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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: S5O-04519

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to local authorities to ensure that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will have adequate resources to keep pupils and staff safe.

Question reference: S5O-04481

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the post-lockdown economy in rural communities benefits from, but does not become overly dependent on, tourism.

Question reference: S5W-30383

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in procuring a new booking system for CalMac.

Question reference: S5W-30384

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the legal challenge to the north lot of the R100 programme.

It would be inappropriate to comment on the legal proceedings in respect of the R100 North Lot themselves while those proceedings are still ongoing.

In the meantime, we are developing a Scottish broadband voucher scheme, for which anyone who will not have a superfast broadband connection delivered through the three R100 procurement contracts, or delivered commercially by the end of 2021 ¬ including those in the North lot area – will be eligible.

I recognise the delay in the North lot area, due to legal action, is a source of frustration for the member’s constituents. I am keen, as in the South and Central lot areas, to make further progress on coverage across Scotland, building upon the success of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme in delivering access to fibre broadband in Na h-Eileanan an Iar and Scotland as a whole. Independent broadband analysis site, thinkbroadband (the same datea source the UK Government quotes in its own analysis), states that 78.5% of premises across Na h-Eileanan an Iar were able to access superfast broadband speeds of 30Mbps and above by June 2020. This represents an increase from just 1.3% in January 2014, when DSSB deployment began.

Over 14,788 premises across Na h-Eileanan an Iar now have access to fibre broadband, thanks to the DSSB roll-out, with over 12,921 of those able to access speeds of 24Mbps and above. This provides a strong platform upon which we can build in delivering R100.

Question reference: S5W-30414

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently-published study, The Gaelic crisis in the vernacular community, and which of its findings and recommendations it plans to act upon.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all our indigenous languages, including Gaelic. We recognise the benefits that they bring to the whole of Scotland and wish to afford those that are interested in learning them or learning through them the opportunities to do so.

The Scottish Government welcomes views from a range of points of view and policy officials are currently looking at this research and considering what we can learn from it. The Scottish Government is always open to new ideas and opportunities that may exist in improving the situation for Gaelic. Once detailed consideration has been given to the issues raised in the Report I will set out further comments in response.

The promotion of Gaelic in Island communities is an important priority and a number of organisations are working with the Scottish Government in developing and promoting Gaelic and whose work is already making a significant impact in Gaelic communities. There are many interventions and initiatives in place. For example, CnES has adopted a Gaelic first policy with GME default P1 entry, Gaelic is being actively promoted in Community Estates, Arts Centres and History Societies. There are Gaelic community development officers throughout the islands and strong Gaelic activity at Ceòlas, MG ALBA, Storlann, Fèisean nan Gidheal, e-Sgoil and with other bodies. As a result of this Gaelic is in schools, on television, Gaelic jobs for young people and Gaelic in important arts venues, festivals and in communities. It is thanks to this collaborative and innovative working that we are witnessing the increased growth of interest in the language.

Public Bodies also have an important role in supporting Gaelic. Many have national remits that can help in supporting the language and that is why I initiated the Faster Rate of Progress initiative in 2018. This brings 24 Public Bodies from across Scotland who are working to develop programmes that will support and grow Gaelic. I am committed to ensuring that work has a beneficial impact on supporting the Gaelic language.

Question reference: S5W-30542

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support the future development of crofting.

The Scottish Government is firmly committed to the future development of crofting so it can continue to play a significant role in sustaining remote rural and island communities.

The capacity of the Crofting Commission is key to that, including how its activity is supported in the most remote crofting communities.

I can therefore advise Parliament that additional funding of £325,000 is being provided to the Crofting Commission to enable the creation of four new jobs in the Western Isles, and extend its crofting development activities. The decision to site these new roles in the Western Isles reflects that this area of Scotland has the highest concentration of crofts.

This decision followed suggestions raised at a meeting with crofters in Barvas, Isle of Lewis, last November, and similar suggestions made by others, and I want to thank crofters for engaging with us positively on how to develop crofting to make it sustainable in the future.

Two of the job opportunities will be based at the RPID office in Stornoway, and two based at the RPID office in Benbecula. These will provide a welcome boost to the local economy and will also help strengthen the links between the Commission and the communities it serves.

These jobs will also help to deliver crofting development priorities, which will be set out in the National Development Plan for crofting to be published this year.

Our commitment to the future development of crofting is also evident in the support we provide for crofters. Since 2007, we have provided £21.2 million to over 1,000 crofters in Croft House Grants, and annually we are providing crofting businesses with over £40 million in grant support.

Question reference: S5O-04444

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how its Food Fund will continue to support groups most in need over the summer, including families with children who are eligible for free school meals.

Question reference: S5W-29804

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance issued to CalMac regarding permitted travel to and from the islands during the COVID-19 outbreak will be updated.

Question reference: S5W-29574

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Foreign Office regarding the repatriation of the oil rig workers from Scotland who are stranded in India due to the restrictions on inbound flights that have been imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Repatriation of UK citizens overseas is the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In cases where the Scottish Government is made aware of people from Scotland struggling to return due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have alerted the FCO and passed on FCO guidance to the individual concerned.

Scottish Ministers have engaged directly with Foreign Office Ministers to ensure that those individuals from Scotland who are stranded overseas (including India) are able to return to the UK as quickly as possible.

However, it is regrettable that regular calls with the U.K. Government, focused on this matter, have now come to an end following the U.K. Government’s decision to suspend the Ministerial Implementation Groups. We continue to have discussions at Ministerial or official level as necessary.

Question reference: S5F-04228

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2020

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update for island residents who wish to book ferry tickets.