Parliamentary questions
Finlay Carson
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that increasing the threshold for screening proposed forestry projects for their environmental impact will not lead to a risk of significant negative environmental impacts.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has only increased the threshold for forestry projects outside sensitive areas. There remains no threshold for forestry projects in sensitive areas and all woodland creation projects in those areas must undergo an Environmental Impact …
13 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance can be provided to people on low incomes in band E properties and above to help mitigate any rise in council tax.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08362 on 13 April 2017. 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/2…
12 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what processes are in place to consider a proposal for the designation of a new national park.
30 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a bat emergence survey must take place before a planning decision can be determined.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Planning Policy states (paragraph 214): “If there is evidence to suggest that a protected species is present on site or may be affected by a proposed development, steps must be taken to establish their presence.” Planning authorities have powers to …
30 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, under European protected species legislation and guidance provided by the Scottish Government to local authorities, in circumstances where a planning authority is advised that bats are present in a building due to be demolished and a mitigation plan detailing the implications an…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government guidance is that planning permission cannot be granted without the planning authority first being satisfied that the proposed development will not impact adversely on any European protected species. This is to ensure compliance with nation…
29 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the GP Premises Short Life Working Group is due to conclude its review and publish its recommendations.
Answer · Shona Robison: The GP Premises Short Life Working Group reported in December 2016. The group recommended that the Scottish Government recognise and support a long term shift that gradually moves with general practice towards a model which does not presume GPs own their prac…
22 Mar 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what upgrades are planned for the A75.
16 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the barriers to recruitment of new GPs, such as "last man standing" clauses in their contracts.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government announced on 10 March 2017 that the GP Recruitment and Retention Fund will increase five-fold - from £1 million in 2016-17 to £5 million in 2017-18 as part of the wider £72 million investment to transform primary care services. This in…
15 Mar 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the opportunities would be for the fishing industry of an independent Scotland joining the EU.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Independent membership of the EU would ensure that, for the first time, the Scottish Government would be able to negotiate directly for Scottish interests and priorities at the top table of Europe. It would also ensure that the Scottish fishing industry is re…
8 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in filling vacant GP posts in Dumfries and Galloway and other rural areas.
Answer · Shona Robison: On Friday, I was invited to address the British Medical Association’s Scottish Local Medical Committee Conference in Clydebank. I was delighted to be able to announce that, next year, an additional £71.6 million will be invested in direct support of general p…
1 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the public liability requirements are for windfarm companies.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Wind farm operators are bound by the Health and Safety Executive Scotland's legislation, as the agency with executive powers in this area of policy, which is an area of policy currently reserved to Westminster although there is a condition for all development…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have been made for Scotland regarding the UK leaving the common fisheries policy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not yet know what approach the UK Government might take to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) during any negotiation on UK exit from the European Union. The Scottish Government has in particular sought an undertaking from the UK Go…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Marine Scotland staff are working full-time or full-time equivalent on preparing for the devolution to Scotland of EU powers over fisheries.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Fisheries are fully devolved and therefore once Scotland is no longer part of the Common Fisheries Policy, we expect that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers will continue to exercise full control over fisheries management in Scotland, and of all S…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time or full-time equivalent staff it has working on preparing Scotland for the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Russell: Staff across the Scottish Government Directorates are working in support of Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries on Scotland’s place in Europe. In addition to Private Office staff, there are currently 64 staff working in the Directorate for External Affairs in S…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many officials in its Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate are working full-time or full-time equivalent on preparing for the devolution to Scotland of EU powers over farming.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Agriculture is already a devolved area. Staff across the Scottish Government Directorates are working in support of Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers on Scotland’s place in Europe.
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have been made for Scotland regarding the UK leaving the common agricultural policy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scotland’s Place in Europe sets out our proposals for maintaining Scotland’s relationship with Europe, including the detail of a differentiated approach which would allow Scotland to retain European Single Market membership as part of the UK. The First Minist…
21 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the time taken to conclude cases in the courts.
20 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the need to licence sanctuaries and re-homing organisations as part of its review of the Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The possible need for licensing and sanctuaries and rehoming agencies is being considered as part of an ongoing review of pet welfare. The Scottish Government has already held a number of meetings with stakeholders around that ongoing review; and will be look…
6 Feb 2017 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the number of delayed discharges from hospitals.
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the Scottish Prison Service project, Shaping our Future.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Considerable progress has been made in formulating a series of proposals which are currently being considered by Scottish Government Officia…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what costs were associated with roundabout upgrades in Scotland for wind turbine movement, how these costs were met and by whom.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Costs related to trunk road roundabout alterations to accommodate wind turbine movements are borne by the wind farm developers and as such we do not hold any information relating to this.
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what costs were associated with roundabout upgrades on the A75 and A76 in Dumfries and Galloway for wind turbine movement, how these costs were met and by whom.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Costs related to such trunk road roundabout alterations are borne by the wind farm developer and as such we do not hold any information relating to this.
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation took place with Dumfries and Galloway Council prior to roundabout upgrades on the A75 and A76 for wind turbine movement.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland held quarterly liaison meetings and exchanged regular emails with Dumfries and Galloway Council during 2016 regarding wind turbine movements and the requirement for associated roundabout alterations on the A75 and A76 trunk roads.
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation has taken place with local authorities on roundabout upgrades for wind turbine movement.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Consultation regarding abnormal load movements is the responsibility of the wind farm developer or the logistics company employed to move the abnormal load. They may be required to liaise with a number of stakeholders including the Police, Transport Scotland …
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many roundabout upgrades have taken place to allow for wind turbine movement.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In the last year sixteen roundabouts on the trunk road network have been altered to accommodate wind turbine movements.
15 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a survey of school estates in Dumfries and Galloway (a) was last and (b) will next be conducted, and which schools were considered fit to deliver the curriculum for excellence at the last survey.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government do not hold this information. While the Scottish Government published guidance on the reporting of the condition and suitability of the school estate, it is the responsibility of each local authority to make arrangements to undertake s…
14 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its common agricultural policy IT system is fully compliant with EU regulations.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The CAP IT system is used to administer subsidies under the new EU Common Agricultural Policy and is an EU requirement. This system will provide the capability required to be CAP compliant, supplemented by some functionality from legacy IT systems and some ad…
8 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the rest of Scotland have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted for offences related to electro-fishing in each of the last three years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Marine Scotland Compliance records show that across Scotland, during the years 2014 - 16 inclusive, there were five convictions for offences related to electro fishing. Four of these convictions were in 2016 and the remaining one was in 2015. Of the five conv…
30 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the money raised by local authorities should be kept in their areas.
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the EU derogation being sought, whether the opening of a razor clam fishery would only take place following a full stock assessment.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has not to date sought a derogation from the EU prohibition on fishing with electricity. A public consultation about whether such a derogation should be sought closed on 30 September 2016, and Ministers are considering views offered th…