- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 21 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that (a) local authority and (b) other frontline housing staff are aware of the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant and are supported to better identify the challenges that ex-service personnel might face.
Answer
During 2020 the Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, MOD and veterans organisations, promoted and distributed Armed Forces and veterans awareness training to all local authorities in Scotland via the network of Armed Forces Champions. The e-learning is a simple, user-friendly resource which aims to raise awareness and understanding of the Armed Forces Covenant, how it is implemented in the community and how the principles should be applied at a local level. The training package also provides sources of further information and support for the Armed Forces and veterans community. Consideration is being given to expanding this across other front-line service providers including the NHS. We continue to engage with Champions and Local Authorities to determine the effectiveness of this training and ensure that it has been made available to frontline staff.
In addition, Veterans Scotland has received funding from the Forces in Mind Trust to enable engagement with decision makers in statutory and third sector organisations across Scotland. Through this engagement, supported by the Scottish Government, Veterans Scotland seeks both to inform partners about the needs of those preparing to leave the Armed Forces and of the veterans community and also to encourage those partners to ensure that they are equipped to meet their obligations under the Covenant. As part of this work, Veterans Scotland promotes and distributes e-copies of the Forces in Mind Trust’s ‘Our Community – Our Covenant’, an accessible tool that provides practical guidance.
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the advice on its website, which was last updated on 8 July 2021, stating "domestic cruises with more than 12 passengers will be allowed when all of Scotland reaches Level 1", when restrictions on domestic cruises will be lifted.
Answer
From Monday 19 July, all parts of Scotland moved to level 0. Domestic cruises are able to operate from this date. We have worked closely with the industry to keep them informed of the agreed conditions that would allow operations once again. Our guidance on domestic cruising can be found here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel and transport - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings senior officials representing (a) Transport Scotland, and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd have had with representatives of Pentland Ferries since January 2019, and whether it will set out the (i) topics of discussion and (ii) attendees at each meeting.
Answer
Senior Transport Scotland Ferries Unit officials have met specifically with representatives of Pentland Ferries five times since January 2019.
Four of these were to discuss Covid financial impacts on Pentland Ferries and one was to discuss work seeking to implement Road Equivalent Tariff on ferry services to the Northern Isles. These were attended by TS Ferries Staff and representatives from Pentland Ferries.
CMAL have met with Pentland Ferries once since January 2019 while inspecting the MV Pentalina.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that holders of Saltire+1 entitlement cards can book discounted travel for their companions online.
Answer
Under the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People, a holder of a +1 National Entitlement Card is entitled to free bus travel for themselves and a companion travelling together with them for the same journey on local registered and long distance scheduled bus journeys throughout Scotland. Booking arrangements generally only apply to longer distance scheduled bus services and are the responsibility of the bus operator.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34928 by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 February 2021, whether it will provide an update on the proposals for vessel renewal.
Answer
Work is proceeding on a number of vessel replacement projects. Vessels 801 (MV Glen Sannox) and 802 are under construction and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) have started the procurement process for a new Islay vessel. In addition, projects are underway to deliver the vessel replacements noted in the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan: Gourock-Dunoon/Kilcreggan, the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, Craignure-Oban, Mallaig-Armadale/Lochboisdale and the Northern Isles freighters.
A National Mission with Local Impact: Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of its Budget has been allocated to projects designed to alleviate environmental problems that are not linked with climate change.
Answer
Government budgets achieve multiple overlapping objectives and so it is not possible to distinguish environmental spending that does and does not alleviate climate change. A wide range of Scottish Government budgets directly address environmental problems. In 2021-22 spending on Environmental Services is £196 million. A number of other budget lines also have a direct impact on environmental outcomes including, but not limited to, Rural Economy Agri Environment Measures (£34.2 million) and Green Schemes (£142 million), Forestry (£70.6 million), and Active Travel (£115 million) in 2021-22.
Taking a more expansive view of spending on environmental measures. The Scottish Government publication Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland provides estimates of overall spending by the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and Public Corporations on different categories of spend. It reports that these bodies spent £1,078 million on ‘environmental protection’ in 2019-20.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 20 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Department for Work and Pensions, and what issues were discussed.
Answer
The Scottish Government meets with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) routinely on a range of matters.
The last time Scottish Government Ministers met with DWP Ministers was at the last Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare on 16 December 2020, where the agenda covered a range of matters relating to the devolution of social security.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy on 23 June 2021 that "Since the pandemic first hit last March, the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has regularly met the airport sector and the wider aviation sector, and we remain in close contact with them" (Official Report, col. 6), which airport leadership teams it (a) has met with in the last six months, and on what dates, and (b) plans to meet.
Answer
Dates the Scottish Government has met with and currently plans to meet with airports are included in the following table.
Date | Airport |
13-Jan-21 | Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) |
13-Jan-21 | Edinburgh & AGS |
15-Jan-21 | HIAL |
27-Jan-21 | Edinburgh & AGS |
02-Feb-21 | HIAL |
03-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
03-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
04-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
05-Feb-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
07-Feb-21 | Edinburgh & AGS |
09-Feb-21 | Edinburgh & AGS |
11-Feb-21 | Edinburgh & AGS |
11-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
12-Feb-21 | HIAL |
15-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
16-Feb-21 | HIAL |
16-Feb-21 | HIAL |
16-Feb-21 | AGS |
16-Feb-21 | Prestwick |
16-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
16-Feb-21 | HIAL |
16-Feb-21 | Prestwick |
17-Feb-21 | Prestwick |
18-Feb-21 | HIAL |
18-Feb-21 | HIAL |
22-Feb-21 | HIAL |
24-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
24-Feb-21 | HIAL |
25-Feb-21 | HIAL |
25-Feb-21 | Edinburgh |
02-Mar-21 | HIAL |
03-Mar-21 | Edinburgh |
03-Mar-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
04-Mar-21 | HIAL |
12-Mar-21 | HIAL |
15-Mar-21 | HIAL |
16-Mar-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
17-Mar-21 | Edinburgh |
17-Mar-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, Prestwick |
18-Mar-21 | Edinburgh |
18-Mar-21 | Edinburgh |
18-Mar-21 | HIAL |
23-Mar-21 | HIAL |
25-Mar-21 | HIAL |
25-Mar-21 | Edinburgh |
29-Mar-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
29-Mar-21 | Prestwick |
30-Mar-21 | AGS |
30-Mar-21 | HIAL |
30-Mar-21 | Prestwick |
31-Mar-21 | Edinburgh |
01-Apr-21 | AGS |
08-Apr-21 | Edinburgh |
08-Apr-21 | Prestwick |
09-Apr-21 | HIAL |
09-Apr-21 | Prestwick |
12-Apr-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
12-Apr-21 | Prestwick |
13-Apr-21 | HIAL |
16-Apr-21 | Edinburgh |
21-Apr-21 | HIAL |
22-Apr-21 | HIAL |
22-Apr-21 | HIAL |
23-Apr-21 | AGS |
27-Apr-21 | Prestwick |
28-Apr-21 | HIAL |
30-Apr-21 | HIAL |
04-May-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
06-May-21 | HIAL |
07-May-21 | HIAL |
07-May-21 | HIAL |
11-May-21 | Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick |
11-May-21 | HIAL |
12-May-21 | HIAL |
13-May-21 | Edinburgh |
13-May-21 | HIAL |
13-May-21 | HIAL |
13-May-21 | Prestwick |
17-May-21 | HIAL |
18-May-21 | Edinburgh |
19-May-21 | HIAL |
20-May-21 | HIAL |
20-May-21 | AGS |
25-May-21 | Edinburgh, AGS |
26-May-21 | Prestwick |
01-Jun-21 | HIAL |
03-Jun-21 | HIAL |
03-Jun-21 | Edinburgh |
04-Jun-21 | HIAL |
09-Jun-21 | HIAL |
09-Jun-21 | HIAL |
09-Jun-21 | HIAL |
09-Jun-21 | HIAL |
09-Jun-21 | Edinburgh |
10-Jun-21 | HIAL |
14-Jun-21 | Edinburgh |
15-Jun-21 | HIAL |
15-Jun-21 | Edinburgh |
16-Jun-21 | AGS |
16-Jun-21 | HIAL |
17-Jun-21 | HIAL |
23-Jun-21 | Edinburgh |
24-Jun-21 | HIAL |
25-Jun-21 | HIAL |
29-Jun-21 | AGS |
30-Jun-21 | Edinburgh, AGS |
01-Jul-21 | HIAL |
02-Jul-21 | HIAL |
05-Jul-21 | Prestwick |
08-Jul-21 | HIAL |
08-Jul-21 | Edinburgh, AGS |
12-Jul-21 | HIAL |
12-Jul-21 | HIAL |
15-Jul-21 | HIAL |
15-Jul-21 | Edinburgh, AGS |
24-Aug-21 | HIAL |
25-Aug-21 | HIAL |
26-Aug-21 | HIAL |
06-Oct-21 | HIAL |
07-Oct-21 | HIAL |
08-Dec-21 | HIAL |
09-Dec-21 | HIAL |
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out regarding at which stage of their journey oil and gas workers who fly to and return directly from an overseas installation are at greatest risk of COVID-19 infection, and what action it is taking to mitigate that risk.
Answer
Since the outset of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has taken an evidence-based approach to our measures on overseas travel, informed by the latest data and evidence provided on a UK-wide basis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), as well as Scotland-specific data from Scotland’s Test and Protect system, and clinical advice from Scotland's Chief Medical Officer.
The greatest risk of COVID-19 infection are passengers arriving from red list countries, who are required to enter managed isolation in a quarantine hotel. There is no exemption anywhere in the UK for oil and gas workers arriving from red list countries.
There is an exemption for oil and gas workers arriving from amber list countries to undertake work on critical infrastructure in Scotland. They are still required to take a pre-departure test before travel, complete a passenger locator form before travelling to Scotland, book and take a testing package for days 2 and 8, self-isolate at home for 10 days when not at or travelling to and from a place where they are required to undertake the activities this exemption applies to and show a letter to Border Force from their employer outlining the work they will be doing.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its key policy, planning and consenting frameworks to ensure that they are administered through processes that are efficient, flexible and outcome-focussed.
Answer
The Scottish Government is progressing wide reform of the planning system, including implementation of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019; preparation of Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework; a review of permitted development rights and a programme of digital transformation of planning services, with a focus on efficient processes, delivering good quality development and positive outcomes.