Parliamentary questions
Jamie Halcro Johnston
536 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbine planning applications that it has approved in each of the last 10 years had previously been rejected by (a) a local planning authority and (b) it, broken down by the (i) local authority area and (ii) size of turbine.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Between January 2010 and December 2018 - 38 determinations have been made by Scottish Ministers on wind farms (with a capacity exceeding 50 megawatts) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989) where the planning authority raised an objection. Of these, a…
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual economic impact on (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland has been of reduced fares on ferry services.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers remain committed to pursuing all avenues to deliver Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) ferry fares for Orkney and Shetland. However, an official State aid complaint was made to the European Commission on 8 June 2018, which has to be dealt with fi…
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what savings could be made from Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s plan to centralise air traffic control towers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: HIAL’s Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy aims to ensure that air services can continue to operate in the future in a safe and efficient way. HIAL has not budgeted any staff savings nor a saving in staff resource. At this early stage in the process it is un…
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Highland and Islands Airports Limited’s plans to centralise air traffic control (ATC) towers could impact on (a) safety, (b) the resilience of ATC services, (c) employment and (d) the economies of the communities near the airports.
Answer · Michael Matheson: HIAL’s Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy aims to ensure that air services can continue to operate in the future in a safe and efficient way. The Air Traffic Management project will improve upon safety margins by introducing controlled airspace and centrali…
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis is has made of the community benefit of the wind turbine developments that are currently in place.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A voluntary register of community benefits payments is maintained by Local Energy Scotland under the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). All developers of renewable energy developments and local communities in receipt of commu…
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbine planning applications it is currently considering, also broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) size of turbine.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents team, who are responsible for managing applications made to Scottish Ministers for wind farms exceeding 50 megawatts, currently has 27 applications under consideration for new, extended or varied wind farms. Further d…
19 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to set a fisheries landings target.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government remains committed to increasing the amount of fish landed into Scottish ports and to improving the competitiveness of the seafood supply chain. The Scottish Government has consulted widely on proposals for new economic link arrangemen…
5 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer’s advisory group on maternity and paediatric services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
4 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many participants in the Fair Start Scotland programme have (a) been offered and (b) received Individual Placement and Support, broken down by contract area.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government does not currently hold data on the numbers of Fair Start Scotland (FSS) participants being offered, or taking up Individual Placement and Support (IPS) broken down by contract area. This information is held by individual service provi…
7 Nov 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the local government financial settlement on public services.
Answer · Kate Forbes: In 2018-19 councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion. This provides a real terms increase in both revenue and capital funding for public services. The impact of the settlement on public services will depen…
17 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action the health secretary is taking to support those most vulnerable to the effects of winter weather.
4 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation in excess of £500,000 has been paid by (a) it and (b) its agencies to settle (a) catastrophic personal injury claims in each year since 2012-13.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answers to questions S5W-19214 and S5W-19218 on 8 November 20178. 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/parl…
4 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation claims against (a) it, (b) its agencies, (c) the NHS and (d) local authorities will increase by following the decision to set the discount rate at -0.75%, effective from 28 March 2017; how much will be required to be set aside to meet these claims, and what addition…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: On Local Authorities, the Scottish Government and its agencies, I refer the member to the answers to questions S5W-19214 and S5W-19218 on 8 November 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search fac…
4 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation in excess of £500,000 has been paid by the NHS to settle (a) catastrophic personal injury and (b) medical negligence claims in each year since 2012-13.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The following table sets out the total value of claims where the award payment was in excess of £500,000. Financial year settled Total Award (including Compensation Recovery Unit) 2012-2013 £ 17,690,954 2013-2014 £ 23,453,130 2014-2015 £ 25,923,402…
4 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many compensation claims against (a) it, (b) its agencies, (c) the NHS and (d) local authorities for catastrophic personal injury have been settled using (i) periodical payment orders since 28 March 2017 and (ii) the discount rate in each year since 2012-13.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There have been no such claims settled against the Scottish Government and its agencies. Since March 2017, there have been two cases settled by periodical payment order under the NHS Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS). Where a sett…
25 Sep 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities in the Highlands and Islands in advance of setting council budgets for the coming year.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Negotiations on the annual local government finance settlement are conducted between the Scottish Government and COSLA, on behalf of all 32 local authorities. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and I met with the COSLA Presidential Team …
12 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the reported increase in incidents of antisocial behaviour.
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many places were available in the New Entrants Capital Grants scheme in each year since its introduction, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: NECG Scheme did not operate on the basis of a limited/specified number of places being available to prospective applicants in each calendar year. The scheme was instead open all year round and applications could be made at any time. This was specifically inte…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many successful applicants there were under the New Entrants Capital Grants scheme in each year since its introduction, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Please see the following table with the requested information. Note these details areheld by Area Office, not by Local Authority, andheld by financial year, not by calendar year. Year Area Office 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018 to July ‘18 Ayr …
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were received for support under the New Entrants Capital Grants scheme in each year since its introduction, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Please see the following table with the requested information. Note these details areheld by Area Office, not by Local Authority, andheld by financial year, not by calendar year. Year Area Office 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018 to July ‘18 Ayr 36 40 1…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost was for a successful application to the New Entrants Capital Grants scheme in each year since its introduction, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Please see the following table with the requested information. Note these details areheld by Area Office, not by Local Authority, andheld by financial year, not by calendar year. Year Area Office 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018 to July ‘18 …
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what forecasts have been made for expenditure on reducing ferry fares on each of the Northern Isles ferry routes, excluding those administered by local authorities.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A number of high level cost estimates of various fare reduction options have been carried out since the 2016 manifesto commitment to take action to reduce ferry fares to the Northern Isles. Forecasts for the expenditure relating to the 20% reduction in passe…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were made to the New Entrants Capital Grants scheme in each year since its introduction, also broken down by local authority, and how this compared with the number of (a) spaces available and (b) successful applications.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: With regards ‘spaces available’ I refer to my reply to S5W-18409 on 24 September 2018. In relation to comparing the number of applications made with the number that were successful, no direct correlation can be made as some applications made in one FY may no…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actual expenditure has been made on reducing ferry fares on each Northern Isles route since their roll-out in July 2018, excluding those administered by local authorities.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The actual expenditure on reducing ferry fares on Northern Isles routes since July 2018 is commercially confidential.
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what total budget was available for the New Entrants Capital Grant Scheme in each year since its introduction.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The New Entrants Capital Grant Scheme (NECGS) is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014-20, which originally assumed £20 million of support for Young Farmer New Entrants and New Entrants more generally across the programme life. This included a…
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with NHS Grampian regarding the future of the Leanchoil Hospital in Forres.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have not had any communication with NHS Grampian on the future of Leanchoil Hospital. Moray Integration Joint Board (IJB) is currently conducting a public consultation on reshaping older people’s services in the Forres area. We expect the IJB to ensure tha…
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with NHS Grampian regarding the downgrading of maternity services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There has been on-going engagement, including meetings with NHS Grampian regarding the delivery of maternity services at Dr Gray’s. We have been clear with NHS Grampian that all possible options must be explored to continue to provide a safe, sustainable serv…
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation has taken place with NHS (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland ahead of closer operational relationships between the NHS boards, Grampian, Highland and Tayside, being implemented.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17987 on 9 August 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/…
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to rationalise NHS Grampian’s estate in the future.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government’s “Policy for Property and Asset Management in NHSScotland” [CEL 35 (2010)] requires all NHS Scotland bodies to have a Property and Asset Management Strategy (PAMS). The PAMS sets out how each board will strategically manage its assets…
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the additional cost has been for the Scottish Ambulance Service to cover any recent increases in inter-hospital transfers from Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There has been no additional cost to the Scottish Ambulance Service as a result of increases in inter hospital tranfers from Dr Gray's Hospital. The Service currently has an additional ambulance resource operating from Elgin ambulance station to help reduce t…