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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-05889

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when all state-owned ferries will be replaced by zero or low emission vessels.

We will explore and consult, as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan, on pathways to zero/low emission ferry transport, learning from experience in other countries and on other modes.

In the short-term, there are possibilities for replacing smaller CalMac vessels operating on the shorter routes with low or zero emission vessels and this is being explored as part of the current Small Vessel Replacement Programme. Our current commitment is to have 30% of the fleet low or zero carbon by 2032.

However, the technology required for larger vessels has not yet reached a proven stage to allow it to be commercially available. We are however able to achieve greater efficiency through the delivery of new vessels with modern hull designs. For example on Islay this will deliver approximately 31% lower emissions than the MV Finlaggan currently operating on the route.

Question reference: S6W-05740

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on reported plans to bring forward UK-wide legislative proposals to ban the domestic sale and advertising of tourism experiences overseas that involve unacceptable animal welfare practices.

Question reference: S6W-05701

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting SEPA in response to the data breach in 2020, and when information that is vital for assessing fish farm applications will be made publicly available.

Scottish Government officials continue to hold frequent meetings with SEPA to support the organisations recovery measures following the cyber-attack in December 2020.

All applications made to SEPA for authorisation under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations for new marine finfish farms or significant changes to existing farms are subject to public consultation. Information about these applications is made publicly available on SEPA’s consultation hub: https://consultation.sepa.org.uk/permits/car-regulations-aquaculture-applications/

Additionally, as part of its pre-application process for marine finfish farm developments ( https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/water/aquaculture/pre-application/ ), SEPA produces screening modelling and risk identification reports. These reports are published on SEPA’s website (the first posted 6 September 2021) ( https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/water/aquaculture/screening-modelling-and-risk-identification-report/ ) to inform pre-application consultations with interested parties as well as the later consultation on any application. The reports

A small subset of the information submitted to SEPA by applicants (ie large raw data sets, such as visual imagery footage of the seabed) is not available via SEPA’s website because of the large data file sizes involved. This information is provided by other means to the public on request.

Information relating to assessing fish farms was unavailable for the majority of 2020, however was restored on 6 September 2021.

Question reference: S6W-05365

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the independent review of the aquaculture regulatory and planning framework will publish its recommendations for further work by the end of 2021, as committed to in the Scottish Government’s and Scottish Green Party’s Shared Policy Programme.

Question reference: S6W-05190

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of applications for planning permission for the proposed Hoy and Quanterness wind farms.

Ministers granted permission (subject to conditions) on 21 December for the proposed Hoy and Quanterness wind farms in Orkney, on the basis that they are justified by their benefits, including their contribution towards the case for a new electricity interconnector to export renewable energy from Orkney to the Scottish mainland.

The decision letters are available to view at www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Document.aspx?id=814579 (Quanterness) and www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Document.aspx?id=814699 (Hoy).

The decision letters set out in full the grounds for the decisions. Ministers cannot comment beyond what is set out in the decision letters.

Question reference: S6O-00624

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support small community businesses.

The Scottish Government supports businesses of all kinds through a wide range of interventions delivered through our enterprise and skills agencies and partner organisations and values the role small community businesses.

In August 2021 we launched the £10 million Scotland Loves Local multi-year programme to support local businesses and encourage people to shop locally. We have also established a £325 million Place Based Investment Programme backed by a five year commitment over the course of the Parliament to accelerate our shared ambitions for Place, Town Centre Action, 20-Minute Neighbourhoods, Community Led Regeneration and Community Wealth Building.

Question reference: S6W-04804

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what projects it is developing in Moray through the Just Transition Fund; where they will be located, and how it will ensure that Moray will benefit equitably from investment in (a) projects, (b) jobs and (c) skills development.

We set out an initial £20 million allocation for the Fund in our draft Budget document on the 9th December. Building on our commitment to co-design, we will take forward a series of engagements in the new year with partners across the region to design the approach for the implementation of the Fund, including how investments can demonstrate alignment with the national outcomes we set out in our response to the Just Transition Commission in September 2021.

We are fully committed to ensuring this Fund benefits communities fairly across the North East and Moray region. Our engagement activity will cover the region as a whole, ensuring that communities and businesses in Moray, with others, are able to influence the approach taken for the Fund.

Question reference: S6F-00584

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the First Minister how a Just Transition can be secured for the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S6W-04644

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the provision of "additional support for rural and islands homes which require bespoke and targeted advice", as set out in its Shared Policy Programme with the Scottish Green Party, how rural and island residents and communities can apply for the support; which organisations will be resourced to deliver the support, and whether the support will include (a) additional finance for home owners and (b) subsidised training and accreditation for engineers, plumbers and electricians in areas where there are currently very few companies that install renewable heating systems and appropriate insulation.

The Scottish Government will consult on a draft Islands Energy Strategy in 2022, setting out its approach to supporting island residents and communities to develop renewable energy solutions that can promote resilience, enhance sustainability, and meet their energy needs now and in the future. As part of this work, we will review the evidence base and options for an "islands uplift" across our delivery programmes as part of our commitment to provide additional support for rural and island homes for heat and energy efficiency.

Support is available to all householders across Scotland, including in rural and island areas, through Home Energy Scotland (HES), funded by the Scottish Government. HES offers free, bespoke advice on measures appropriate to homes, and on the funding available for all domestic energy efficiency and renewables measures, including zero emissions heating. Loans are available of up to a maximum of £15,000 for energy efficiency measures (attracting up to 45% cashback grant (£6,000) and a maximum £17,500 for renewables measures (attracting up to 75% cashback grant (£7,500)).

Rural and island community groups and organisations can access advice and funding support to explore their renewable energy options through the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) delivered by Local Energy Scotland (LES).

The Scottish Government's investment of at least £1.8 billion will strengthen demand and support an increase in jobs and skilled workers right across Scotland. We will work with industry to co-produce a ‘Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan’ by Summer 2022 which will include a focus on developing local supply chains, attracting inward investment and securing local jobs, training and skills, particularly in our islands and remote communities.

Question reference: S6W-04543

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the impact of the sections in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 regarding occasional licences.

The Scottish Government consulted in 2019 on a number of areas associated with the legislative regime for occasional licences. This included the level of fees and whether or not there should be a limit on the number and duration of occasional licences for premises/personal licence holders. The views offered in response will help inform further consideration of issues in this area in due course.

Decisions about the granting of occasional licences are for independent licensing boards within the framework of the 2005 Act. Each licensing board is required to produce a licensing policy statement explaining how they will approach the operation of licensing within their area in line with the five licencing objectives. This can include details about policy on the granting of occasional licences.