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: S5W-30744

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to businesses in the waste and resources sector that have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

We recognise the challenges many businesses in the sector continue to face during these difficult times and have engaged with sector representatives to understand the support that may be needed.

In partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, on 1 July we launched an initial package of measures to support the restoration and recovery of the sector following the Covid-19 crisis. This includes up to £1 million grant funding to help businesses maintain environmental performance and sustainability while implementing the controls required to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Resource management companies operating in Scotland can now apply for a grant of up to £10,000 per site to help implement physical distancing measures and adapt operations in response to Covid-19. Consultancy support will also be available to help businesses deal with issues created through the current pandemic and help them maximise recycling and recovery opportunities.

The Scottish Government’s overall business support package is now worth more than £2.3 billion, and includes £875 million of rates relief, small business grants collectively worth over £1.2 billion and £185 million of additional support. We have also now put in place a £230 million Return to Work package to help stimulate the economy following the pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-29588

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23699 by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 June 2019, for what reason the report on the impact of the spreading of sewage sludge has not been published, and by what date it will be.

Question reference: S5W-29589

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23700 by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 June 2019, what progress has been made with developing the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s integrated authorisation framework.

The integrated authorisation framework covers a number of different regimes which are being transferred into the framework in a phased manner.

Work was progressing well on bringing the other regimes into the integrated authorisation framework, however as a result of the impact of the current global health crisis, it has now been paused. It will be progressed in due course once we are in a position to do so.

Question reference: S5O-04395

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding plans to support B&Bs that are not on the rates system and were not eligible to apply to the COVID-19 hardship scheme solely because they did not have a business bank account.

Question reference: S5W-29232

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to the recommendations by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) in its publication, Opinion on the Welfare of Animals during Transport.

The Scottish Government published the Opinion of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee on the welfare of animals during transport on 17 April 2020. The Opinion and the Scottish Government’s response can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/fawc-opinion-on-the-welfare-of-animals-during-transport-sg-response/

In our initial response to FAWC’s Opinion we reiterated our commitment to maintaining high standards of animal welfare and to enhancing them sustainably. We now wish to explore how best to develop our current high standards of welfare in transport further, using FAWC’s proposed principles.

In particular we agree that all journeys have impacts on the welfare of animals and the three Rs approach should apply – can journeys be replaced, i.e. avoided; can they be reduced; and can they be refined. This includes minimising the amount of loading and unloading which causes stress to the animals. We agree that journeys should be well planned, including where appropriate with rest stops and contingency arrangements; that animals should be fit for the journey and in a fit state when they arrive; that the specific requirements of different species should be taken into account; that those responsible for animal transport should possess the appropriate skills and competences; that their vehicles are in a good condition and fit for purpose; and that effective compliance and enforcement arrangements and practices should apply.

We are committed to consulting on FAWC’s recommendations as soon as practicable, in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. We will advise Parliament when the consultation is due to start.

It is intended that the results of the consultation will allow us to fully consider our preferred policy intention of not supporting unnecessary long journeys involved in the export of livestock.

We fully recognise the traditional patterns of movement for livestock in island and remote rural communities, and we will continue to protect the needs and interests of Scottish farming and crofting by ensuring that appropriate livestock movements between all areas of Scotland are able to continue. However, we anticipate the potential to enhance welfare standards within such movements and remain committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to develop any such standards.

Question reference: S5O-04333

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Falkirk district's tourism industry.

The Scottish Government continues to work with regional partners in the development of the Falkirk Growth deal and partners envisage a strong tourism offer for Falkirk arising from this.

At present though, our time and resources are being spent helping the entire tourism sector across Scotland in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Assisting businesses in these crucial times is vital and we have recently announced a £2.2 billion package of measures to support businesses, including businesses in the tourism sector.

As things improve, I would be happy to ask my officials to provide the Member with more detail on VisitScotland’s work in the Falkirk area.

Question reference: S5O-04298

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on discussions with Falkirk Council and West Lothian Council regarding upgrading the A801 Avon Gorge crossing.

Question reference: S5O-04238

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how measures in its Budget for 2020-21 will help Scotland to meet its climate change ambitions.

Question reference: S5O-04212

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-27559

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on approvals from the AECS (Agri-Environment Climate Scheme) 2019 application round.

As a direct result of delays caused by the UK Government postponing its budget to accommodate the 2019 General Election, we were unable to determine the domestic budget available for the 2019 AECS round in December. That meant we could not confirm to applicants whether they were successful or unsuccessful before the end of 2019.

The Scottish Government delivered a Scottish Budget on 6 February in advance of the UK Budget scheduled for 11 March 2020. This allowed for the budget for AECS 2019 to be confirmed.

All applicants have now been informed by letter of result of their application and the process to issue contracts is underway by officials from RPID and SNH.

A total of 472 businesses will benefit from the latest award of Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) funding from the 2019 round with £34 million being awarded.

This brings the total committed to rural businesses under AECS since 2015 to more than £211 million, benefiting almost 3,000 applicants.