Parliamentary questions
Finlay Carson
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the assessment process for the Borderlands Solway Coast and Marine Project bid has been delayed, and by what date a decision will be made on the funding application.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Solway Cost and Marine Pilot Project (SCAMPP), business justification case was assessed by the Scottish and UK Governments using HM Treasury Green Book guidance. Appropriate due diligence was undertaken and, following further work by the project developme…
6 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought advice from NatureScot regarding commencing the muirburn licensing provisions ahead of the 2025 muirburn season and, if so, whether it will publish this.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has not sought formal advice on this issue. Regular discussions are held between Scottish Government officials and NatureScot regarding commencing of the muirburn licensing provisions. NatureScot are working towards putting the necessa…
6 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns expressed by members of the muirburn code working group regarding the feasibility of introducing muirburn licensing provisions ahead of the 2025 muirburn season.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government recognises the challenges associated with introducing this complex area of licensing but with the help of stakeholders through the Muirburn Code Working Group we are confident that the provisions can be in place ahead of the 2025 seaso…
6 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the new methodology for determining peat depth to inform maps submitted as part of an application to make muirburn under licence, and what the timescale is for its completion.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The peat depth methodology has been developed and NatureScot is aiming to publish it shortly. In support of this NatureScot have also made a map indicating areas likely to be peatland, non-peatland and areas of uncertainty available on their website.
6 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the new muirburn code, and what the timescale is for its completion.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: A final draft of the Muirburn Code was discussed by the Muirburn Code Working Group at their meeting on 26 February 2025. It is expected that the final Muirburn Code will be signed off for publication shortly after this meeting and the Scottish Government and…
6 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many land managers (a) have completed and (b) are yet to complete the approved training course for muirburn.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government understands from current training providers that 215 individuals have completed the online and practical course. We do not hold information on the number of land managers who are planning to complete the training.
28 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what lessons have been learnt following the travel disruption and other impacts as a result of Storm Éowyn.
22 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to cultural organisations in rural areas.
14 Jan 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve road safety on key routes.
18 Dec 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to invest in frontline primary healthcare to support rural pharmacies.
10 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of Scottish animals slaughtered in England and vice versa, and what assessment it has made of any impact of its proposal to adopt ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Government does not directly hold this data. Livestock traceability systems used within GB capture all death data reported and can easily identify farms of origin prior to slaughter. Scottish Ministers will consider all evidence available before a fi…
10 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any concerns with the reported lack of ISO standards around ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology in livestock.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: An official ISO standard for the use of UHF in animal identification was published in December 2023. The Scottish Government is considering all evidence following the consultation on cattle identification and traceability held earlier this year, this includes…
10 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to conclude its review of the use of ultra-high frequency electronic identification in livestock.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Ministers are currently considering all the available evidence, including on technology use. An announcement will be made once Ministers have reached a final decision.
10 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of adopting ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology on the trade of Scottish beef in Europe.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Ministers are currently considering all the available information on bovine EID and technology and any potential impacts it may have, including on trade. This includes the results and analysis of the Consultation on Cattle ID and Traceability held ea…
10 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of adopting ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology on the trade of Scottish cattle and beef with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Ministers are considering all the available information on bovine EID and technology use across the UK. This includes the ScotEID pilot findings into UHF, the results and analysis of the consultation held on Cattle ID and Traceability earlier this ye…
5 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide to the primary care sector in Scotland in response to the impact of the increase in employer national insurance charges.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has published its estimates of the direct costs to the Scottish public sector from the employers NI change, looking across our health and social care services, education providers, the third sector and others. We have shared those cost…
4 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the funding announced in its Budget for Stranraer town centre is money that was originally committed to the town in 2011 as part of the regeneration of the former ferry terminal.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has continued to engage with Dumfries & Galloway Council and the regeneration funding announced in the draft Scottish Budget will support the delivery of the community's ambitions for the regeneration of the town building on their …
3 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it will allocate in its Budget to housing associations, including to support them to meet their aids and adaptations targets.
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the main barriers are to implementing visual checks for all dogs entering Scotland via Cairnryan ferry port.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The visual checking of all dogs entering Scotland via Cairnryan, would require deployment of additional human resource when there are already significant demands being placed on local authority and other enforcement agency staff.Many commercial movements of a…
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain, what assessment it has made of (a) the current procedure in relation to stop and searches of vehicles entering Scotland via ferry and (b) Dogs Trust's calls to implement visual checks for all dogs entering Scotland via Ca…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has undertaken no such assessments. It is the responsibility of the enforcement agencies to plan and execute any stop and search of vehicles entering Scotland by ferry. On the call from the Dogs Trust for visual checks on all dogs ente…
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07415 by Mairi Gougeon on 29 March 2022, regarding the potential impact in Scotland, what assessment it has made of Dogs Trust's recommendation that the number of pet animals able to travel to Great Britain be reduced from five to three per vehicle,…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government continues to support measures to reduce the number of dogs per vehicle which can be transported non-commercially into the UK, having obtained legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament for this to be taken forward under the UK An…
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to calls from Dogs Trust to ban the (a) non-commercial transport of pregnant dogs in the last 30% of their gestation period, meaning more than 42 days pregnant, as a minimum, and (b) commercial movement of pregnant dogs, to tackle any illegal puppy smuggli…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government continues to support measures to restrict the transport of pregnant dogs into the UK, having obtained legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament for this to be taken forward under the UK Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill before …
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consideration had been given to and (b) action it will take regarding Dogs Trust's calls to raise the minimum legal age for dogs travelling non-commercially into the UK to help tackle any illegal puppy smuggling.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government continues to support measures to raise the minimum legal age for dogs travelling non-commercially into the UK, having obtained legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament for this to be taken forward under the UK Animal Welfare (K…
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07245 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 March 2022, which agency is responsible for (a) the authorised pet checkers and (b) enforcement of puppy smuggling offences, at Cairnryan ferry port.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Persons undertaking basic checks on pets travelling with their owners on the Cairnryan ferry route are ferry employees and are, therefore, responsible to the ferry operator. These staff are not however authorised pet checkers as movements from Northern Irelan…
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent data it holds regarding the number of puppies and dogs illegally imported into Scotland at Cairnryan ferry port.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not hold any such data.
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to tackle any smuggling of puppies into Scotland at Cairnryan ferry port.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with DAERA NI officials and key agencies through the Paws for Thought Puppy Trafficking Group to disrupt and target those involved in the smuggling of puppies into Scotland from Northern Ireland. The collabora…
16 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will renew its commitment to provide sustainable funding for the nationwide roll-out of the Scottish Care and Coordination Service for Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancers (SCOT HPB), in line with action 45 of its Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-26.
Answer · Neil Gray: As part of the Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-26, Scottish Government committed to “Invest in improving the pathways of less survivable cancers, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. This will shorten the time to staging and…
9 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards about providing recurring funding for the Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects beyond 2024-25.
Answer · Neil Gray: Funding of over £3.5 million was issued between 2021-2024 to support 12 pilot projects across Scotland to deliver a single point of contact (SPoC) to people diagnosed with cancer. A further £1.5 million during financial year 2024-25 has ensured co…
9 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that Health Improvement Scotland will complete its scalability assessment of the 12 Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects, and whether this assessment will be shared publicly.
Answer · Neil Gray: A wider review of the Single Point of Contact programme is being led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and includes a scalability assessment. This commenced in early 2024 and is expected to complete by Spring 2025.The scalability assessment and an implementa…
9 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 12 Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects provide support for people diagnosed with blood cancer, and in which NHS boards any such support is available.
Answer · Neil Gray: Of the 12 Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects, 4 fully include a service for haemato-oncology patients in NHS Borders, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles.Further to this, NHS Grampian and NHS Fife SPoC projects have a navigation te…