- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to expand the current capacity for conducting post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen.
Answer
Capacity within Aberdeen mortuary is not an issue and there are no current plans to increase the capacity for conducting post mortem examinations in Aberdeen.
A new mortuary facility in Aberdeen that will co-locate the Aberdeen City Mortuary and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Mortuary business is due to open in 2025. This will provide improved facilities for staff and families who are required to engage in the post mortem process.
- Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) action it has taken and (b) steps it is considering to support the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, in light of reports of aid entering the region reaching a historic low and a persistent risk of famine, and Israel's parliament voting to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in the region.
Answer
Over the past year, the Scottish Government has committed £1m for Gaza and the wider Middle East, including £750k for UNRWA and a further £250k to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Mercy Corps and SCIAF. This money will provide food, water, medical assistance and shelter to displaced people across the region.
Given the intolerable suffering in Gaza, the fact that humanitarian access continues to be systematically blocked is unconscionable. Israel's decision to ban UNRWA will undoubtedly further undermine living conditions in Gaza. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered access to vital humanitarian aid for civilians across Gaza.
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much Social Security Scotland has paid each year to claimants who pay (a) no income tax, (b) no more than the (i) starter, (ii) Scottish basic, (iii) intermediate, (iv) higher and (v) advanced rate of income tax and (c) the top rate of income tax.
Answer
Social Security Scotland currently deliver 15 benefits. Applicants are not required to declare how much income tax they pay as part of the application process for these administered payments.
Social Security Scotland’s low income benefits are means-tested but assessed based on qualifying benefits received from the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions or HMRC.
Therefore, for those who receive payment from Social Security Scotland, there is no information held on which income tax bracket they belong to.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Not A Just Transition - Opposed To The Industrialisation Of Rural Scotland.
Answer
In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Not A Just Transition - Opposed To The Industrialisation Of Rural Scotland.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Buchan and Formartine Opposed to Big Energy.
Answer
In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Buchan and Formartine Opposed to Big Energy.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Angus Pylon Action Group.
Answer
In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Angus Pylon Action Group.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Save Our Mearns.
Answer
In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Save Our Mearns.
- Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given to Clyde Gateway in each year since it was established, broken down by the purpose of the funding.
Answer
The Scottish Government has awarded over £210 million of regeneration funding to Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company (URC) from 2007 for the purpose of supporting the delivery of its 20-year operating plan. This includes direct support through annual capital and resource funding to develop and regenerate key sites identified in the plan, support core running costs and other activities it delivers in support of local communities.
Grant awards were made in each financial year are provided in the following table:
Financial Year | Capital funding £000 | Resource funding | Comment |
2006-07 | 3,022 | | |
2007-08 | 5,000 | | |
2008-09 to 2010-11 | 57,000 | | Three-year funding from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2011 |
2011-12 | 11,554 | 746 | |
2012-13 | 17,725 | 1,525 | |
2013-14 | 19,525 | 1,525 | |
2014-15 | 9,290 | 1,850 | |
2015-16 | 1,816 | 184 | |
2016-17 | 3,070 | 500 | |
2017-18 | 5,000 | 500 | |
2018-19 | 5,000 | 500 | |
2019-20 | 6,130 | 500 | |
2020-21 | 6,000 | 1,000 | £500k revenue funding provided to support COVID-19 response. |
2021-22 | 9,000 | 500 | |
2022-23 | 5,500 | 500 | |
2023-24 | 5,000 | 500 | |
2024-25 | 1,000 | 500 | |
Additionally the Scottish Government agreed to a contribution of £3.8 million in capital funding from the Net Zero portfolio in 2024-25 toward the ongoing remediation works at Shawfield.
We understand that Clyde Gateway in delivering their strategic operational plan have, since their formation in 2007, developed numerous projects to support the communities. Information on all of the grants Clyde Gateway may have received from additional Scottish Government funding streams and funding bodies supported with Scottish Government funding is not held centrally in the format requested.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Scotland Against Spin.
Answer
In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Scotland Against Spin.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scotland Office regarding whether it has plans to bring forward an order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 on UK consequential legislation with respect to plans to enable pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.
Answer
As I stated in my previous answer to S6W-29868 on 24 September 2024, I wrote to the new Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, on 12 August 2024 seeking his in-principle agreement to proceed with this section 104 Order. I have still not received a reply.
My officials have asked officials in the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland when I can expect to receive a reply.
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