Dean Lockhart

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protections are in place for victims of (a) stalking and (b) harassment in cases where offenders are granted bail prior to trial.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is for the independent court to decide whether to grant bail or remand an accused person in any given case. This decision is made within the overarching legal framework whereby bail can be refused if there are good reasons. Where the courts decide to relea…

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the tagging of offenders in (a) stalking cases and (b) cases connected with persistent harassment.

Answer · Keith Brown: Sentencing decisions are for the independent courts in each case based on the circumstances before them. Courts can already impose electronic monitoring for a range of offences where they deem it appropriate. Sentences such as a Restriction of Liberty Order i…

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers in the Forth Valley area have been subject to COVID-19-related assaults.

Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. On 30 May 2021, Police Scotland published an article on 'assaults on police linked to coronavirus', which may provide the information requested. A link to this article is as follows: …

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the (a) availability and (b) reliability of broadband coverage on public transport.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The availability and reliability of broadband by each mode of public transport is summarised in the following table:- Broadband Coverage on Public Transport Mode (a) Availability and (b) Reliability Bus       The installation of broadband on buses is …

1 Jun 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its key priorities are for Scotland’s island communities.

20 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether it has used, and (b) what plans it has to use, the so-called "keeping pace" power in section 1(1) of the UK Withdrawal from the EU (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The discretionary power to align with European Union legislation provided through the UK Withdrawal from the EU (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 entered into force on 29 March 2021. Ministers have not yet used this provision, but will do so where appropriate …

13 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it expects the new Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to be in place.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The process to recruit a new Chief Executive for Scottish Enterprise is continuing. An appointment is expected shortly.

13 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish the outline business case for its proposed publicly-owned energy company.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The outline business case for the public energy company will be published once the new administration has had an opportunity to consider its conclusions and recent changes with the GB energy market.

13 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much electricity it estimates will be exported from Scotland to England and Wales in 2020-21, and how much was exported in 2006-07.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The fact that Scotland’s own supply is secure, and its abundant generation of electricity via wind means that Scotland has long been a net exporter of electricity with Net Exports to England and Wales being 10,036 GWh in 2006 and 19,050 GWh in 2020. This is t…

13 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the level of funding which has been invested each year by the Scottish National Investment Bank since it was established, including debt, equity loans or other forms of investment.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish National Investment Bank opened for business in November 2020 and has since committed £52.5 million in investments. To date £22.9 million has been drawn and invested in both debt and equity investments that align with the Bank’s missions. The B…

13 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to promote (a) domestic and (b) international routes from Scottish airports to support the aviation industry’s recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35553 on 10 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

10 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its maximum potential financial exposure is under guarantees and other contractual arrangements relating to the aluminium smelter in Fort William.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government publishes details of its financial assets and liabilities in the annual Consolidated Accounts. The annual revenues guaranteed under the Lochaber guarantee vary between £14 million and £32 million over the life of the contract. Further …

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost to produce the policy paper, After Brexit: The UK Internal Market Act & Devolution, which was published on 8 March 2021.

Answer · Michael Russell: The paper After Brexit: The UK Internal Market Act and Devolution was produced as part of officials’ normal duties and, other than publishing costs of £668.72, no additional costs were incurred.  

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost to produce the policy paper, Steadfastly European: Scotland’s Past, Present and Future, which was published on 9 March 2021.

Answer · Michael Russell: The policy paper, Steadfastly European: Scotland’s Past, Present and Future , was produced as part of officials’ normal duties and, other than publishing costs of £1743.76, no additional costs were incurred.  

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in each sector in each of the last five years, also broken down by how much has been lost.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Due to the scope and timeframe of the question, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as this data is not available from a single source.

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in recruiting a new Chief Executive for Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The process to recruit a new Chief Executive for Scottish Enterprise is underway. The position was advertised on 15 February 2021, with applications requested by 15 March 2021. The advertisement can be viewed on the opportunities pages of the Odgers Berndtson…

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding its agencies provided regarding the proposed Scottish stock exchange, and whether this has been reimbursed.

Answer · Ivan McKee: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise who have confirmed that no funding for this project was ever released.

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland’s Centre for Regional Inclusive Growth remains operational and, if so, (a) how many full-time staff members it employs and (b) and whether it will provide an outline of the work that the Centre carries out.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Centre for Regional Inclusive Growth continues as an online resource hub. It is maintained by Scottish Government officials as part of their regular duties, as such it does not have dedicated full time staff. The Centre continues to publish mater…

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what regular monitoring it carries out of the level of fiscal deficit.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Unlike the UK Government, the Scottish Government has no fiscal deficit as it is required to balance its budget. The Scottish Government monitors the budget management position throughout the year, with adjustments to plans given effect in Budget Revisions. …

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, and whether it will provide an outline of the work that the Board carries out.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Enterprise & Skills Strategic Board aims to create alignment and collaboration across the enterprise & skills system in Scotland, to drive economic growth and provide better support for businesses and users of the skills system. Over the past year the boa…

7 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out to determine the reserves and other capital required for the establishment of a central bank for an independent Scotland, and how these would be funded.

Answer · Michael Russell: All work to update the Scottish Government’s comprehensive plan for an independent Scotland from 2014 has been paused since 18 March 2020, to focus on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. If there is majority support for an independence referendum in the n…

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the date by which it expects the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People to be opened, and what the latest estimate is of the total cost of the project.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35918 on 10 March 2021. 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/…

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much it has invested in Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) since 2016, also broken down by how much it expects to be returned.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 2016 the Scottish Government has committed £37.4 million, which was converted to a 32.4% equity stake and a loan facility of up to £15 million was provided, which supported not just the Beatrice but also the Moray East Pin Piles and First E&P contracts …

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the costs of (a) investigating and (b) fixing the issues with the build-up of ice on the Queensferry Crossing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We do not currently have any detailed costs for the investigation and taking forward of the most appropriate measures to prevent the build-up of ice on the Queensferry Crossing. Our long-term goal is to develop a solution that will prevent ice from forming on…

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when private individual swimming lessons for children will be allowed to resume under its revised COVID-19 Strategic Framework.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Currently, indoor sport and leisure facilities, including swimming pools, are to remain closed. Therefore activities such as swimming lessons cannot currently take place. On 16 March, the First Minister will set out a firmer timetable for the easing of restri…

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when puppy training classes that are held outdoors will be allowed to restart under its revised COVID-19 Strategic Framework.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Puppy training classes may be held outdoors according to the rules prevailing at any time for households to meet in an external setting for recreational purposes. In such circumstances the trainer is considered to be one of the households participating in tha…

4 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided any contingent liabilities in relation to the suspension of EU funds in the (a) last three financial years and (b) (i) current and (ii) next financial year.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government’s contingent liabilities for the potential recoveries by the European Commission (EC) as a consequence of the suspensions, as reported in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, are as follows:  2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Conti…

4 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the suspension of the (a) European Social Fund and (b) European Regional Development Fund scheme was due to a failure of its management and control systems.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35761 on 12 March 2021. 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/…

4 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has paid any penalties as a result of the suspension of the (a) European Social Fund and (b) European Regional Development Fund scheme.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35761 on 12 March 2021. 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/…

4 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been decommitted as a result of the suspension of the (a) European Social Fund and (b) European Regional Development Fund scheme.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35761 on 12 March 2021. 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/…