Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-19842

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a lack of accredited carbon audit advisers based in Shetland.

During the development of the Carbon Audit guidance, under Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF), early engagement with Agents and Lantra was conducted to ensure that the industry could start upskilling its network to meet the expected demand. As a result, the number of FBAASS accredited agents/ associates has increased to 151 (11-07-23). The spread might not cover every island, but it does create a growing network that is improving the access to farmers and crofters who request their services. We will monitor this position closely.

Question reference: S6W-19502

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when work will begin on the next Northern Isles Ferry Services Contract.

Question reference: S6W-19065

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18017 by Kevin Stewart on 25 May 2023, for what reason it has delayed the publication of the Fair Fares Review to the end of 2023, and whether it can provide assurance that the Fair Fares Review will be published by this new deadline.

The Fair Fares Review is progressing well, with work underway with stakeholders and delivery partners to explore the challenges and opportunities facing our public transport system. Also, developing and assessing potential options for change that ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the long term viability of public transport in Scotland. This work will be supported by a broader programme of public engagement planned to commence later this summer.

It is vital that the Fair Fares Review is informed by the most robust and up-to-date evidence and accordingly the review will report by the end of this year in order to take cognisance of emerging evidence such as the Year 1 evaluation of the U22 free bus travel scheme and early findings from the removal of the Scotrail peak-time rail fares pilot. This report will recommend a package of measures that can be considered for implementation from 2024-25 onwards that provide opportunities to address the wider issues impacting on the cost and availability of public transport services across all modes of public transport and that will help ensure that the costs of transport are shared more fairly across government, business and society.

Question reference: S6W-19190

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16933 by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2023, what update it has received from Police Scotland regarding delivery of the National Dashcam Safety Portal.

Police Scotland provided an update on the National Dashcam Safety Portal (NDSP) to officials at the Strategic Partnership Board meeting on 5 June, the highest tier to the Road Safety Framework to 2030 governance structure.

Prior to this, officials received a scoping paper from Police Scotland that outlines what will be required in order to initiate a business case that considers the development and anticipated demand of the pilot project before full national capability can be implemented.

Officials will meet with Police Scotland on 20 July to discuss the next steps.

Question reference: S6W-19011

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved medical assessors there are in Scotland, who are able to assess seafarers for an ML5 certificate, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-19012

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs in Scotland are able to assess seafarers for an (a) ENG1 and b) ML5 medical certificate, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-18526

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the Minister for Transport's concerns about strangers sharing cabins on the Serco NorthLink Ferries, what consideration it has given to obtaining vessels with single occupancy cabins.

Question reference: S6W-18888

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what planning rules are in place, relating to proximity to communities and individual dwellings, for the siting of future wind farm developments.

All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), adopted in February this year, forms part of the statutory development plan alongside the relevant Local Development Plan (LDP).

NPF4 places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system and makes clear our support for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies, including onshore wind.

NPF4 policy 11 makes clear that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors remain important considerations in the decision-making process. Additionally, the policy requires that project design and mitigation will demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker will be addressed. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments, including Environmental Impact Assessment where applicable.

Question reference: S6W-18528

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making freight rates on Serco NorthLink Ferries available in advance on a rolling basis.

Question reference: S6W-18530

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17312 by Kevin Stewart on 25 April 2023, what progress it has made towards confirming fares for Serco NorthLink Ferries, and whether it will provide an update on when bookings will be opened for dates beyond 30 September 2023.