- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its current position is on HGV speed limits.
Answer
In Scotland the speed limit for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in built up areas is 30 mph. On single carriageway it is 40 mph, dual carriageways is 50 mph and on motorways 60 mph.
In addition, the HGV speed limit on single carriageway sections of the A9 between Perth and Inverness was raised to 50 mph on 28 October 2014.
HGV speed limit policy is being considered as part of the National Speed Management Review, later this year we will consult with stakeholders and the public to gather and consider their views on future changes to speed limit policies and speed management measures.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take any action to prevent the closure of the Juniors Play Cafe in Hamilton.
Answer
We recognise the current pressure on the third sector, and understandably there are calls being made on the Scottish Government every day for more support.
SCVO estimate that the public sector as a whole invests around £1.4 billion each year to support the work of charities and social enterprises. Of that, around £500m comes from Scottish Government via a broad range of programmes including those supporting community empowerment, mental health and wellbeing, children and families and health and social care.
We will continue to invest widely in the third sector from across the Government and have committed to increase multi-year funding wherever possible. This includes investing £21.9m in Third Sector infrastructure and programmes that provide the ‘backbone’ support and development to the wider sector.
A range of resources and advice can be accessed through the Find Business Support service which Families Like Us that support the Juniors Play Café may find helpful. These can be accessed at the following link: Find Business Support .
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its decision on the Outline Business Case for the Monklands Replacement Project, which was submitted to its Capital Investment Group in December 2022.
Answer
Due to the scale and significance of this project, in addition to the NHS Capital Investment Group, the Executive Team in Investment Mode, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, will also review the Outline Business Case at their meeting on 11 April 2023. A decision on next steps will be made after that meeting.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NatureScot, by signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium, and making disclosure of significant amounts of information relating to it and its operation confidential, has placed an obligation upon itself not to disclose any such information on the basis of it being commercially confidential.
Answer
While some detailed financial and legal information between investors and project land managers will be confidential between those parties, NatureScot’s agreement with partners will remain subject to normal information management obligations, including Freedom of Information. NatureScot will disclose all information in line with those requirements.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to implement the recommendation in the "Principle Conclusions" section of the Expert Working Group report, 48-hour maximum working week (without averaging) for Junior Doctors in Scotland, to improve the provision of nutritious food and drinks for all night shift staff.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15841 on 24 March 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: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated timescale is for the electrification of the City Union railway line in Glasgow.
Answer
No date has been set for the electrification of the City Union line, however, in line with the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan this route will be considered for future electrification by Transport Scotland.
The Decarbonisation Action Plan commits to all passenger diesel trains being replaced; the order and programme in which that is done will depend on business cases and available budgets. The Plan is a dynamic document, with a refresh of the Plan scheduled for 2023.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the purchase of land for the purposes of investment is ruled out by the Memorandum of Understanding between NatureScot and Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium.
Answer
This project will work with existing land owners and managers to restore native woodlands and other habitats, rather than acquiring land or changing land ownership. Although the Memorandum of Understanding does not rule out the purchase of land, the only scenario in which the partnership would consider this is where there is an opportunity for a community to buy land and help deliver the project aims.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions NatureScot had with Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium to require the creation of new woodland crofts or other forms of tenancies to manage new or existing woodlands and to ensure that the benefits of public and private investments would be widely shared.
Answer
The matters referred to will be explored during the design phase of the project. Alternative models of ownership will be encouraged, where appropriate and this will be further scoped during the design phase of the project.
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate (a) weekend and (b) evening ambulance cover in rural Stirlingshire, in light of recent reports that there has been no cover at two ambulance stations.
Answer
Ensuring the adequate availability of ambulance resources throughout Scotland is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).
The Service advise that there is no truth to any report of there being no cover at ambulance stations in Stirlingshire.
We are determined to continue to support the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure resources are in place across the country to ensure they maintain a fast and effective response to our most seriously ill patients.
Our continued increased investment has seen a record 540 additional staff join the service since 2021, with further recruitment underway.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what earnings NatureScot estimates Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium will make from their involvement in delivering the terms of the recently agreed Memorandum of Understanding, and what returns for investors it estimates any investment opportunities arising will give.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15873 on 24 March 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 .