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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.

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Question reference: S6F-01660

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will set a clear ambition in its planned Energy Strategy for delivery of 4 to 6 GW of solar power by 2030.

Question reference: S6W-13315

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the programme for the additional A9 road safety measures, as referred to by the Minister for Transport in the debate on Essential Road Improvements on 2 November 2022.

This year’s safety performance of the A9 has been a concern for everyone and our thoughts remain with those affected by these tragic accidents.

I can advise today that this Government is taking forward a package of safety measures, valued at £5M, to help address the trends identified recently.

As well as the three safety schemes which are already scheduled for delivery, an additional £600,000 of works and campaigns will also be delivered by April, focussed on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

This will include enhanced road markings with acoustic properties, illuminated road studs plus signage and improvements to highlight single carriageways and the transitions at dualled sections. Variable message signs will also be deployed along this part of the route.

For 2023-24 and 2024-25, the scope and extent of these works will be expanded between Perth and Inverness, delivering significant and important investment to improve roads safety.

I will also be working with the car hire sector and key local and regional partners to examine how tourists and foreign drivers can be better educated on Scotland’s roads. This will aid our wider campaign work on “Drive on the Left” and will also highlight the necessity for taking regular breaks, tackling driver fatigue.

Having met with MSPs from across the chamber following the debate on A9 road safety last month, I will convene a meeting with members, Transport Scotland, Bear Scotland and Police Scotland in the New Year to talk to these vital improvements and address any questions members will have. The next A9 Safety Group will convene in February 2023.

Question reference: S6O-01626

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to support a GP-led COVID-19 and flu vaccination programme in NHS Highland, in light of reports that it would cost several million pounds less than the model proposed by the NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-11747

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08833 by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2022, whether it will publish the gateway review in full, and whether it is the case that the review has not yet been published because it is reportedly highly critical of the Deposit Return Scheme and the progress made.

The latest Gateway Review into our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was carried out in May 2022. In line with standard practice for this type of review, the Scottish Government put in place an action plan to address recommendations. We have working with the Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, and industry to address recommendations and launch the UK’s first DRS, as planned, on 16 August 2023.

The action plan, and progress against recommendations, has now been assessed by the review team. We will look to publish the recommendations of the review, and our response in due course.

Question reference: S6W-12140

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when a decision will be made on the A9 Dualling Killiecrankie to Glen Garry scheme, following the public local inquiry that was held to consider objections received.

Following careful consideration of the Reporter’s findings, conclusions and recommendations, I have determined that the Orders for the A9 Dualling Killiecrankie to Glen Garry scheme should be made. A decision letter in relation to the Orders is being issued today to all those who made representations to the draft Orders. I want to thank everyone who did so and give an assurance that those representations have been carefully considered.

This significant decision now clears the way for publication of the Made Orders for this scheme. Subject to there being no challenge to Made Orders, we will then be in a position to complete the statutory process for the scheme and acquire land required to build it.

This significant milestone for our ambitious programme to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness means that 92% of the programme now has Ministerial decisions to make Orders and complete the statutory process.

Road users on the A9 are already benefitting from the dualled stretches between Kincraig and Dalraddy and Luncarty and Pass of Birnam, which opened in September 2017 and August 2021, respectively. Procurement for award of the construction contract for the section between Tomatin and Moy, which will be subject to our normal tender evaluation and business case approval processes, is underway. I expect to be able to update Parliament shortly on the progress of this section.

When completed the A9 Dualling programme will bring many benefits to local communities, businesses, visitors and road users living, travelling and working along the corridor including reduced journey times, improved journey time reliability, improved road safety and opportunities for active travel.

Question reference: S6F-01315

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

To ask the First Minister, in light of the loss of life as a result of road traffic incidents on the A9 over the summer, on sections of the road that have not been dualled, what plans the Scottish Government has to publish a timetable setting out when the dualling of the A9, and A96, will be delivered.

Question reference: S6W-08833

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08057 by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2022, by what date the gateway review will (a) conclude and (b) be published.

Question reference: S6W-08303

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a requirement for local authorities to conduct a statutory consultation in relation to adopting further discretionary powers and conditions under its short-term let licensing scheme.

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 requires licensing authorities to consult with such persons as they consider appropriate in preparing and reviewing their temporary exemptions policy statement. This is a discretionary power to exempt premises from the requirement to have a short-term let licence for a specific period.

The Licensing Order also provides licensing authorities with powers to include additional licence conditions. We expect licensing authorities to include additional conditions on the licence documentation provided to the host or operator; and to publish their additional conditions on their website, together with the criteria and circumstances they will use to determine when these apply.

While there is no requirement to consult on additional licence conditions, licensing authorities may choose to do so as they consider appropriate. It is our understanding that a number of licensing authorities are planning to consult, or have already undertaken consultation, about their policies for short-term let licensing.

Question reference: S6W-08057

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in respect of the proposed Deposit Return Scheme, whether it has any plans to carry out another Gateway Review to consider the current economic uncertainty that is facing businesses.

Question reference: S6W-08010

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the proposed Deposit Return Scheme, what discussions it has had with Circularity Scotland on whether the company is planning to raise the producer fee in respect of glass from the level previously indicated.