- Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm if a judicial office holder from outwith Scotland will preside over the public inquiry into the malicious prosecutions concerning Rangers FC.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to a process of a judge-led inquiry once all legal proceedings relating to the malicious prosecutions are at an end. The exact form of inquiry will be determined at the point once all legal proceedings are concluded.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05645 by Ivan McKee on 19 January 2022, whether an impact assessment was undertaken as part of its decision to classify the bingo sector as a live event.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not assess risk on a sector by sector basis as the risks of a significant number of people gathering together indoors is the same regardless of the activity that brings them together.
For the purposes of the capacity limits on indoor gatherings the Scottish Government considers a live event to be something that brings together a significant number of people for communal participation in a leisure or entertainment activity.
The Scottish Government carried out an impact assessment of the live event regulation and its impact on businesses which include, but is not confined to, Bingo halls. This has been published at the link below: The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 6) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk).
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan Mckee on 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05645 by Ivan McKee on 19 January 2022, what epidemiological evidence it considered when classifying the bingo sector as a live event.
Answer
As I noted in my previous response to the member, the indoor events capacity limits were introduced in regulations from 26 December 2021 in order to mitigate the greatly increased transmission rates of the omicron COVID-19 variant, recognising that large capacity events indoors pose a high risk of transmission of the virus. The capacity limits were removed from 24 January. The Scottish Government does not assess risk on a sector by sector basis as the risks of a significant number of people gathering together indoors is the same regardless of the activity that brings them together. For the purposes of the capacity limits on indoor gatherings the Scottish Government considers a live event to be something that brings together a significant number of people for communal participation in a leisure or entertainment activity.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what public information campaigns it plans to introduce to encourage people to attend cultural events as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.
Answer
While the restrictions on the number of people who can attend live events have been relaxed from 24 January, I understand it will take time for audience confidence to be rebuilt.
The Scottish Government is keen to encourage audiences to return to cultural events. The First Minister held a media visit at the Scottish Opera on 2 February. The First Minister welcomed the return of live events and encouraged people to support theatres and other aspects of the arts.
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture is giving the opening address at the Association of British Orchestras conference on 9 February. Mr Robertson will highlight during this speech the need for audiences to feel confident in returning to cultural events.
The Scottish Government is keen to work with stakeholders, including the performing arts and live music sector, to seek opportunities to encourage audiences to return to cultural events, in line with current guidance for public places.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the regulation of canine fertility clinics.
Answer
The Programme for Government 2020-21 commits the Scottish Government to consult on proposals to extend the new regulatory framework that came into force on 1 September last year for the licensing of dog, cat and rabbit breeding activities, animal welfare establishments and pet sales to performing animals and animal care services. This latter category may possibly include canine fertility clinics, particularly given the concerns of the veterinary profession about the growth and practices of such clinics across the country.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the medium-term resilient route through Glen Croe at the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83, including (a) whether Transport Scotland is on track to develop a finalised proposal by the beginning of 2023 and (b) when it expects construction to (i) commence and (ii) be completed on the medium-term resilient route.
Answer
As part of our plans for the Rest and Be Thankful, we are developing a medium term solution to provide resilience whilst the long term solution is progressed. A number of options are currently being assessed, including the possible use of the existing forestry track and improvements to the Old Military Road.
Depending on whether statutory consents are needed, it is envisaged that a finalised proposal for a medium term solution could be developed by late 2022.A timetable for the construction phase of a medium term solution can only be set once the scope of the proposals are finalised and any statutory procedures required have been successfully completed.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects construction to begin on the long-term solution at the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05447 on 27 January 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-answers
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, ahead of the construction on both the medium and long-term solutions for the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83, whether it plans to coordinate this work with planned rebuilding work on the A82 near Tarbet.
Answer
Yes. We fully acknowledge and understand the importance of coordinating any work on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful with the A82 Tarbet to Inverarnan scheme.
Delivery of both projects can only commence following statutory approval, and the coordination of construction works will be given full consideration as both schemes continue to be developed.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its project delivery plan for the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to an infrastructure solution to address the A83 Rest and Be Thankful landslip risks. Delivery of a permanent and resilient solution is a priority and we continue to seek ways to achieve that as quickly as possible, noting all of the options require complex civil engineering.
Identifying the preferred route corridor for a solution last year was a major step forward for this vital project and we continue to push forward the design and assessment of alternative options within that online corridor, as we look to identify a preferred route option next year.
As with other trunk road improvement projects, we will need to complete the necessary engineering and environmental assessments and statutory process to allow any land to be acquired before construction can commence.
A detailed timetable for the construction phase of the project can only be set once the statutory procedures have been successfully completed.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 27 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it has explored prototypes for an online registration system, similar to the system paid for and presented to it by former members of its working group on short-term lets.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05400 on 24 January 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx