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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-36078

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in delivering the National Islands Plan.

One of the first provisions introduced by the ground-breaking Island (Scotland) Act 2018 was a duty on Scottish Ministers to prepare a National Islands Plan. From April to July 2019, we consulted widely on what was important to our island communities. The result of this consultation, was the publication of the National Islands Plan in December 2019.

I am proud to say that the Scottish Government’s first Annual Report of the National Islands Plan has been laid in Parliament today. The production of this report marks a key milestone in the implementation of the National Islands Plan. I am heartened to see progress being made despite the difficulties posed by the unprecedented events of 2020.

During the pandemic, we had to re-prioritise our efforts to support our island communities. This has had a direct impact on the implementation of the Plan itself, and as such many of the previously envisaged timescales have been extended. However, despite this, I am pleased to tell you that progress has still been made towards the majority of the commitments in the National Islands Plan.

Aligned to the National Islands Plan and as required by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, we also introduced new regulations that brought the need to conduct Island Communities Impact Assessments into force in December 2020. We look forward to continuing to support the relevant authorities and our island communities to ensure that these assessments promote island proofing across the board.

Question reference: S5O-05160

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent supporting communities affected by COVID-19 in the last year.

Question reference: S5F-04912

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is regarding the impact on Scotland of reported figures indicating that the barriers and uncertainty created by Brexit have had an impact on commercial activity between the UK and Europe.

Question reference: S5W-36024

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 15 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) Evaluation Report will be published, and how Scottish Ministers plan to utilise the findings of the Evaluation to inform the Scottish Government’s future ferry fares policy.

The Ferries Plan 2013-2022, published in 2012, committed to rolling out RET on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network within the term of that Parliament.

Reports evaluating the impact of RET for each of the pilots from 2008 to 2014 are available on the Transport Scotland website, and today I confirm the publication of the latest evaluation report in this series, which Transport Scotland commissioned Peter Brett Associates LLP, now part of Stantec, and ProVersa Ltd, to provide, with a focus on the ‘2015 routes’ where RET was implemented.

RET has delivered significant ferry fare reductions to the Clyde and Hebrides, leading to a welcome boost in carryings which, in turn, supports our island and remote communities. Its success can be measured in terms of how RET has contributed towards its original investment objectives which were to:

• increase demand for ferry services by making ferry travel more affordable and

accessible;

• increase tourism and supporting existing tourism markets; and

• enhance local economies and the wider national economy.

The Evaluation reports on a broad consensus that RET has been a good thing for island communities, providing a strong fit with the emerging policy context, and in particular objectives related to economic development, social inclusion and inclusive growth.

This report will inform the upcoming fares review being conducted as part of the forthcoming Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) that will be set in the context of the National Transport Strategy 2 and the National Islands Plan.

When we published the current Ferries Plan, which the Islands Connectivity Plan will replace, we were clear that RET fares were not a panacea. This Evaluation Report sets in context some of the negative consequences in some communities of cheaper travel and resulting impacts on ferry services and infrastructure. This Report will provide an invaluable resource as we look to the future of ferry services, and to ensure that any decisions taken on this aspect of policy have a firm evidence base.

Finally, Ministers remain committed to reducing ferry fares on services to the Northern Isles. In this regard, work has resumed on consideration of potential mechanisms for reducing ferry fares on services across the Pentland Firth. The impacts of Brexit, and in particular the ongoing consultation by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on subsidy control mechanisms that replace State Aid regulations, post-Brexit, have further complicated this work and our own policy development on this issue is at an early stage as a consequence.

Question reference: S5W-35683

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when local authorities will be able to make payments to businesses eligible for support from the Bed and Breakfasts Paying Council Tax Grant.

Question reference: S5W-36023

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ben Macpherson on 15 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to respond to the information provided through its public consultation on the recommendations made by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee in its opinion on the welfare of animals during transport.

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining high standards of animal welfare and to enhancing them sustainably. To that end we consulted on FAWC’s recommendations between 4 December 2020 and‎ 26 February 2021.

We agree that all journeys have impacts on the welfare of animals and the three Rs approach should apply – asking can journeys be replaced, can they be reduced; and can they be refined.

We are of the view that the export of livestock for slaughter or fattening outside the UK involves journeys which are unnecessarily lengthy as these activities can be undertaken within the UK instead, allowing journeys to be replaced and reduced. We will therefore work alongside the other administrations to seek to end the unnecessary export of livestock for slaughter or fattening to countries outside the UK.

Prior to the consultation we fully recognised the vital importance of traditional patterns of movement for livestock in island and remote rural communities, and we will continue to protect the needs and interests of Scottish farming and crofting by ensuring that appropriate livestock movements between all areas of Scotland can continue. We will neither do anything nor support any attempt to change the rules on transport of livestock within the UK in any way that would harm farming and crofting activity in remote rural and island areas.

We will now undertake an analysis of the almost 400 responses to the consultation which provided detailed and useful evidence of many practical concerns and technical questions raised by the FAWC recommendations on other possible changes in animal transport.

This evidence will be fully considered and discussed in greater detail with the other UK administrations and with stakeholders before we bring forward any specific proposals to amend the legislation on welfare in transport.

Question reference: S5W-35771

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 12 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing COVID-19 lateral flow device testing for the crews of Marine Scotland vessels.

Marine Scotland are committed to providing a COVID 19 secure environment for all staff including those working on board vessels at sea. Strict control measures are in place to help ensure that staff are protected when on board.

Marine Scotland continue to actively explore what further mitigations could be added to these controls measures to continue to protect all staff. The suitability of additional COVID 19 testing for staff form part of these ongoing discussions.

Question reference: S5W-35590

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £1.3 million allocated to the Complex Mesh Removal Surgical Service during 2021-22.

Question reference: S5O-05120

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations Police Scotland is making for the reintroduction of COVID-19 local restriction levels.

Question reference: S5O-05102

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to enhance the capacity of the Crofting Commission.