Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-14666

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to establish a platform for healthcare professionals and researchers to access current heart disease-related data and intelligence.

Question reference: S6W-14533

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) length, (b) beam and (c) maximum operational draught will be of (i) Hull 802, currently under construction for CMAL and (ii) the two vessels that CMAL has ordered from the Cemre Marin Endustri yard to serve on the Uig to Lochmaddy and Uig to Tarbert ferry routes.

Question reference: S6W-15332

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of a crime of animal cruelty, of any kind, in each year since 2016, and, of those, how many were given a (a) lifetime and (b) temporary ban on owning animals.

The latest available information on convictions is for the financial year 2020-21 and is provided in the following table.

Number of people convicted for animal cruelty offences, where main charge, 2016-17 to 2020-21.

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
Total convicted	60	75	63	56	33

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database.

Note: Main charges were under Animal Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 sections 19-23,29(1)(A)(B) and 29(2)(A)&(B); Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Section 2; Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 Section 1(1); Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sections 10A(1), 11(1)(A), 11A(2)(B)&(6), 11(1)(AA), 11C(B), 11(G)(1) and 11(2)(A)&(F); Welfare of animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regs 2006 Regulation 3(1)(A); Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 Section 7.

(a), (b) The number of disqualifications on owning animals is not held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-15148

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in exploring the (a) capping and (b) tapering of base-level payments to release additional funding to meet the goals of its agricultural vision, as set out in its Programme for Government 2022-23.

The publication of the Agricultural Reform Route Map was announced on 10 February. The route map provides more detail on how SG will deliver the transition process and the steps that will be taken to get there. Furthermore, the route map sets out the timescales for information and interaction with the agricultural industry and is regularly updated to ensure that the most up to date information is available.

Decisions on the future support framework will be determined as part of the wider agricultural reform process. Work is ongoing and we remain committed to a co-design approach. This includes continued work with the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), engagement with wider industry, all committed to a vibrant and successful rural Scotland and drawing on the responses from the recent Bill Consultation.

It is in this further context that I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12369 on 2 December 2022. 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-answer

Question reference: S6W-15198

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) autonomous, (b) partner and (c) linked enterprise SMEs have (i) applied for and (ii) been granted a loan under the SME Loan Scheme for renewable or energy efficiency projects, since the scheme began.

The Scottish Government is unable to provide the information requested as it does not gather data based on the definitions used in this question.

As set out in PQ reference S6W-15196 on 6 March 2023 businesses may be defined by the Scottish Government as being “Small and Medium Enterprises” on the basis of a range of criteria. These criteria will depend upon the purpose for which a definition is being applied, as well as relevant legislation and standards.

The European Commission has adopted a definition of SMEs that further categorises these SME businesses as a) autonomous, (b) partner or (c) linked enterprises. However the European Commission definition and categorisation of SMEs is not applied as a standard for all purposes by the Scottish Government.

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

Question reference: S6W-15196

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the definition of an SME, how it defines an (a) autonomous, (b) partner and (c) linked enterprise.

Businesses may be defined by the Scottish Government as being “Small and Medium Enterprises” on the basis of a range of criteria. These criteria will depend upon the purpose for which a definition is being applied, as well as relevant legislation and standards.

The European Commission has adopted a definition of SMEs that further categorises these SME businesses as a) autonomous, (b) partner or (c) linked enterprises. However the European Commission definition and categorisation of SMEs is not applied as a standard for all purposes by the Scottish Government. Officials intend to remove or further clarify the references to the EC definition in setting out eligibility for the loan.

Question reference: S6W-14896

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle a reported increase in fuel theft in the Highlands and Islands region over the current winter period.

Question reference: S6W-14999

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason evidence generated throughout the year, in particular through prelims, will reportedly not be able to be used to support an appeal when a pupil underperforms on exam day.

Decisions relating to the operational delivery of the qualifications, including appeals, are a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

While alternative approaches were adopted in 2020, 2021 and 2022, these were temporary, emergency measures in response to the pandemic and the specific circumstances in each of those years.

SQA arrived at the appeals approach for 2023 based on an extensive evaluation of the 2022 arrangements and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents and learners.

Alternative evidence will be considered if a learner is unable to attend their exam, for example through illness or bereavement or whose performance in the examination may have been affected by personal circumstances, through the Exam Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service.

Question reference: S6W-14930

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13041 by Jenny Gilruth on 10 January 2023, whether it will itemise the sub-contracts placed with Scottish firms by Cemre Marin Endustri to supply the build programme for the new Islay vessels, including the total value of those respective sub-contracts.

Cemre have signed an agreement with Kongsberg for Fins Stabilisers with the production facility in Dunfermline. Neither the Scottish Government, nor CMAL as procuring authority, have details of the value of this commercial contract between the manufacturer and Cemre. Further information can be found at the attached link:

https://www.kongsberg.com/maritime/about-us/news-and-media/news-archive/2022/contract-to-supply-aquarius-50-retractable-fin-stabilisers/

Question reference: S6W-14927

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government who the current acting chief executive officer of Scottish Rail Holdings is; how long it is intended that they will be in this position; how many days they are contracted to work in the post, and what their remuneration is for these duties.

Chamber and committees