Parliamentary questions
Finlay Carson
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the Welsh Government since the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting.
11 Sep 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to fund the regeneration of the Stranraer Waterfront.
10 Sep 2018 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the closure of the new North West Community Campus in Dumfries.
10 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation was undertaken regarding the installation of a pedestrian crossing in Crocketford and with whom.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A meeting was held with residents of Crocketford and Springholm on 21 March 2017. Mr Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands attended the meeting alongside representatives from Transport Scotland and Police Scotland. At this meeting the Crocketf…
5 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the food and drinks industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We continue to work with farmers, food producers and industry bodies to drive forward the Ambition 2030 food and drink strategy. Our new Programme for Government sets out a range of new measures to support the sector, building on the range of work that is alr…
16 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect community benefit funds when a wind farm is sold on.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government views the voluntary payment of community benefits from renewables developments as an opportunity for local communities to share in the benefits of their energy resource. Our Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore…
13 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in an upgrade of the A75.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested £75 million in road maintenance and approximately £50 million in six new schemes along the length of the A75 to improve overtaking and remove known pinch points. Transport investment has to be supported by robus…
13 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding plans for a new town station in Stranraer.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Currently there are no plans for a new town station at Stranraer. Transport Scotland is working collaboratively with local and regional authorities to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study - Initial-Appraisal: Case for Change. This will consider t…
13 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity has to visit the major trunk routes in Dumfries and Galloway to review their condition.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the A75 and A77 in connecting the most south westerly communities of Dumfries and Galloway, including the ports at Cairnryan, with destinations in west and central Scotland. The condition of the trunk road …
13 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in an upgrade of the A77.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested approximately £59 million in road maintenance and £35 million in four separate schemes on the A77, in addition there is planned investment on the A77 Maybole Bypass with construction costs of £30 million. Transp…
13 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to transport connections at the ferry port of Cairnryan.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland is currently working collaboratively with local and regional authorities to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study – Initial-Appraisal: Case for Change. This will consider the rationale for improvements across all modes in the ar…
13 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to tackle the reported high levels of COPD in the Stranraer area, and whether this will include the installation of new air monitoring equipment.
6 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for the funding of further education courses in Dumfries and Galloway.
23 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what process is in place for funding applications to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership.
Answer · Keith Brown: Those with potential projects seeking funding should submit their ideas to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership ( [email protected] ). The Partnership will consider initial enquiries and the potential for those projects to progress to a formal…
23 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many funding applications have been received by the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, and how many of these (a) have been successful and (b) are waiting to be processed.
Answer · Keith Brown: In the 2018-2019 Budget, the Scottish Government identified £10million to drive forward inclusive growth and support communities across the South of Scotland. The budget will support the work of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, enabling additional …
23 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many on-board compliance inspections Marine Scotland has conducted each month as part of the scientific trial of electrofishing for razor clams, also broken down by how many boats have failed the inspection, and how often after their initial inspection can boat owners expect their cr…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The scientific trial commenced on 1 February 2018. Vessels selected to participate are required to undergo an inspection by Marine Scotland to ensure that each vessel and its operation fully meets the criteria for the trial. There have been 17 such inspection…
19 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15636 by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 April 2018, by what date it expects the legislation to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to be (a) introduced and (b) in place.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has committed, in its Programme for Government 2017-18, to prepare to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to increase the maximum penalty for the most serious offences to 5 years imprisonment. The Scottish Governme…
11 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many community right to buy applications have been received in the last 24 months, and what proportion has been approved.
5 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths have arisen as a result of (a) no and (b) faulty smoke detectors or alarms being present in a property, and how many have arisen where fully-functioning smoke alarms or detectors were present in the last five years.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) publish annual statistics on dwelling fires and casualties by presence and operation of smoke alarms. These can be found on the SFRS ’s website at the following link (tables 19, 19a and 19b refer): http://www.fires…
28 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the criteria that were used for installing an average speed camera on the A713 at Polnessan.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. Site selection requirements are set out in the p…
28 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what land it owns that is adjacent to the A75, and where this is located.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not own any land adjacent to the A75 trunk road. Land required for improvements to the A75 is acquired by Scottish Ministers. The full extent of land held by Scottish Ministers in connection with the A75 is not centrally held.
23 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hydraulic dredge vessels have fished for razor clams in Scottish inshore waters in the twelve-month period prior to the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017 coming into force.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15640 on? 26 April 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
23 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a comparison, through an economic and environmental assessment, of hydraulic dredging and electrofishing methods will be conducted during the razor clam electrofishing trial.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15640 on? 26 April 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
23 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it conducted an economic and environmental assessment of hydraulic dredging for razor clams prior to setting the terms of the razor clam electrofishing trial.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15640 on? 26 April 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
23 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it undertook with hydraulic dredge fishing operators prior to the passage of the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15640 on? 26 April 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
23 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it used EU law to end hydraulic dredging for razor clams through the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15640 on 26 April 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
23 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has prohibited fishing for razor clams by hydraulic dredge as part of the razor clam electrofishing trial and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017 prohibits all fishing for and landing of razor clams within the Scottish zone, except in relation to any operations that are conducted for the purpose of scientific investigation autho…
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research on digital identity management it has considered.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy contains the commitment to work with stakeholders, privacy interests and members of the public to develop a robust, secure and trustworthy mechanism by which an individual member of the public can demonstrate their i…
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on implementing a consent-based sharing model to enable citizens to control, manage and share their own data.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is working to ensure that the processing and sharing of personal data and special category personal data, within public service delivery, is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This includes consideratio…
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what examples of digital identity management systems, in which citizens manage their own data, it has considered.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15093 on? 15 March 2018, a new online identity assurance programme of work has commenced, which is currently in its initial discovery phase. The discovery work is including consideration of the technical landsc…