- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Inverness, in light of its approval of LEZ plans for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Answer
The need for Low Emission Zones (LEZs) is for individual local authorities to consider based on specific air quality parameters within their respective areas. To date no LEZ proposals have been submitted for Ministerial approval by Highland Council.
Any local authority considering the introduction of a LEZ would undertake an assessment in accordance with the National Low Emission Framework (NLEF).
Highland Council carried out an NLEF assessment in 2020 and concluded that existing measures contained within their Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), along with other local measures, would be sufficient to improve air quality within Inverness.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to review the policy regarding home educated pupils and entitlement to free school meals.
Answer
There are no plans to review home educated pupils' entitlement to free school meals at present. Free school meals are not normally provided for children and young people whose parents have chosen to home educate them, as the local authority is not responsible for providing their education. Free school meals would only be provided to children and young people who are not receiving their education at a local authority run school if they had entered into an agreement to do so through their local authority. The Scottish Government is not normally made aware of these arrangements.
Local authorities have the flexibility to make discretionary offers of free school meals to families experiencing financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances if they do not meet the regular eligibility criteria. We would urge any families who are home educating their children and experiencing financial hardship to contact their local authority to enquire about what alternative forms of assistance might be available to them.
Families can also access Money Talk Team, a free service provided by Citizen’s Advice on behalf of the Scottish Government that helps to ensure that families are receiving all available benefits and are not paying more than is required for services. More information about this service can be found online at https://moneytalkteam.org.uk/ or by calling their free phone helpline on 0800 085 7145.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of non-compliance with its Guidance on due diligence: human rights have been reported since the guidance was published in 2018.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09230 on 11 July 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that all checks that it has carried out since the publication of its Guidance on due diligence: human rights (a) fully comply with the guidance and (b) take account of the nature and sensitivity of the relationship with the person or organisation being checked, and what the (i) minimum and (ii) maximum scope and depth of these checks has been.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09230 on 11 July 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the potential impact of an independence referendum on the (a) organisation and (b) businesses it represents.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09318 on 22 July 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated any money to bidding to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023 and, if this is the case, how much has been allocated, and from which budget.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not allocated any money towards bidding to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023.
Hosting Eurovision 2023 would be a great honour for any country, and we look forward to seeing how plans for next year’s contest develop.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to enable local authorities to use licensing or planning powers to manage the number of fast food outlets in their area.
Answer
Independent licensing (i.e. local) authorities already have powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to operate a variety of licensing schemes, including for example a late hours catering licence regime, if they so choose.
Draft National Planning Framework 4 (2021) proposed planning policy which would not support the clustering of some non-retail uses including hot food takeaways and permanently sited vans, where further provision would undermine the character and amenity of centres or the health and wellbeing of centres and their communities, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
The comments received through the Parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation processes for the Draft are being analysed, prior to laying a revised National Planning Framework 4 in the Scottish Parliament for approval in the autumn.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Whisky Association regarding the potential impact of an independence referendum on (a) the organisation and (b) whisky distilling in Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09318 on 22 July 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Farmers Union regarding the potential impact of an independence referendum on the (a) organisation and (b) farmers it represents.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09318 on 22 July 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Age Scotland and (b) other charities focused on supporting older people regarding the potential impact of an independence referendum on (i) their organisations and (ii) the people they represent.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09318 on 22 July 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .