistent with Scotl…

20 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact independence would have on Scotland's public finances.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In contrast, the UK Government’s apparent desire for a hard Brexit risks doing permanent damage to Scotland’s economy, and will in turn have profound implications for our ability to invest in Scotland’s public finances.

7 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is helping to deliver the tourism industry’s key ambition of making Scotland a first choice destination for high quality, value for money and memorable customer experiences, and what ambitions it has for more of Scotland’s people to obtain World Host status.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Government Economic Strategy identifies tourism as a key growth sector and the Scottish Government is therefore assisting public bodies to support the tourism sector, right across Scotland, via the industry-led Scottish Tourism Alliance “Tourism Scotland …

23 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to promote sporting activities to help boost tourism.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The industry-led “Tourism Strategy 2020” identifies events (including sporting events) and festivals as a key growth opportunity. The Scottish Government, together with its agencies and bodies (including SportScotland) and with VisitScotland’s Events Directo…

23 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage participation in mountain biking, and how it works with local authorities in conjunction with this.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: A wide range of public bodies, including representatives from local authorities, promote mountain biking through Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBiS). DMBiS is a partnership project which is hosted within Scottish Cycling, the recognised governing b…

21 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports tourism in rural areas, and what impact the rural economy hub could have on this.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of tourism to the economy of our rural areas. Its development is supported through the work of a range of public bodies, for example, VisitScotland's national and international marketing campaigns; busin…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the £10 million in the Workforce Development Fund will be spent, broken down by (a) sector and (b) local authority to achieve its aim to help employers work in partnership with colleges to upskill and reskill their existing workforce and address skills gaps.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The detail of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund is currently being shaped through a process of engagement with key stakeholders and employers. Further details will be released in due course.

10 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the skills gap.

9 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses will pay the Large Business Supplement in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18 and how much it will raise through the supplement.

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is estimated that around 22,000 premises will pay the supplement in 2017-18 which is 8,000 less than 2016-17. It is estimated that the Large Business Supplement will raise £125million in 2016-17 and £126million in 2017-18.

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its report, Research on the Pub Sector in Scotland - Phase 1 Scoping Study, when it will engage in discussions between the relevant trade bodies and other interested parties to help reverse the reported decline in the public sector.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I intend to meet with a wide range of relevant stakeholder interests in the early part of 2017 to discuss the research findings and to listen to those within the Pub industry’s views of their aspirations for the future and the role that Scottish Government ca…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is considering to reverse the reported decline in the pub sector.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government published its research findings on 6 December and I intend to meet with relevant interests to discuss these findings and how we can work together to create a more successful pub sector, reflecting the particular make-up of the sector i…

14 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support hotel businesses.

6 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is constitutional stability.

28 Nov 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect children involved in football from sexual abuse.

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00314 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 November 2016, what responsibilities lie with landowners in the absence of a species control order.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is no legal duty placed on landowners to clear their land of invasive non-native species. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence for a person to deliberately or accidently release any animal, or cause to allow any plant to grow in th…

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the review of the number, structure and regulation of NHS boards.

Answer · Shona Robison: This Government is committed to reviewing the number, structure and regulation of both territorial and special health boards and their relationships with local councils. The detail of this work has yet to be finalised but will form part of our broader transfo…

22 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide specific policy advice for planning authorities to assist in considering planning applications for crematoria.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Following the report of an Independent Panel earlier this year, we will publish a consultation paper on potential changes to the planning system in Scotland in the next few weeks. Following that consultation we will bring forward proposed changes to the plann…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to raise awareness of the new ratable values that will be introduced in April 2017.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Rating valuation is for the Assessors, who will publish provisional 2017 revaluations online at www.saa.gov.uk in due course, ahead of posting final valuation notices to properties from March 2017. The Scottish Government will promote awareness via the Scotti…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it will provide for road improvements.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The funding for Road Improvements referred to in the budget document covers strategic road safety and Traffic Scotland (including maintenance of Intelligent Transport Systems infrastructure) and is expected to be maintained at the current annual level of £16 …

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability of Scotland's transmission network.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not have formal responsibility for electricity networks which is reserved to the UK Government and overseen by the independent regulator Ofgem. However, Scottish Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Scottish transmissi…

9 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to resolve the reported backlog of cases in the Scottish courts.