Finlay Carson

21 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress SEPA has made in ensuring that all operators comply with licence conditions requiring free passage of migratory fish at large impoundments.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government as this is an operational matter for the independent Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I have therefore asked SEPA’s Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide deta…

21 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times SEPA has reported environmental incidents to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service under the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 in each year since its enactment, and how many subsequent (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03232 on? 4 October 2021 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .  

15 Sep 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position regarding short-term lets licensing.

15 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to report on work being carried out by the High Level Group on Planning Performance towards windfarm timescales. 

Answer · Tom Arthur: The High Level Group on Planning Performance aims to improve the performance of the planning system for all types of development. It does not have a workstream which focuses specifically on the processing of windfarm applications. As highlighted in the respon…

15 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out regarding the resourcing and performance of the planning system involving windfarm applications, and when it will report on any such work.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to S6W-02645 on 14 September 2021 which set out that the resourcing and performance of the planning system remain key priorities, and we recently recommenced work looking at increasing the financial resources available to plan…

13 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to reducing business rates for ATM providers, and, in light of reports that ATMs require more than 3,500 withdrawals per month to be financially sustainable, what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to encourage ATM providers to continue a service in …

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government have continued to ensure that the sites of standalone ATMs in rural areas are exempt from rating. Other ATMs may benefit from as much as a 100% rates relief through the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Under the Community Empowerment (Sc…

10 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) timetable and (b) process is for identifying potential new National Parks in Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Our Programme for Government 2021-22 commits to the creation of at least one new National Park by the end of this Parliament, provided relevant legal conditions can be met. This is a significant project which will involve widespread consultation, Parliamenta…

10 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consideration it (i) has given and (ii) plans to give and (b) research it has undertaken regarding the impact of onshore windfarm developments on tourism.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has no current plans to undertake research into the impact of onshore windfarms on tourism. As answered previously (S6W-02641 on 6 September 2021) our entire economic strategy is focused on sustainable and inclusive growth. While there…

10 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what budget it has allocated to progressing its plans to establish new National Parks in Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: In our Programme for Government we have committed £500 million over the course of this Parliament to protect and restore our natural environment. This includes funding to create a new National Park and to improve visitor facilities, safety measures and access…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP vacancies there are; where they are located, and what plans it has to recruit GPs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The numbers of vacancies for GP posts are not held centrally, as this is a matter for individual independent GP contractors as employers. We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland with more per 100,000 population than the rest of UK . We are committ…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure delivery on contractual obligations to provide (a) musculo-skeletal, (b) urgent care practitioners and (c) primary mental health nurses to all GP practices by 2021, and whether additional funding has been provided to NHS boards to enable delivery of thi…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our shared priorities with the BMA were set out in the joint letter of 02 December 2021. https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/DC20201203GMS_Contract.pdf This letter sets out the actions we are taking across all the work streams supporting the 2018 GP …

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices there are, and what percentage of these practices currently have (a) musculo-skeletal practitioners, (b) primary care mental health nurses and (c) urgent care practitioners, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As at 1 July 2021 there were 922 general practices in Scotland. NHS Board Number of practices Ayrshire & Arran 54 Borders 23 Dumfries & Galloway 32 Fife 54 Forth Valley 51 Grampian 70 Greater Glasgow & Clyde 234 Highland 96 Lanarkshire 100…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the creation of new national parks.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government believe that our National Parks bring many positive benefits to our environment and our economy, which is why our Programme for Government 2021-22 commits to the creation of at least one new National Park by the end of this Parliament,…

1 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support rural health services following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

30 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some local authorities do not have the capacity to consider planning applications for windfarms within the legal timescales.

Answer · Tom Arthur: In 2021-22 the Scottish Government allocated £11.7 billion to authorities and it is the responsibility of individual councils to manage their own budgets and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities. So…

30 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbines, and of what generating capacity, will be required to meet its net zero targets.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We expect the journey to net zero to require major contributions from a range of renewable sources, which will include onshore and offshore wind turbines, but also other generation technologies such as solar, hydro and marine renewables. Our work to refresh t…

30 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a moratorium on windfarm development, pending the changes to the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a moratorium on windfarm development. As set out in our position statement last year, we need to rebalance our planning system so that climate change is a guiding principle for all plans and decisions. We exp…

30 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned on the effects of windfarm development on tourism.

Answer · Ivan McKee: In line with our economic strategy, our aim for the Scottish tourism sector is to enable sustainable and inclusive growth. Whilst there has been no recent research into the effects of windfarm development on tourism in Scotland, VisitScotland research does ho…

24 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding what clinical trials are taking place on the early treatment of COVID-19 using vitamins and/or drugs to help reduce the number of people requiring hospitalisation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The UK-wide Principle Trial (Platform Randomised Trial of Treatments on the Community for Epidemic and Pandemic Illness) funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is looking at early treatment for COVID-19 to prevent ill health and hospitali…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish details of the bid process for the creation of Green Ports.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00986 on 23 June 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-committees…

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has determined in the last 24 months due to a local authority's non-determination, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The number of wind farm applications determined in the last 24 months due to a local authority's non-determination, broken down by local authority area, are set out in the following table: Planning Authority Appeals Allowed Appeals Dismissed Dumfries and …

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has approved through the applicant appeal process in the last 24 months, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The number of wind farm applications approved through the appeal process in the last 24 months, by local authority area, are set out in the following table: Planning Authority Appeals Allowed Appeals Dismissed Aberdeenshire Council 1 0 Argyll and Bute …

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has (a) approved, or (b) refused in the last 24 months, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The information requested is given in the following table: Planning Authority Applications Allowed Applications Refused Argyll and Bute council 3 2 Dumfries and Galloway Council 5 2 East Ayrshire Council 3 0 Highland Council 7 2 Moray Council …

10 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when family members who are double-vaccinated against COVID-19 and wearing face coverings and outdoors will be able to take a burial cord at a funeral in a level 1 protection area.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understands how difficult ongoing restrictions at funeral services are for those who are bereaved and wish to pay their final respects to a loved one. We continue to review all of the funeral restrictions on a regular basis taking int…

10 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when restrictions relating to burials will be reviewed to reflect the most update situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understands how difficult ongoing restrictions at funeral services are for those who are bereaved and wish to pay their final respects to a loved one. We continue to review all of the funeral restrictions on a regular basis taking int…

8 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that women who are pregnant, following the death of a baby, are prioritised for access to the continuity of carer model.

Answer · Maree Todd: Our review of maternity and neonatal services, The Best Start: A Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, recommended that all women receive continuity of maternity and obstetric care. The roll out of continuity of carer has started…

2 Jun 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it next expects to make an investment announcement for road and rail infrastructure in the South of Scotland.

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there are sufficient levels of iron in school meals.

Answer · John Swinney: The nutrient standards in The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 require that menus provide children and young people with an appropriate amount of a range of nutrients, including iron, as a part of their school…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will continue its partnerships with dairies to delivery milk direct to nurseries.

Answer · Maree Todd: The new Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme will replace the UK Nursery Milk Scheme in Scotland. Payments will be made under the new Scheme from 1 August 2021. The new Scheme will provide funding via local authorities to eligible settings which have regist…

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove sugared drinks from school meals.

Answer · John Swinney: Drinks with added sugar will no longer be permitted in schools as from 8 April 2021, the date on which The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 will come into effect. Drinks permitted in primary schools will be p…