- Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in light of reports of
suspected links between the state of Iran and the Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre of
Glasgow, including in relation to the £200,000 funding reportedly granted to it
by the Scottish Government.
Answer
The Al-Mahdi Foundation received £372k of Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) grant funding for 2 projects between 2014-2020 to support awareness raising of climate change issues amongst disadvantaged and ethnic minority communities and to make their community building more energy efficient.
The CCF was delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful who were responsible for assessing all applications. Grant applications were subject to the relevant due diligence checks. Projects were monitored to ensure they delivered against their objectives and grants were paid out based on incurred expenditure.
National Security is a reserved matter. If there is any evidence of alleged criminality this should be reported to Police Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has provided any messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 04 December 2023. 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: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which she had responsibility in her former role as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development between May 2021 and January 2022.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 4 December 2023. 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: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which she had responsibility in her former role as (a) Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment between January and December 2020, (b) Minister for Public Health and Sport between December 2020 and May 2021 and (c) Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands between May 2021 and January 2022; whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006 and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants.
As a result, the Scottish Government is unable to confirm or comment on the details of any Rule 9 requests to individuals.
The Scottish Government remains fully committed in its cooperation with both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries in their independent work to explore the handling of the pandemic and to identify the vital lessons we all need to learn.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he had responsibility in his former role as Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans between January 2020 and May 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006, and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants.
As a result, the Scottish Government is unable to confirm or comment on the details of any Rule 9 requests to individuals.
The Scottish Government remains fully committed in its cooperation with both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries in their independent work to explore the handling of the pandemic and to identify the vital lessons we all need to learn.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban gas flaring.
Answer
Where flaring and venting is required as an operational safety feature in onshore industrial activities, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) act as independent regulators at regulated sites in Scotland. SEPA requires operators to prevent, or where that is not possible, to reduce emissions due to flaring and venting by the use of best available techniques.
Policy in relation to flaring and venting on offshore oil and gas platforms is reserved to the UK Government. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) acts as the regulator with the relevant legislation requiring offshore operators to have the correct consents in place for the flaring and venting during production operations. The NSTA has a goal of reaching zero routine flaring by 2030 or sooner.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of investment zones as a method of reducing any shortage of skilled workers for the energy transition.
Answer
The Scottish and UK Governments are currently working collaboratively with regional partners to develop proposals with distinct sectoral focus to maximise cluster building, innovation and economic growth.
The proposals – which are in the early stages of development – will link to existing regional economic strategies, recognising the pipeline of skills required for priority sectors, and will include an attractive package of levers aimed at encouraging new businesses to locate in the regions providing opportunities for talent attraction, which will contribute positively to meeting current and future skills requirements.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he had responsibility in his former role as Minister for Transport between May 2021 and January 2022.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 4 December 2023. 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: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Once for Scotland approach, particularly in relation to improving the delivery of equitable stoma care services across Scotland.
Answer
As part of the recently concluded information gathering exercise on the provision of stoma care and stoma specialist nurse coverage across Scotland's 14 territorial health boards, all boards supplied information on the stoma services that they provide, particularly with regard to care for stoma patients once they return home after their surgery. This information will be a key element of the consideration by the Scottish Executive Nurse Directors (SEND) of the results of the exercise.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its Sperm and Egg Donation Campaign, what impact assessment it carried out in advance to assess the potential risks to vulnerable women.
Answer
All licensed Assisted Conception Units (ACU’s) are required by law to offer gamete donors counselling, this is mandatory and is free of charge within NHS Scotland.
ACU’s must also give prospective donors sufficient, accessible and up to date information to enable them to make informed decisions about their donation and any consent they then provide.