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-23794

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 14 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the (a) CAP Greening Group has, (b) National Council of Rural Advisors has and (c) Agricultural Champions have met since September 2018, and what future meetings are planned.

These Groups were limited life working groups which have all published their final reports: the CAP Greening Group in February 2018, NCRA in October 2018 and Agricultural Champions in May 2018. The recommendations from these groups are now being considered by the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group agreed by Parliament on January 2019 and which met for the first time on the 20 June at the RHS. This group will make recommendations on future farming and food production built around the six principles set out in the January debate: Sustainability; Simplicity; Profitability; Innovation, Inclusion, Productivity.

Question reference: S5W-23792

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 14 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its consultation, Stability and Simplicity, how many Small Farms Grant Scheme payments have been made in each year since 2015, broken down by parliamentary region.

The scheme went live in 2015, and no payments were made in this year.

2016 – 8 payments in total – 7 x Highlands & Islands, and 1 x South Scotland.

2017 – 18 payments in total – 11 x Highlands & Islands, 5 x South Scotland, and 2 x North East Scotland.

2018 – 5 payments in total – 3 x Highlands & Islands, 1 x Central Scotland, and 1 x North East Scotland.

2019 - 9 payments in total – 5 x Highlands & Islands, 2 x Mid Scotland & Fife, 1 x North East Scotland, and 1 x South Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-03435

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports of a shift in the population from the west coast to the east over the next few years to access better housing.

Question reference: S5W-23671

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing the spatial management measures for the wild wrasse fishery similar to those that have been introduced elsewhere in the UK, including by the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) entered into a voluntary wild wrasse management arrangement with the Scottish Government in May 2018. These measures apply to suppliers to SSPO members catching wrasse and lay the foundations of an evidence base in better understanding these species.

Wrasse data currently being collected will help improve our understanding of the fishery and inform future management measures. We have no plans at present to introduce spatial management measures, but will continue to work closely with fishers and partners such as Scottish Natural Heritage, and keep the existing measures under review.

Question reference: S5W-23371

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how marine fuel has been used by (a) CalMac, (b) Argyll Ferries and (c) NorthLink Ferries in each of the last five years.

There are a range of uses to which marine fuel has been put during each of the previous five years: marine fuel has been used by CalMac Ferries, Argyll Ferries and Serco NorthLink Ferries to fuel propulsion via the main engines and bow thrusters; to fuel the operation of vessels’ auxiliary electricity generators; and in order to power on-board boilers for heating. Marine fuel is also currently used as the fuel for the engines of lifeboats and Fast Rescue Craft.

Question reference: S5W-23373

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date road equivalent tariff fares will be introduced on ferry routes between Gourock and Dunoon.

My officials and I attended a meeting with stakeholders on 16 April 2019 in Dunoon and committed to further consideration of fares requirements. Officials are conducting analysis around fare options and impacts.

However it must be noted that a State aid complaint has been made to the European Commission about our proposals to introduce RET on the Pentland Firth, so we should not underestimate the challenges involved.

We will need to obtain the Commission’s views on that complaint before considering the implications for implementation of RET on the Gourock – Dunoon service.

Question reference: S5W-23372

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland will meet stakeholders to discuss the introduction of road equivalent tariff fares on ferry routes between Gourock and Dunoon.

Question reference: S5W-23370

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Transport Scotland has had with CalMac regarding maintaining late night weekend sailings between Gourock and Dunoon.

Transport Scotland has had no formal discussions with CalMac regarding maintaining the late night weekend sailings between Gourock and Dunoon. Formal discussions have focused on bringing the service into the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract. We continue to engage with local stakeholders on investment to improve the resilience and reliability of the service, increase patronage and to enable an upgrade to passenger facilities.

Question reference: S5W-23431

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when the Good Food Nation Bill was last discussed at a cabinet meeting.

Question reference: S5W-22660

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many farm businesses in (a) the Highlands, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) each parliamentary region are waiting to receive 2016-17 AECS (Agri-Environment Climate Scheme) payments.

The amount of farm businesses waiting to receive 2016-17 AECS (Agri-Environment Climate Scheme) payments is as follows;

0 outstanding payments out of the 911 approved applications for the 2016 claim year
22 outstanding payments out of the 751 approved applications for the 2017 claim year

Outstanding 2017 payments by parliamentary region and associated Rural Payments area office:

Region	2016	2017
Highlands and Islands (Inverness Office)	0	3

Highlands and Islands (Golspie Office)	0	1

Highlands and Islands (Elgin Office)	0	1

Highlands and Islands (Orkney Office)	0	1

Highlands and Islands (Benbecula Office)	0	1

North East Scotland (Inverurie Office)	0	4

Mid Scotland and Fife (Perth Office)	0	5

South Scotland (Ayr Office)	0	1

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (Galashiels Office)	0	5

Total	0	22

The last few claims in any claim year are historically the more complex to process and work continues to complete the necessary actions to get these outstanding claims to a ready to pay status.

We are aiming to have paid the vast majority of these outstanding claims paid to customers by 30 June 2019