Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-06087

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03100 by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021, for what reasons its Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 did not recommend a new rail connection to/from Kintyre linking to Cowal, including fixed link or ferry crossing.

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development for this proposed fixed link after the preliminary appraisal stage.

This was on the basis that the assessment work had highlighted significant issues in relation to topography and infrastructure requirements needed for this option.

As a result the option was assessed as not offering “value for money” and consequently was not considered further in the appraisal process.

The Access to Argyll and Bute (A83) project announced a recommended preferred route corridor through Glen Croe in March 2021. This will help address the strategic need to improve connectivity to the Argyll and Bute region.

Question reference: S6W-06020

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06014

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Aberdeen City Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06044

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Scottish Borders Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06034

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of The Highland Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06165

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it plans to remove customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.

A seasonal spawning closure in the Firth of Clyde has been in place for over 20 years to provide an area to protect cod during their spawning season (14 February – 30 April). Since its introduction in 2001, the closure has included exemptions to allow Nephrops trawlers, creels and scallop dredgers to continue to fish in the area, due to the low numbers of cod they catch. However, despite the ongoing seasonal closure, the stock has shown little sign of recovery. The Scottish Government has therefore decided to introduce a revised and more targeted closure. The overall size of the closure compared to previous years has been reduced by 28%, while providing increased protection to spawning cod by prohibiting all fishing activity in the closed areas for 11 weeks from 14 th February in both 2022 and 2023.

This decision is underpinned by analysis of sediment distribution in the Clyde, as well as by scientific research which suggests that any fishing activity within 10m of the seabed (which would include trawling, dredging and creeling) has the potential to impact on cod spawning activity. Given the vulnerability of cod to any disturbance during the spawning season, we believe that it is appropriate not to continue the exemptions in order to provide a higher chance of stock recovery and contribute to a more sustainable fishery in the West of Scotland in the medium-longer term. We will be increasing monitoring in the area during the period of the closure. We will also arrange a review meeting with stakeholders at the end of the closure to assess its effectiveness and practicality.

Question reference: S6W-06049

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of West Dunbartonshire Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06037

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Moray Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06032

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Fife Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

Question reference: S6W-06168

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can guarantee that the planned three-month removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022, will not be extended further.

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