- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the designation of UNESCO biosphere reserves in Scotland as areas of significance for sustainable development and climate change.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2022
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the measures it has been taking as part of the Women’s Health Plan to improve access for women to appropriate support, speedy diagnosis and best treatment for endometriosis.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2021
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 17 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the actions ministers have taken under section 9 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, regarding opportunities to advance equality and non-discrimination when exercising their functions under the Act.
Answer
Section 9 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 requires that the Scottish Ministers have regard to opportunities to advance equality and non-discrimination when exercising functions under Part 1 of the Act.
The following provisions under Part 1 of the Act confer functions on the Scottish Ministers, and details of measures undertaken to advance equality and non-discrimination when these functions have been exercised by Ministers is provided in the following table.
Act provision | Measures undertaken |
Section 2, Schedule 1 – paragraph 8 (evictions – power to modify notice periods) | These functions were exercised in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (Eviction from Dwelling-houses) (Notice Periods) Modification Regulations 2020 (2020/270) to protect tenants and keep them safe in their home during the pandemic. Women are the majority of renters in the social rented sector, and people from non-white backgrounds are more likely than people from white backgrounds to live in the private rented sector - it was therefore crucial that a range of impact assessments were undertaken. This included significant contributions to both the Equality Impact Assessment and Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments that were prepared and published as part of the wider work to implement the emergency Coronavirus legislation. |
Section 5, Schedule 4 – paragraph 15 (community orders: power to vary requirements in community payback orders and drug treatment and testing orders) | These functions were exercised in the Community Orders (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2021(2021/144), which used the power to vary community orders. Impact assessments, including an Equality Impact Assessment, were prepared and published to support scrutiny of this SSI. The regulations excluded orders imposed involving domestic abuse, sexual offences, and stalking to mitigate risks arising from the particular barriers that exist in relation to the reporting of those offences (and which are not found to the same extent with other offence types), and which the Scottish Government and other justice organisations have taken steps to reduce in recent years. These include action under Equally Safe, the Scottish Government’s national strategy to take action against all forms of violence against women and girls, ground-breaking domestic abuse legislation, investment in training and support, and campaigns. |
Section 5, Schedule 4 – paragraph 19 (power to make regulations in relation to early release of prisoners) | This function was exercised to make The Release of Prisoners (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (2020/138). The provisions of the Act, and the specific regulations set out in the SSI identified a cohort of prisoners who were considered for early release. The criteria which were applied related to the individuals’ previous offending (including exclusions for individuals sentenced for sex offences, domestic abuse or harassment offences – and a provision for prison Governors to exclude otherwise eligible individuals if there was evidence an early release would present a risk to a specific individual), as well as prisoner’s sentence length and time remaining to serve. As such, the criteria were uniform in their assessment of eligibility, irrespective of the individuals age, gender, or other potential discriminatory factors. |
Section 7, Schedule 6 – paragraph 8(2) (power to postpone publication and laying of reports before the Scottish Parliament) | This functional provision was introduced by the Act and has been exercised to allow for publication of certain statutory reports to be delayed only in circumstances where publication by the required date would impede their ability to take effective action against coronavirus; otherwise publication would continue to be required as normal. The Scottish Government does not consider it to be a provision which could provide “opportunities to advance equality and non-discrimination when exercising their functions under the Act”. These are general, wide-reaching powers provided by the first Scottish Act without needing an SSI. |
Section 7, schedule 6 – paragraph 9(2) (powers in relation to duties to publish or make available documents for inspection electronically) | This functional provision has been exercised by public authorities, particularly while access to public offices and libraries has been restricted, but due to the wide range of circumstances where Scottish Ministers or public bodies may have exercised these powers, it would be disproportionate to report on individual uses and so a record of its use is not available.The Scottish Government has recognised the online publication of certain documents, rather than them being made available for physical inspection, may have an impact on those who have less access to online technologies. Older people, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions have been identified particularly as using these technologies less than other groups. However, older people and those with long-term health conditions are also identified as being at greater risk from coronavirus. The Scottish Government recognised that the aim is to allow local authority business and other public services, including services for vulnerable groups, to continue and meet statutory requirements at any time while physical access is not permitted to prevent spread of the virus. These are general, wide-reaching powers provided by the first Scottish Act without needing an SSI. |
Section 8, schedule 7- paragraphs 9 and 10 (power to make regulations in relation to duration of planning permission) | This provision gives Ministers power to alter the “emergency period” and the “extended period” referred to in the relevant provisions. These powers have been used to change these periods by: The Town and Country Planning (Emergency Period and Extended Period) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020/254 – which changed the periods so that the emergency period would end on 31 March 2021 and the extended period would end on 30 September 2021. The Town and Country Planning (Emergency Period and Extended Period) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2021/100 (as subsequently amended by SSI 2021/142) – which changed the end of the emergency period from 31 March 2021 to 30 September 2021 and the end of the extended period from 30 September 2021 to 31 March 2022. The Town and Country Planning (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2021/292 - which changed the end of the emergency period from 30 September 2021 the end of 31 March 2022 and the end of the extended period from 31 March 2022 to the end of 30 September 2022. The Scottish Government does not consider it to be a provision which could provide “opportunities to advance equality and non-discrimination when exercising their functions under the Act”. |
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the measures it has been taking to protect and enhance the marine environment through no-take zones and marine protected areas.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the capacity of on-street charging infrastructure as drivers switch to electric vehicles.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with its joint action plan with COSLA, Improving the Lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers 2019-2021.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that water scarcity reporting is accurate and reflective of all areas of Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2021
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the prosecution system delivers fairer and more effective justice.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2021
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support communities to play their part in achieving Scotland's net zero targets.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021
