Michelle Ballantyne

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an investigation into the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on domestic abuse rates.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has for some time been examining how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the justice system, including information about incidents of domestic abuse reported to police, and introduced a series of monthly data reports from June 2020. …

28 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 clinical prioritisation framework stating that priority level two surgery should be scheduled within four weeks, whether it will confirm that (a) access to surgery will be maintained for (i) patients who require it to alleviate severe pain and (ii) all patients …

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Throughout the pandemic NHS Boards have worked hard to minimise the cancellation of elective surgery and continue to balance all clinical requirements to ensure emergency trauma, urgent patients can be accommodated. This, on occasions, has meant the postponem…

8 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on which post-Brexit trading arrangements between the UK and EU would be best for Scotland.

23 Nov 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister for what reason crimes involving offensive weapons reportedly continue to be on the rise, and what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle this.

11 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Scotland doctors are being equipped with "repurposed bin bags" in the place of PPE.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is aware of reports which alleged that bin liners were being repurposed to make PPE aprons. On the same day that these reports emerged on social media, officials in NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) checked and confirmed that these …

11 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new jobs have been created in the Hunterston area in each of the last five years as a direct result of its investment and support.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. Data is not readily available for Hunterston as the area is not specifically defined by standard statistical geographical classifications.  

11 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement Transport Scotland has had with the UK Government regarding the union connectivity review.

4 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new overseas offices it plans to open in the next 10 years, and what the (a) budget and (b) location will be for each.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our existing network of external offices play a critical role in supporting delivery of Scotland’s international objectives, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our current external network of offices, located in China (Beijing), Germany (Berli…

4 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to support businesses to adapt to new ways of working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has allocated over £2.38 billion in support for business during the pandemic. We have also provided additional spending of £900 million to support recovery. This includes a £230 million economic recovery capital stimulus package to boo…

26 Oct 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether all flu vaccinations will be completed on time.

21 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of jobs in Scotland that rely on frictionless trade across the UK and how this could be impacted by constitutional change.

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding to cover COVID-19 spending by the Scottish Borders Integration Joint Board.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32398 on 30 October 2020. 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/parliamentarybusines…

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding to NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council in the event of a need to bail out the Scottish Borders Integration Joint Board.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has consistently made clear that we will provide the necessary funding across health and care services to recognise the additional costs of responding to COVID-19 and to ensure that patient safety remains the top priority at all times.…

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Borders Buses to discuss a funding support package for winter 2020-21.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government regularly engages with bus operators, including via the Confederation of Passenger Transport as operators’ representative body. This includes fortnightly meetings between Transport Scotland and the industry. On 14 October I announced …

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the loss of Borders Buses services on local communities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of bus services for accessing work, education and seeing family, and the impact of service reductions in rural and semi-rural areas. I have therefore announced further funding of up to £52.6 million to suppor…

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received regarding safety on the Borders Railway, following reports that the doors on a train did not shut during a recent journey.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter which is currently being investigated by the organisation responsible; Abellio ScotRail.

30 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the conclusion of the review of the upgrade to the Sheriffhall roundabout will be published.

28 Sep 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government can guarantee that everyone who has been referred for a winter flu vaccination will be able to get one.

28 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by local authority of any gaps in government funding received to implement the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded childcare.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16649 on 31 May 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/28…

21 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since June 2020, both internally and externally, regarding the development of a global underwater hub near Aberdeen.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Global Underwater Hub (GUH) is a key investment opportunity for the development of the subsea engineering sector and it is a concept that has been discussed on a number of occasions prior to June 2020 through the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategi…

21 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) commercial energy companies and (b) community energy projects received support from the Energy Investment Fund in (i) 2018-19 and (ii) 2019-20.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In 2018-19, the Energy Investment Fund supported 4 commercial energy companies/projects in the marine and energy efficiency sectors, investing £2.25m with total leverage of £5.38m, and 1 community energy project, investing £0.6m with total leverage of £2.8m. …

21 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the system requirements are for (a) Apple and (b) Android mobile phones in order to download the Protect Scotland app from an app store.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31769 on 21 September 2020. 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/parliamentarybusin…

14 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in establishing the working group to promote bioeconomy that was referred to in the National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology; how many meetings the group has held; who the members are, and whether it will publish a progress report before January 2021.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I am pleased to report that the Scottish Industrial Biotechnology Development Group (SIBDG), which includes representatives from industry, academia and government, continues to meet and deliver the National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology. The SIBDG appoint…

14 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent funding (a) ministerial, (b) officials' and (c) special advisers' travel to Scottish Development International offices in each year since 2010.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Currently there are 37 Scottish Development International overseas offices in 25 countries across the world. We do not centrally hold costs of travel to Scottish Development International offices for Scottish Government officials. Travel expenses for Specia…

14 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities' (a) own population data and (b) 2014 National Records of Scotland population figures it used when calculating the funding required for the proposed 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare.

Answer · Maree Todd: The multi-year revenue and capital funding package to deliver the expansion of early learning and childcare was agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA Leaders on 27 April 2018. The details of the agreement were laid in SPICe at the time (Bib number 59732). T…

9 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30413 by Roseanna Cunningham on 28 July 2020, when it expects to engage with stakeholders to support the development of the wild salmon strategy.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Marine Scotland has contacted a number of stakeholders to invite them to participate in the Wild Salmon Strategy Advisory Group. The first (online) meeting of the Advisory Group is planned for October.  

9 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what talks it has had with the EU regarding the potential impact of Brexit on Scotland’s fisheries.

3 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) false alarms and (b) hoax calls the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has responded to in the South Scotland parliamentary region in each year since 2016.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service publishes statistics on false alarms, including malicious intent calls, broken down by Local Authority area, as part of its annual incident statistics. These can be found at https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-a…

3 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fire appliances have been removed from service in the last year due to (a) staff unavailability and (b) budget restraints.

Answer · Ash Denham: Operational decisions on the allocation of resources are a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board and Chief Officer. Fire and Rescue appliances can only be safely deployed when they have a full crew available. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Servi…

3 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the target response time is for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and how many times this target has not been achieved in each year since 2016.

Answer · Ash Denham: Due to the varied geography of Scotland there are no target response times. Positive outcomes rely on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responding as quickly as possible with the appropriate strength of response. Appliances are therefore positioned at stra…