- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to promote Scotland’s Fair Trade Nation status.
Answer
The achievement of Fair Trade Nation status for Scotland, first in February 2013 and once more in March 2017, signals to the world that Scotland takes an active leadership role in challenging global poverty and recognising the dignity and rights of producers, through a commitment to fairness in international trading.
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum, which has received core funding from the Scottish Government since 2007 to take forward our work on Fair Trade, continues to engage across all sections of Scottish society from schools, colleges and universities to faith groups, businesses and charities, to raise awareness of the plight of farmers and producers in the developing world and build support for our status as a Fair Trade Nation.
This year sees the 10th Anniversary since Scotland first achieved the accolade of Fair Trade Nation status, and events are planned up and down the country during this year's Fairtrade Fortnight to mark the occasion.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up rate has been for the Victim Notification Scheme, as a percentage of all eligible victims, in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the data requested.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is responsible for issuing Victim Notification Scheme packs. They have advised that the number of packs issued to eligible victims for 2021-2022 and from April 2022 to 16 Jan 2023 – the information held to date - is as follows:
- 2021-2022 - Total 1674
- 2022 to 16 January 2023 – Total 1788
Eligible victims can register for the scheme at any time. The Scottish Prison Service has advised that the numbers of victims who have opted to register for the scheme in the financial year 2021-22 and from 1 April 2022 to 31 December 2022 – the information held to date - are as follows:
- 2021-2022 – Total 400
- 1 April 2022 until 31 December 2022 – Total 356
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Elena Whitham on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the recent study by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and its finding of significant overall excess cancer mortality for Scottish firefighters compared with the general population.
Answer
The safety and wellbeing of all fire and rescue officers is of upmost importance to the Scottish Government.
We will continue to support SFRS as they continue to work in partnership with the FBU and Professor Anna Stec to build on the existing work of their dedicated Contaminants Group.
The Scottish Government will carefully consider any related proposals from the FBU or SFRS as a result of this important research.
- Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to local authorities to support Gaelic-medium education.
Answer
The Scottish Government has two streams of funding available to local authorities to help support Gaelic medium and Gaelic learner education across Scotland. These are the Scheme of Gaelic Specific Grant, £4.482m, and the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund, £4m. In 2022-23, 26 local authorities applied and were supported from the Scheme of Gaelic Specific Grant and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Highland received support for projects that expanded Gaelic Medium Education educational settings.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the future use of the term, minor-attracted person, when referring to paedophiles, and whether it will discourage use of the term across government agencies and public bodies.
Answer
The Scottish Government has discussed the use of the term Minor Attracted Person with Police Scotland following recent media coverage. Police Scotland has confirmed that it does not use the term and it is not used by its partners. The Scottish Government does not use this term and it is not used by Scottish public bodies.
Police Scotland has issued a statement which confirms that it does not use this term and explains the context to it being referred to in a June 2022 Police Scotland performance report.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the Social Work Professional Support Service - Scotland.
Answer
We acknowledge the immense, highly skilled and unique contribution made by social workers to support individuals and families across Scotland. We also know that social workers face significant challenges and have taken steps to ensure they have the right support.
The Scottish Association of Social Work has been given £200,000 in 2021-2023 to provide a peer support service covering a range of issues including wellbeing and resilience.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10720 by Christina McKelvie on 20 September 2022, when it will publish its refreshed Disability Equality Strategy.
Answer
We continue to work closely with the steering group, made up of Disabled People’s Organisations, to co-design the new Disability Equality strategy. The group met several times in 2022 and are focused on listening to the challenges and obstacles disabled people face and finding the solutions that can be delivered.
The group last met in November 2022 and a further meeting is planned for the end of February 2023. It is anticipated that the strategy will be published in Spring 2023 subject to the conclusion of the co-design process.
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Màiri McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether detailed marine spatial plans, as opposed to broad spatial areas, will be provisionally set in the new National Marine Plan (NMP2), in line with section 11(2)(a)(ii) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, unless and until superseded by regional plans agreed under the terms of that same Act.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12759 on 15 December 2022.
The purpose of Scotland’s National Marine Plan is to set out the strategic policies for the sustainable development of our marine resources. Regional marine plans are currently being developed for 3 out of the 11 Scottish Marine Regions (Orkney, Shetland and the Clyde) with preparatory work being undertaken by Local Coastal Partnerships in other regions.
The content of the new National Marine Plan (“NMP2”) is yet to be defined. As the process to replace the current National Marine Plan progresses, the content of NMP2 will be established and consideration will be taken as to whether NMP2 will include detailed spatial plans.
The Marine Scotland Directorate undertakes national marine planning activities in accordance with the requirements and conditions set out in the Marine Acts: Marine (Scotland) Act (2010) and the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009). NMP2 will be developed in accordance with the policies, including the National Spatial Strategy, set out in the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4)(once adopted).
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: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which estates within the Monadhliath Deer Management Group have received funding for peatland restoration in each of the last five years through the peatland restoration project funds administered by NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage); how much each estate has received in each of the last five years, and who the owners were of each estate that received funding.
Answer
Organisation/Applicant | Paid
2018-19 | Paid
2019-20 | Paid
2020-21 | Paid
2021-22 | Paid 2022-23
(to 6 Jan 23) |
Aberarder Estate | 1,320.00 | 38,734.50 | 146,185.00 | - | 169,584.35 |
Alvie Estate | 147,684.50 | 90,035.00 | 73,508.00 | 79,860.00 | - |
Balavil Estate | 990.00 | 38,376.00 | 107,840.00 | - | 162,389.87 |
Braeroy Estate | 96,408.10 | 166,112.90 | 172,174.70 | 160,257.00 | 107,378.61 |
Cluny Estate | - | - | 17,110.00 | 24,540.00 | - |
Dalmigavie Estate | - | 96,020.00 | - | 186,982.00 | 203,381.35 |
Dunachton Estate | 990.00 | - | 104,756.00 | 97,680.00 | 69,811.93 |
Dunmaglass Estate (Conagleann Ltd) | 3,300.00 | 129,895.00 | 6,600.00 | 150,995.71 | 132,976.36 |
Farr & Glen Kyllachy Estate (Newbie Salmon Fisheries Ltd) | 188,609.60 | 238,260.00 | 238,037.00 | 143,356.50 | 58,263.00 |
Glenbanchor Estate | 990.00 | 47,864.00 | - | - | - |
Glenmazeran (The Englefield Estate Trust Corporation) | 227,466.24 | 188,189.28 | 212,035.61 | - | 64,663.46 |
Glenshero Estate (JAHAMA Highland Estates) | - | - | 97,042.00 | 159,676.60 | - |
Kinrara Estate | - | - | - | 202,109.60 | 262,525.90 |
Pitmain Estate | 185,908.00 | 193,769.62 | 141,905.00 | 35,000.00 | 116,890.61 |
Monadliath Deer Management Group | 31,656.00 | 46,409.36 | 43,575.00 | 42,999.40 | 38,078.40 |
Total | 885,322 | 1,273,666 | 1,360,768 | 1,283,457 | 1,385,944 |
Table 1. Peatland Action grants allocated to the Monadliath Deer Management Group 2018-19 to present.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 20 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether relevant stakeholders, including PLACE and community councils, were consulted before it took the decision to delay the implementation of commercial short-term let licensing by six months.
Answer
We are not delaying the implementation of commercial short-term let licensing. Licensing schemes opened in October 2022, and new hosts must now apply for, and obtain, a licence before accepting bookings or receiving guests. Local authorities continue to receive applications from new and existing hosts
In recognition of the wider cost of living crisis that is placing pressure on existing short-term let hosts and businesses, we have announced that we will introduce legislation in January 2023 to extend the deadline for existing hosts to apply for a licence from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2023.
This is not a pause and we encourage hosts to keep applying throughout.
