- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 February 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 22 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to wholesalers in areas subject to Level 3 restrictions, that are reliant on the retail, catering and hospitality sectors.
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided £5.5m support to food and drink wholesalers in December 2020 and January 2021 through the Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience fund to help companies suffering severe hardship as a result of Covid 19 restrictions. This support was available to wholesalers operating in any area of Scotland, regardless of the level of restrictions they were subject to in their Local Authority area.
Furthermore, on 10 February 2021, The Scottish Government announced that we are doubling the discretionary fund from £60 million to £120 million. The discretionary fund empowers local authorities to direct funding to specific groups or sectors within their local economies, including supply chain businesses who are experiencing immediate financial challenges as a result of current restrictions and regulations. Local authorities can use this fund at their discretion, and will undertake their own assessment of need and develop application processes accordingly.
The Scottish Government is continuing to review the impact of restrictions on different sectors and available support for businesses. We would encourage all businesses who feel they are in need of support to initially contact their trade body and/or continue to monitor the guidance, advice and tools for all sectors across Scotland which is available at: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for community centres and halls during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what consideration it is giving to offering any additional support.
Answer
The £40m Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme was launched on 21 September 2020 and provides funding for community and third sector organisations as they continue to respond to the ongoing impact of the pandemic and to adapt and re-start delivery of their community services/activities. The programme also provides business support and investment to help organisations adapt their operations and income generation to increase sustainability. Further information can be found at: https://scvo.scot/support/coronavirus/funding/scottish-government/community-recovery .
The Programme also now includes a small grant fund which aims to support grassroot community focussed organisations. The £500k Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund, being delivered by The Corra Foundation, opened on 10 February 2021 and will typically provide grants of £1,000 to £2,000 up to a maximum of £5,000. More information about the fund can be found at: https://www.corra.scot/grants/enabling-neighbourhoods/ .
The draft Scottish 2021-22 budget assumes that £500 million will come to the Scottish Government from the £21 billion UK COVID reserve next year, and while we await certainty on what further funding will be made available we are considering what additional support is needed for our communities.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council regarding the reopening of schools.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2021
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for how long work on its Fuel Poverty Strategy was paused, and when work resumed.
Answer
Work on the Fuel Poverty Strategy was paused in March 2020 and remains on hold. Since then my officials have been focused on the immediate support needs of those facing difficulties in meeting fuel costs during the pandemic, including most recently disbursing £7 million of funding as part of the Winter Support Fund announced by the First Minister late last year. Additionally work has been progressing on our 20 year housing strategy, Housing to 2040, the Heat in Buildings Strategy and the Climate Change Plan Update, all of which will contribute to our ability to meet our targets to reduce fuel poverty, whilst ensuring Scotland plays its part in tackling the global climate emergency.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33242 by Kevin Stewart on 23 November 2020, whether it will publish copies of records and minutes of any meetings held subsequently to progress this work.
Answer
When work on the Fuel Poverty Strategy recommences, notes of meetings with stakeholders will be published in line with normal procedures. In the interim I can advise the member that I met virtually with Ann Loughery, the Independent Chair of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel on 8 December to discuss the Advisory Panel’s 2019 Annual Report, which is available on the Scottish Government's website.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult on its planned Fuel Poverty Strategy; what the deadline for this consultation will be, and what the estimated timeline is to progress this work.
Answer
In preparing the Fuel Poverty Strategy, we will allow sufficient time to consult widely with stakeholders and the public, including those with direct lived experience of fuel poverty and the characteristics specified within the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019. This will build upon the consultation on the draft Fuel Poverty Strategy, published in 2018, as well as the forthcoming consultation on the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy. I will write to the Local Government and Communities Committee when I am able to confirm details of the process and timetable for producing the Strategy, including in relation to the consultation we will undertake.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33242 by Kevin Stewart on 23 November 2020, when it estimates its Fuel Poverty Strategy will be published; whether a timetable has been established, and whether this will be before the end of the current parliamentary session.
Answer
As I set out in my response to S5W-33242 on 23 November 2020, the Programme for Government commits us to publishing the Fuel Poverty Strategy this year and I will write to the Local Government and Communities Committee when I am able to confirm details of the timetable.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the need to extend some university courses to allow practical work to be undertaken, and what provision can be made to ensure that any additional costs incurred do not fall on the students.
Answer
The Scottish Government is engaged in regular discussions with students, universities and colleges to address issues facing learners as a result of disruption to learning and teaching caused by COVID-19 restrictions. A Ministerial Task force has been established to rapidly and collectively provide solutions to address these issues. The Scottish Government is committed to taking effective action to enable students to continue and complete their learner journeys and move into employment or further study.
Students studying a course of Higher Education (HE) who require to repeat a full year of study are able to access an additional year of funding known as a ‘+1’. Care Experienced students studying in HE are able to access two additional years of funding. HE students who have exhausted their funding options and require to repeat a year of studies due to COVID-19 will have their requests considered under compassionate grounds by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether specific advice will be issued regarding exemptions to travel restrictions to assist people moving out of student accommodation.
Answer
Following the First Minister’s announcement on 8 January 2021 that the planned staggered return of students at the start of the new term would be extended, we published revised guidance for colleges, universities and accommodation providers on 15 January 2021.
The guidance explains how the current restrictions on travel apply to students moving out of student accommodation. It should be read alongside wider Scottish Government guidance and sets out the steps students should take to ensure any move from accommodation is conducted safely. An FAQ is also available for students on the Student Information Scotland website.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 January 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reducing the remand population, in light of reports that it has nearly doubled since April 2020 and that people awaiting trial are restricted to their cells for 23 hours a day.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2021
