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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it expects on Scotland’s rural economy and Scottish producers’ ability to export their goods of the proposed Kent Access Permit scheme.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2020
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Member's letter of 4 August and its reply of 3 September 2020, whether it will provide an answer to the request for it to commission independent research into the social and environmental impact of tourism.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains focused on understanding the impact that COVID-19 has had on the sector and what steps will be required to ensure its long term recovery.
Although at this point we will not be commissioning a specific piece of research, we are committed to ensuring that any growth is sustainable growth for the industry and our communities and sustainability is a key a consideration of Scotland Outlook 2030, Scotland’s national tourism strategy.
As we look towards recovery and towards stimulating tourism once again when the time is right, it is important that we consider the impact of our visitors and our potential to manager them better. I therefore organised a summit with key public sector stakeholders on 14 September to discuss a national and collaborated public sector approach to visitor management in rural communities. Stakeholders will report recommendations to Ministers in due course with an aim to realising material solutions and building on the success of Scottish Government’s £9m Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what oversight it has of the costs of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) project, in light of reported concerns about the increase in these.
Answer
Oversight is provided by a Programme Board, membership of which includes a Non-Executive Director and a representative of the Unions. In addition, the HIAL Chair and Board Non-Executive Directors continue to provide an oversight and challenge function in relation to this programme as well as HIAL’s operations and strategy more generally.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has seen regarding whether Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) will be able to monetise the expertise gained as part of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) project.
Answer
The ability to offer services to other airports is not integral to the need for a modernised ATS function within HIAL. However, as HIAL and its staff will develop expertise and knowledge in this field, it would look to capitalise upon this in the longer term, potentially creating new revenue streams to further improve facilities and services for the communities it serves.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are available to employees, experts and ministers to challenge the islands impact assessment that Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is carrying out on the proposal for remote air traffic control if they have concerns regarding its accuracy.
Answer
The islands impact assessment is being carried out by an independent consultant, following dialogue with the islands team in the Scottish Government. The process includes community engagement and consultation thus helping to ensure that the report is accurate. HIAL will publish the report once completed.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the islands impact assessment that Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is carrying out on the proposal for remote air traffic control will be impartial.
Answer
The ATMS strategy was approved in January 2018 and precedes the Islands (Scotland) Act. Accordingly, HIAL is not required to undertake an impact assessment but in the spirit of transparency agreed to do so. HIAL commissioned an independent consultant - who has experience of working with islands local authorities - to carry out the role and the process includes community engagement and consultation phase, due to be completed by 30 September.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to receive the business case for the repair of the funicular on Cairn Gorm from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and how long it estimates it will take for a decision to be reached.
Answer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has shared the business case with the Scottish Government. A decision on the repair of the funicular on Cairngorm is expected shortly.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Highlands and Islands Enterprise business case for the repair of the funicular on Cairn Gorm will be published in full to allow the Parliament and the public to scrutinise the plans prior to the Scottish Government’s decision on the matter.
Answer
The business case for the repair of the funicular on Cairngorm will be published shortly.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Trust Ports' governance structures being designed to reflect local markets and the needs of local communities, what mechanisms it considers a Trust Port should employ to ensure that it is meeting the needs of all its local communities.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31473 on 11 September 2020.
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 .