- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many tonnes of Scotland-produced malting barley have been used in the production of whisky in Scotland in each year since 2007.
Answer
Specific information on the tonnage of malting barley produced in Scotland that is used in the production of whisky is not held. Information on the production and disposal of cereals including barley is published at Scottish cereal harvest: estimates - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . It is estimated that between 50% to 60% of the barley produced in Scotland will be used for alcohol production.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current overall level of financial investment from China in Scotland.
Answer
Information on the value of Chinese inward investments into Scotland can be found in the publicly available report Businesses in Scotland, which shows that there are currently 20 Chinese owned businesses in Scotland, with an estimated employment of 3,910 and a turnover of £1.33 billion. The Scottish Government does not disaggregate data based on the type of investment.
Scottish Government works with its enterprise agencies to ensure robust due diligence and proper consideration of human rights is undertaken on inward investments from China as well as from any other country. Additional safeguards are provided by the National Security and Investment Act 2021, which protects against acquisitions within sensitive areas of the economy that could cause harm to the UK’s national security.
- Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Keith Brown on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a full response to the report by the Working Group on Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland.
Answer
The Government’s response to the Working Group’s report will be published later today.
Our response sets out the immediate action the government will undertake in advance of consulting on draft legislation.
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its seafood strategy.
Answer
As set out in our Programme for Government, we will be setting out full details of our Seafood Trade Strategy this year.
Following on from the launch of the Blue Economy Vision in March, the strategy will set out actions to revitalise the sector consistent with a sustainable and natural capital approach, to ensure remote and rural communities benefit from activity to support growth.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with (a) Food Standards Scotland and (b) local authorities to ensure that bakery businesses established during the COVID-19 pandemic and run from domestic premises fully comply with health and safety regulations, and what action it can take to ensure that registered and approved bakery businesses with formal premises do not experience any detriment, compared with similar businesses run from homes, for complying with all rules and regulations relating to the preparation and sale of food.
Answer
All food businesses are required to comply with the relevant requirements of food law. This includes the requirement to register as a food business with their Local Authority Environmental Health team, to comply with food safety and compositional requirements as well as food labelling requirements where applicable. This applies to food businesses that are operated out of commercial premises as well as those operated from domestic premises. A range of enforcement options are available to officers to ensure compliance.
In response to the pandemic and the resulting impact on the inspection regime, FSS & LA’s have worked in partnership to create a Recovery Plan. This adopts a risk based approach to inspections and prioritises the inspection of high risk businesses and unrated new businesses.
FSS has published a new online resource to support new and prospective businesses. The tool is designed to aid food businesses owners understand their responsibilities, including to first and foremost register with their authority.
Anyone with concerns that a business is operating in breach of the requirements is encouraged to report the matter to their Local Authority Environmental Health team.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Blue Economy Vision for Scotland, when it plans to publish the blue economy action plan.
Answer
Following the publication of the Blue Economy Vision for Scotland on 31 March, which outlined six outcomes for Scotland’s marine environment up to 2045, the Scottish Government will publish the subsequent Action Plan in 2022 to meet the current Programme for Government commitment to develop a Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of Scotland’s foreign direct investment in China since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold data on the level of foreign direct investment from Scotland into China, or any other market.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that anyone living with MS has access to a specialist nurse in their NHS board area.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022
- Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan have arrived in Scotland since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022
- Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the NHS Scotland COVID Status app to 12- to 15-year-olds in order to support the increasing number of families that are returning to international travel.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2022