Questions and answers

Question reference: S6F-03322

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-29605

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next publish its Housing Statistics for Scotland Quarterly Update.

Question reference: S6W-29603

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when its Travelling Cabinet will next meet in the Highlands and Islands region.

Question reference: S6W-29519

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that there will be no loss in whole-time equivalent (WTE) midwifery hours as a result of the reduction in the time worked by midwives by 30 minutes each week, as stated in the NHS Agenda for Change.

The reduction of the working week for Agenda for Change staff was agreed in partnership between the Scottish Government, Agenda for Change Staff Side representative groups and NHS Scotland employers, and the implementation of the first 30 minute reduction has been overseen in partnership through a sub-group of the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee. The Implementation Sub-Group agreed guidance at the beginning of the process which was published as NHS Scotland circular PCS(AFC)2024/2, and this continues to be updated as required.

The guidance provides a set of overarching principles, but it is recognised that the specifics of how the reduction will be achieved are best discussed and agreed locally through NHS Board partnership structures. The guidance makes clear that the reduction should only be implemented when this can be done safely. Where staff continue to work their previous hours, there is provision for payment of a Transitional Allowance until the reduction can be achieved.

Question reference: S6W-29465

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many fines it has issued in relation to fishing in restricted areas within Marine Protected Areas since 2020.

Since 2020 Marine Directorate have issued thirty Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) totalling £95,000 in relation to suspected fishing in restricted areas where the fishing method involved was prohibited. Of those thirty incidents, four were specifically within Marine Protected Areas which are protected by a Scottish Statutory Instrument implemented under powers provided by the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and/or the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984.

Fines totalling £20,000 were issued for these four cases, one of which was paid and no further action taken. The remaining three cases, following non-payment, were subsequently reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for consideration of prosecution. Two of these cases were convicted in court and fined £2,000 and £5,000 respectively. The third case has recently been submitted to COPFS and has not as of yet proceeded to trial.

In addition to these four cases where Fixed Penalty Notices were issued by Marine Directorate, One further case was not offered an FPN and was referred directly to the Procurator Fiscal resulting in a conviction and fine of £2,075.

Question reference: S6W-29378

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects NHS Borders to make any further reductions or savings once the NHS board returns a financial balance to repay accumulated brokerage.

NHS Scotland is facing an unprecedented financial challenge, but all NHS Boards continue to have a statutory responsibility to reach a break-even financial position.

NHS Borders delivered a deficit outturn in 2023-24 and continue to manage financial pressures in 2024-25. Scottish Government are working with NHS Borders to create a credible and realistic path to balance and, once that path balance has been achieved, the Board would start to repay outstanding brokerage.

Question reference: S6W-29028

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings (a) the First Minister and (b) previous First Ministers had with the leader of Orkney Islands Council in each year since 2021.

Since 2021, Scottish Ministers have regularly met with Council Leaders, including Orkney Islands Council, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

The First Minister and previous First Minister have also committed to meeting with the COSLA Presidential team biannually to discuss key priorities and issues for local government. The First Minister and previous First Ministers have also delivered keynote speeches at the COSLA Annual Conference since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29027

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings (a) the First Minister and (b) previous First Ministers had with the leader of Argyll and Bute Council in each year since 2021.

Since 2021, Scottish Ministers have regularly met with Council Leaders, including Argyll and Bute Council, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

The First Minister and previous First Minister have also committed to meeting with the COSLA Presidential team biannually to discuss key priorities and issues for local government. The First Minister and previous First Ministers have also delivered keynote speeches at the COSLA Annual Conference since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29367

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) UK and (b) EU vessels were registered to fish in Scottish waters in each year since 2021.

UK commercial fishing licences provide general authority for the registered vessel to fish in the UK EEZ, subject to specific conditions detailed in the licence. The UK Fisheries Act 2020 sets out the ‘equal access objective’, stating that, "access of UK fishing boats to any area within British fishery limits is not affected by- (a) the location of the fishing boat’s home port, or (b) any other connection of the fishing boat, or any of its owners, to any place in the United Kingdom."

UK fishing licences may also be retained as an "entitlement" which means that that there is no active fishing vessel linked to the licence entitlement at that time. That entitlement may be re-activated in the future by being transferred or sold and then attached to an active UK vessel.

The information provided in the following table is the number of "active" UK licences - i.e. where a fishing vessel is linked to the licence - as of 1 January in each year. As noted above, whilst UK fishing licences permit activity in all UK waters, the number of active UK licences is not necessarily representative of UK vessels' fishing activity in Scottish waters.

Year	UK vessels licensed at 1 January
2024	4896
2023	5031
2022	5283
2021	5307

The following number of EU vessels were issued with fishing licences to access and fish in UK waters since 2021. These licences permit access to all UK waters not just Scottish waters. All eligible EU vessels must hold a historic track record of operating in the UK EEZ prior to UK withdrawal from the EU. The following numbers therefore cannot be said to represent EU vessels' fishing activity in the Scottish zone.

Year	UK access licences issued to EU vessels
2024	1549
2023	1542
2022	1585
2021	1677

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