- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Canadian Ambassador to the EU on 31 May 2022.
Answer
The Canadian Ambassador to the EU and I held a positive meeting in May last year, in which we spoke about trade and cultural links between Scotland and Canada, as well as both countries' energy and climate change priorities.
The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government (a) what plans it has and (b) when it will decide on how to fund an audit of Scotland's Fracture Liaison Services, following the approval of this audit by the National Audit Programme Board in April 2022.
Answer
The Scottish Government has committed to funding this audit and a letter setting out the details has been sent to the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve patient awareness of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for essential tremor.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the benefits magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could provide to eligible patients with essential tremor.
NHS clinicians are best placed to provide advice and guidance on possible treatment options such as MRgFUS for essential tremor based on clinical need.
We currently have no specific plans to raise patient awareness of this treatment.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that planning authorities are able to recover financial contributions from developers in a timely and efficient manner.
Answer
Subject to the tests in Circular 3/2012 being met, planning obligations entered into under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 can be used to secure contributions from those carrying out development. Planning obligations are enforceable, including against successors in title where an obligation is registered in the Land Register of Scotland or the General Register of Sasines.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to "carry out cross-portfolio engagement to scope where culture may be able to link in to the Place Standard tool", as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Answer
The Scottish Government will outline our ambitions around culture and creativity in learning via the Culture Strategy Action Plan refresh, which we will publish later this year. This will include our plans for cross-portfolio engagement in order to scope where culture may link in with other policy initiatives, such as the Place Standard Tool, as outlined in the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding any impact on Scotland, to the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Answer
The Scottish Government has made it clear that this agreement, will not compensate for the damaging impact of the UK leaving the EU. The UK Government’s own modelling suggests that CPTPP membership will result in a mere 0.08% increase in UK GDP. In contrast the Office for Budgetary Responsibility has forecast that Brexit will reduce the UK’s potential growth by 4%.
Whilst there are some welcome gains for Scottish businesses, such as the reduction in high Scotch Whisky tariffs, these must not be at the expense of other sectors vital to our economy.
We have consistently expressed concerns to the UK Government that joining CPTPP could place Scottish producers at a disadvantage by opening the door to cheaper imports produced to lower safety, animal welfare, environmental or labour standards. We are also unclear how the UK Government will protect domestic standards given the arbitration processes of the agreement.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its "review of the expressive arts curricular area", as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Answer
The review of the expressive arts curricular area is part of the ongoing National Discussion on Education as well as the Hayward review into qualifications and assessment. In the immediate term, Screen Scotland, in partnership with the education community, are piloting, in selected schools, a new Film and Screen curriculum for Scotland as part of the expressive arts curricular area. This pilot programme is being delivered across early years, primary and secondary settings.
The draft Film and Screen curriculum has been created to meet the needs of a shifting economy, employment landscape and learner demographic. A full evaluation of this will be made at the end of the pilot programme.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work regarding the "scoping of the new youth arts strategy", as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Answer
The Scottish Government will provide an update on this scoping work, as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations, via the Culture Strategy Action Plan refresh (CSAPR).
The CSAPR will outline our ambitions around culture and creativity in learning, including our plans around collaborating with Creative Scotland on the scoping of a youth arts strategy, following Time To Shine , Scotland’s first national youth arts strategy, which covers the period up to 2023.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister plans to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.
Answer
The Coronation is a significant moment and a range of community led events will take place across Scotland to mark the occasion.
The Scottish Government is supporting the Lord Lyon King of Arms to ensure that Scottish Lord Lieutenants and Local Authorities are kept informed of opportunities to be involved in and offer support to those celebrations.
In addition, the Scottish Government has ensured that the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to mark the Coronation by the proclamation of an additional bank holiday which falls on the 8 May.
The First Minister will also represent the people of Scotland when he attends the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
The Scottish Government is also supporting the Lord Lyon’s plan to hold a Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for The King to be held in Edinburgh later in the year.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 20 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which of its (a) ministers and (b) officials will give evidence to the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, and within what timeframe.
Answer
The Scottish Government is co-operating fully with the work of the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, this will include participating, as required, in public hearings. It is a matter for the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry as to who they call to give evidence and when.