- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether any attempt has been made to measure the financial and economic losses to the Uist community from ferry disruptions in 2022.
Answer
As the member will know, disruption to the network in early 2022 linked directly to weather conditions and Covid impacts. Whilst no specific analysis of the financial and economic impacts from this ferry disruption on the Uist community has been undertaken, the Scottish Government recognises the impact these disruptions have on island life.
CalMac forms part of the local resilience partnership and prioritises the shipment of essential supplies during disruption to minimise welfare issues on the islands. Transport Scotland works with CalMac to monitor the impact of cancellations, listening to feedback directly from island communities and local resilience partnerships as well as transport operators.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to translate the full 72-page publication, Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland?, into other languages.
Answer
Summaries of the first two papers in the Building a New Scotland series have been translated into 17 languages, including British Sign Language, Arabic, Gaelic, Polish and Ukrainian. Audio and Easy Read versions have also been produced to support accessibility. We have no current plans for a full translation of Independence in the Modern World .
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06701 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 March 2022, whether it will provide an update on the timescales for carrying out the (a) community needs and (b) market assessments.
Answer
At this time the work has been prioritised to support active live investment projects with the remaining work continuing throughout 2022 and into 2023.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will invite all constituency and regional members of the Scottish Parliament from the Highlands and Islands region to attend the next Convention of the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
Meetings of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands are open to the public and MSPs are welcome to attend and observe the proceedings.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when the Convention of the Highlands and Islands will next meet.
Answer
The next meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands is scheduled to take place on Monday 3 October 2022.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times Scotland Office ministers have requested a meeting with the Minister for Transport regarding the A77 and A75, and how many such meetings have taken place.
Answer
Scottish Ministers meet regularly with UK Government Ministers on a range of topics, however there have been no specific requests from Scotland Office Ministers to meet regarding the A75 and A77, therefore no meetings on this specific topic have taken place.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Seagreen Alpha and Bravo Wind Area monitoring reports, which reportedly found that craters of 1.6m x 1m x 0.3m, 2.18m x1.7m x 0.5m and 2.28m x 1.7m x 0.5m were induced in the seabed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) detonation.
Answer
On receipt of the reports submitted by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited as requirements of its marine and European Protected Species licences in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance, Marine Scotland – Licensing Operations Team (“MS-LOT”) sought advice on the reports from NatureScot, the statutory nature conservation body, and Marine Scotland Science which provides internal scientific advice to MS-LOT. No concerns were raised as regards the craters identified within the reports.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds any statistics on the number of people currently staying in community-based bail accommodation.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold statistics on the number of people staying in community based bail accommodation. Officials are currently exploring what further data could be practically recorded beyond the current information collated annually on total bail orders by gender and age and bail supervision cases by Local Authority areas.
The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening alternatives to remand and this year, alongside introducing electronic monitoring for bail, increased investment by £3.2m. We are continuing to work with partners to explore improvements, including the potential to further develop community based bail accommodation in the future .
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what further upgrades it has planned for the A77 in 2022.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to improving safety on our trunk roads including the A77. While there are no road improvement schemes or upgrades planned for the A77 in 2022, £6.75m has been allocated for the A77 through our provisional road maintenance programme for financial year 2022-23.
The Scottish Government has invested over £105 million on the A77 since 2007 to March 2022 to ensure its safe and efficient operation. In addition, we have spent approximately £64 million on five separate road schemes on the A77 including the recent completion of the £29m Maybole bypass which opened in January 2022 .
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the ports industry in Scotland regarding the UK Government’s legislative response to P&O Ferries replacement of seafarers in Scotland with agency crew, reportedly being paid below the minimum wage, from 17 March 2022.
Answer
Scottish Ministers and Transport Scotland officials communicate regularly with key stakeholders in the Scottish ports sector about a wide range of issues, including the implications of the UK Government's response to P&O Ferries recent actions. The Member may wish to note that the UK Government Transport Secretary has repeatedly refused to meet with me on this matter.