Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-08185

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing a rapid food production impact assessment of all existing and new legislation and policy affecting agricultural land use and practice, in order to avoid any undermining of the potential for, or increases to the costs of, food production.

Scottish Ministers have established a short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce, together with industry. The Taskforce met for the first time on 18 March and again on 01 and 20 April. It will monitor, identify and respond to any current and potential disruption to the food and drink supply chain resulting from the impact of the current situation in Ukraine.

It is currently considering a range of issues and proposals submitted to it and will seek to recommend, any short, medium and longer-term actions that can be taken to mitigate impacts, resolve supply issues and strengthen food security and supply in Scotland. The taskforce will report in due course.

Question reference: S6O-01039

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

To ask what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on Scotland of the outcome of the French presidential election.

Question reference: S6W-07435

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 29 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding a lifetime commitment to thalidomide health grants and support beyond 2023.

Question reference: S6W-07436

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the most recent known levels of charges for (a) NHS prescriptions and (b) eye tests in Scotland, and how this compares with (i) England and (ii) Wales.

Question reference: S6W-07369

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 March 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what further steps it is taking to respond to the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

This is an unprecedented time and we are witnessing a humanitarian crisis in Europe not seen since World War II. The Government is actively working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, councils and the Scottish Refugee Council to ensure that Scotland is ready and able to welcome refugees from Ukraine and give them the support and sanctuary that those fleeing from Russian aggression so desperately need. The Scottish Government will continue to press the UK Government to waive all visa requirements and introduce a comprehensive resettlement scheme.

This Government wants to do all it can to support the people of Ukraine who have been displaced by war and this will need to ensure we have a co-ordinated approach across Government and with our partners as we seek to provide sanctuary and support to people in need.

Given the grave and urgent nature of the situation, it is right that this Government has a Minister with specific responsibilities for refugees from Ukraine who will be arriving in Scotland and need support to rebuild their lives. Therefore to provide further support for the Scottish Government’s action, I have decided that, with immediate effect, Neil Gray, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, will also have special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine. For the time being, he will report directly to me for these new responsibilities and will attend Cabinet as required.

Mr Gray’s new ministerial title, with immediate effect, will be Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine.

Question reference: S6W-06476

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the onshore wind turbines planning advice guidance will be updated to reflect considerations for applications for turbines of 200m and over that are in close proximity to individual rural dwellings or settlements, and to require turbines of 150m and over to be illuminated.

Our Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out how our approach to planning and development will help achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045, including through a suite of 35 proposed new or updated national planning policies. Draft policy 19 on green energy supports renewable energy development other than in national parks and national scenic areas, subject to an assessment of impacts on a case by case basis. Criteria for assessing proposals are also set out, including impacts on communities and individual dwellings, as well as on aviation.

We laid the Draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2021. Alongside Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, we are running a public consultation, supported by an extensive engagement programme, and comments are invited by 31 March 2022. Following this period, we will consider the responses received and any appropriate amendments to the draft NPF4 before presenting a final draft to the Scottish Parliament for its approval, in advance of adoption by the Scottish Ministers.

We will give consideration, once NPF4 has been finalised and adopted, to whether and where our existing suite of planning guidance may need updated or replaced to support NPF4 implementation.

Question reference: S6W-06477

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what considerations it will put in place for onshore wind turbine planning consents (a) in areas where the onshore installed power generation is already at a high level and (b) where rural communities feel that they are already contributing significantly towards renewable targets.

Our Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out how our approach to planning and development will help achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045, including through a suite of 35 proposed new or updated national planning policies. Draft policy 19 on green energy supports renewable energy development other than in national parks and national scenic areas, subject to an assessment of impacts on a case by case basis. Criteria for assessing proposals are also set out, including impacts on communities.

We laid the Draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2021. Alongside Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, we are running a public consultation, supported by an extensive engagement programme, and comments are invited by 31 March 2022. Following this period, we will consider the responses received and any appropriate amendments to the draft NPF4 before presenting a final draft to the Scottish Parliament for its approval, in advance of adoption by the Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S6W-06475

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact new offshore installed power generation will have on the reported concerns regarding onshore landscape capacity.

Scottish Government is working with key stakeholders in the process to try and address challenges and ensure as far as possible that connections to the network do not act as a barrier to the delivery of our ambitious offshore wind aspirations.

Our draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045. We are currently consulting on the draft NPF4 and following the consultation will present a final draft to parliament.

Any applications for consent for offshore and onshore energy infrastructure are considered by the relevant consenting authority, which can be the Scottish Ministers or the relevant local planning authority depending on the nature of the proposal, and determined in accordance with the applicable legal and policy considerations relevant to that particular proposal. This will include consideration of any landscape and visual effects arising from the proposal. Parties with an interest in such proposals, including members of the public, have opportunities to provide their views in relation to applications through the relevant applicable consenting process.

Question reference: S6O-00807

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to dairy farmers to promote sustainability and fairness in the supply chain.

Question reference: S6O-00676

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend financial support for outdoor clothing to early learning and childcare settings.

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