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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: S6W-08621

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that everyone in (a) Scotland and (b) rural and island areas has access to an epilepsy specialist nurse.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with epilepsy are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Decisions on local staffing requirements are the responsibility of individual NHS Boards, such as NHS Western Isles which is reviewing its method of delivery for all people with neurological conditions, including epilepsy, across the island groups.

The Scottish Government and COSLA recently published a National Workforce Strategy on 11 March 2022. The Strategy commits to publishing new workforce projections in the autumn, once we have had the opportunity to consider Health Board and Health and Social Care Partnerships' three year workforce plans. The staffing needs for services and professional specialties across NHS Scotland will be, in partnership with stakeholders, factored into the development of those projections.

In 2019 we published a Neurological Care and Support – National Framework for Action 2020-25 , which sets out a vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including epilepsy, can access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms. Since October 2020, we have invested £324,500 in funding via the Framework to projects which specifically improve the health and wellbeing of people with epilepsy in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08737

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the guidance to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 stating that feral sheep, goats and ponies are "protected animals" under the Act on account of domestication making them permanently reliant on humans, whether the Soay and Boreray sheep of St Kilda are covered by the Act, and, if not, for what reason; on what date it was determined that this should be the case, and what its position is on any impact that this will have for the protection of other feral animals in Scotland.

Animals protected under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 are defined as those that are: (a) of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands; (b) under the control of man on a permanent or temporary basis; or (c) not living in a wild state.

The Scottish Government considers that the sheep on St Kilda, for the purposes of welfare legislation, should be regarded in the same way as an unowned and unmanaged population of wild deer or other wild animals. This position was first communicated in correspondence in February 2020, and was the Scottish Government position prior to that date.

Question reference: S6W-08577

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to continue to support clinical physiology education and training, in light of the viability of the only clinical physiology degree programme in Scotland reportedly being at risk.

Question reference: S6O-01150

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the courts system to clear the current reported backlog of cases.

Question reference: S6O-01108

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants have been awarded through the Croft House Grant scheme in the Western Isles since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-08331

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the British Standards Institute regarding the timeline for establishing the proposed Scottish Technical Group, to help ensure that PAS regulations can be tailored for rural and coastal housing stock, climate and geography.

We are continuing to work with the BSI to finalise the membership and terms of reference for a new Scottish technical group to help achieve this. The membership of the group will include a representative who can highlight the needs and concerns of remote rural and island communities in Scotland. We expect the new group to identify and establish good practice for retrofitting traditional properties in more exposed locations, such as coastal and island communities.

The process of reaching out to potential members of the new group has been started and we expect the first meeting of the new group to take place during the Summer.

Question reference: S6W-07740

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the housing agency, Tighean Innse Gall, ending the employment of staff involved in providing government-funded home insulation schemes, how such home insulation work will be continued in the Western Isles.

We have written to the Comhairle setting out our view on the issues raised by Tighean Innse Gall and continued delivery of home insulation schemes in the Western Isles. The Scottish Government has proposed practical solutions and remains open to receiving proposals from the council that aim to further strengthen the local supply chain. This year we will allocate £64 million in funding to local councils to support local delivery of Area Based Schemes.

Help and support for fuel poor households continues to be available through our national Warmer Homes Scotland service. Warmer Homes Scotland has installed insulation measures in 17 homes in the Western Isles since last September. Likewise there is a range of cashback and loans available to householders, as well as advice and information, through our Home Energy Scotland helpline.

Question reference: S6W-07519

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of industry regulation and a price cap on heating oil, in order to address cost-of-living increases for off-gas-grid consumers in rural and island areas in Scotland.

I am deeply concerned by the impacts that price rises are having for off-gas-grid customers and we are determined to address the higher levels of fuel poverty found in many of Scotland’s remote rural and island areas.

That is why the new fuel poverty definition takes account of the additional costs associated with living in remote and island communities. We are committed to continuing to spend more per head on energy efficiency in remote rural areas, to bring down energy costs and we are providing support through the £10 million Fuel Insecurity Fund, including for households reliant on solid and liquid fuels such as heating oil.

Following on from recent discussions with the heating oil trade body, UKIFDA, officials have engaged with the UK Government to raise concerns about the recent unprecedented rises in heating fuel costs for off-gas-grid customers in parts of Scotland, however the UK Government has indicated that there are no plans to regulate the sector.

Question reference: S6W-07501

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture plans to meet with (a) local MSPs and (b) other stakeholders to discuss the future of Kisimul Castle.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters relating to Kisimul Castle are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland who have delegated responsibility for managing the properties in care. I have been informed that Historic Environment Scotland are able to offer the Member a site visit to Kisimul Castle to discuss the conservation works directly with Historic Environment Scotland experts. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to contact the Member about this and to keep me informed of developments.

Question reference: S6W-07502

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when Kisimul Castle in Barra will reopen to the public, and whether it has had any discussions with Historic Environment Scotland regarding this issue.