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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: S5W-27452

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 14 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the research programme, Dynamic Change: Scotland’s Coastal Change Assessment, in each year since 2015.

The Centre of Expertise for Waters, which is a Scottish Government-funded research partnership, has made £462,848 available for phases 1 and 2 of the Dynamic Coast project since 2014-15. This is split by financial year as follows:

Phase 1

2014-15 - £39,269

2015-16 - £101,087

2016-17 - £123,540

Total - £263,896

Phase 2

2017-18 – £25,216

2018-19 – £89,667

2019-20 – £60,069

2020-21 - £24,000

Total - £198,952

Project partners Scottish Natural Heritage and St Andrews Links Trust have provided additional funds of £41,000 and £21,000 respectively for Dynamic Coast Phase 2.

Question reference: S5W-27188

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide funding for additional ferry services in the Northern Isles, in light of reports that additional services are to operate on CalMac ferry routes to Skye and between North Uist and Harris.

Ministers have of course taken full account of the need for Orkney and the wider Northern Isles as islands communities to prosper and grow when considering the provision of supported ferry services under the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) contract. This was set out clearly in the recent Judicial Review which concluded in favour of Scottish Ministers continuing to support ferry services across the Pentland Firth.

The NIFS contract has been developed in such a way as to allow flexibility to meet changing demands for services over time, subject to value for money considerations and resources being available. Transport Scotland have well established means by which we engage with stakeholders regarding communities’ proposals for timetable changes. Recent announcements of a pilot of timetable changes in respect of routes to Skye and between North Uist and Harris have flowed from this process.

It is clear that lifeline ferry services are fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Scotland’s islands, including services to the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands. That is why work will be taken forward as part of the next Ferries Plan to consider and re-evaluate routes service levels for ferry services to and from the Northern Isles, and I look forward to the member and other stakeholders playing a full part in that process in this future piece of work.

Question reference: S5W-27189

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult with community groups and councils in the Northern Isles on how to support efforts to extend the tourist season and increase ferry capacity for sailings on Northern Isles ferry routes.

I recognise the importance of tourism to the economies of the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands and acknowledge efforts locally to extend the tourism season.

Transport Scotland officials, on behalf of the Scottish Government, regularly attend meetings in Orkney and Shetland in connection with the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS). Engagement also occurs with the Caithness Transport Forum on NIFS interests.

All regular NIFS meetings and their membership are detailed on Transport Scotland’s website at the attached link:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/ferries/ferry-services/#51170

Following the recent publication of the National Transport Strategy and the National Islands Plan, initial work is underway on the successor to the Ferries Plan, which will be concluded by December 2022. Discussions regarding the scope of the Plan have taken place with the Islands Transport Forum, which includes the Leaders of Orkney and Shetland Islands Councils, which I chair. Plans for further consultation and engagement will be confirmed in due course and it is intended that these will include engagement with stakeholders representing the needs of communities and businesses in the Northern Isles.

Question reference: S5W-27144

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 25 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what role it will have in the summit that is to be held in Glasgow regarding methods to tackle drug-related deaths.

Despite the UK Government announcing their Summit without any prior consultation with the Scottish Government or Glasgow, we recognise that what really matters is saving lives, and we sought to work collaboratively with the UK Government on the detail of the agenda to ensure it met Scotland’s needs.

The UK Summit does not have the voices of people with lived experience in Scotland at its heart. We pressed the UK Government to extend their event to accommodate this, but this has not happened. We are clear that the views and insights of people with lived experience must help shape how we tackle drug deaths. As a result, we are working with Glasgow City Council to host a Scottish conference on the eve of the UK event to try and better highlight the problem in Scotland and to inform input into the UK Government’s Summit.

Question reference: S5O-04162

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Destination Orkney and Orkney Islands Council regarding the future needs of the tourism sector.

Question reference: S5W-27073

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many new masts have been located in Orkney under the Scottish 4G Infill programme since April 2019.

Question reference: S5W-27071

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made on installing new mobile phone masts in the vicinity of Burray, Hoy and Stromness.

Despite regular engagement with the four mobile network operators, to date no operator has shown interest or committed to using any of the candidate mobile mast sites in the vicinity of Burray, Hoy and Stromness. Since the outset of the programme, we have been clear that no mast can progress to build phase unless a mobile operator is willing to commit to using the infrastructure. Furthermore, our delivery partner, WHP Telecoms, informs us that landowners have been reluctant to conclude deals for sites where there is, as yet, no operator identified.

At present a total of nine masts have been, or are being, constructed after having identified a mobile operator.

Question reference: S5W-27072

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether any mobile phone operators have committed to using the new mast locations in the vicinity of Burray, Hoy and Stromness.

Question reference: S5W-27092

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 31 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the progress being made towards achieving the priorities set out in the Scottish Strategy for Autism.

Question reference: S5W-27091

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 31 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish an update the 2014 mapping report for local autism services.