- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration ScotRail has given to replacing the entire heating systems on its trains that operate on the West Highland line.
Answer
The Member may wish to note that the reason for the low temperatures on the early services in the West Highland line is not a faulty heating system, but the time it takes for the train diesel engines to heat up. It would not be appropriate to replace the heating system which is not faulty.
In the longer term, ScotRail’s diesel rolling stock will be replaced by the greener trains as set out in the Scottish Government’s Decarbonisation Action Plan.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24281 by Fiona Hyslop on 31 January 2024, whether it will directly address the issue raised in the question regarding whether it has conducted any analysis on whether its proposed increase in rail fares for 2024-25 could potentially lead to an increase in road traffic numbers in the Highlands and Islands region, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not conducted any region specific analysis, however we do not expect a significant increase in traffic numbers in any area.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to "further grow direct air routes from US and Canadian cities", as set out in its publication, Scotland's International Strategy: Delivering for Scotland.
Answer
Transport Scotland, in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, works to help Scotland’s airports secure new routes that are essential for inbound tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole. This includes work to grow our international connectivity to the US and Canada given the importance of these links for business, exports and tourism.
In 2023 we helped secure new services to Atlanta with Delta Air Lines, and to Calgary with WestJet. Further developments in 2024 will see JetBlue serve Scotland for the first time with their service to New York JFK, and WestJet resume their services to Toronto and Halifax. We continue to work with these airlines to help make these routes a success.
We also have regular engagement with airlines to discuss future opportunities to further develop our connectivity to North America. These discussions are commercially sensitive and I am unable to share specific details.
Connectivity to Scotland is also part of the North America joint business planning of the Scottish Government offices in Washington DC and Ottawa, and they support the work of Transport Scotland on the development of both existing routes and new connectivity through their in-country activities.
Furthermore, the Scottish Government is supportive of Edinburgh Airport in its ambition to establish preclearance for outbound flights to the US. Preclearance would help to ensure the ongoing success of established US routes and encourage the development of new ones.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any steps that are being taken to support farmers in using the methane-suppressing feed additive, Bovaer.
Answer
In February 2023, the Scottish Government published its Draft Agricultural Reform List of Measures outlining the intention to develop future agricultural support conditionality options, which could recognise appropriate uptake of methane suppressing feed products by farmers. We are continuing to work with industry to establish options for recognising use of these products and other practices which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) B, (b) single track and (c) unclassified road upgrades it has planned for 2024 in the Highlands and Islands region, and whether it can confirm the (i) projected date of completion and (ii) total budget for each project.
Answer
Transport Scotland, working on behalf of Scottish Ministers, have no B roads, single track roads or unclassified roads in the Highlands and Islands region under its responsibility.
The local road network is the responsibility of local authorities and they will allocate resources on the basis of local priorities. The vast majority of funding to local authorities from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their individual allocations. It is therefore the responsibility of each local authority to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government (a) where and (b) when it expects to hold an international food summit to promote Scotland’s food and drink sector, as set out in its publication, Scotland's International Strategy: Delivering for Scotland.
Answer
As set out in this year’s Programme for Government and Scotland’s International Strategy, the Scottish Government intends to host an international food summit including a focus on promoting the sector and overall food security. Further detail will be announced in due course.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20115 by Jenni Minto on 15 August 2023, whether there are any reimbursement schemes available to any patients who are forced to pay for private dental treatment as a result of there being no local NHS provision.
Answer
There are no reimbursement schemes available to patients who enter into a private arrangement with a dentist for treatment, and the Scottish Government has no locus for intervention.
NHS dental services will continue to be available to patients, and some patients may wish to travel outwith their local area to access NHS dental services. Patients who are not registered with a dentist are able to access emergency and urgent dental care through their local Board’s Public Dental Service clinic.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 8 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government with which countries it hopes to enter into memoranda of understanding, and on what date, as set out in its publication, Scotland's International Strategy: Delivering for Scotland.
Answer
Non-binding international agreements such as memoranda of understanding help support international collaboration between Scotland and our international partners across a range of policy areas. Sharing best practice with like-minded partners helps ensure that we develop and deliver effective policy at home. Details of active agreements with national and sub-national partners such as Ireland and Flanders can be found on the Scottish Government’s website. Any future agreements will be in line with the themes and objectives of our new international Strategy.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24530 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2024, whether Transport Scotland’s Ferries Unit is in possession of performance and carrying statistics for CalMac for the period after 16 May 2023, in light of its contract management team monitoring the performance of operators through analysing monthly performance reports and meetings with operators, as stated in the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, and, if so, whether Transport Scotland will consider publishing that information.
Answer
CalMac Ferries Ltd have recently provided detail in relation to cancelled and additional sailings beyond 16 May 2023. This will now be reviewed by Transport Scotland. Once reviewed and agreed it will be for CalMac as the operator to publish this information. As a matter of course Transport Scotland would not normally publish this information.
As part of the expected monthly reporting, we have not received carrying figures. Transport Scotland would not normally publish such information.
CalMac Ferries Ltd publish indicative performance figures for all the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) routes, and we would expect that the verified Contractual Performance figures from May 2023 will be published in due course and can be located on CalMac website: CalMac Performance Data Browser | CalMac Ferries .
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings it has had with and (b) support it has offered to SkyeConnect regarding the development of a long-term tourism management plan for the Isle of Skye, in light of a reported increase in local tourism.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to growing and diversifying Scotland's visitor economy, and also to ensuring places across the country can develop, manage and benefit from tourism effectively and responsibly.
In August 2023, I met with SkyeConnect to discuss a range of issues related to the local visitor economy. SkyeConnect have received public sector financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for a range of destination development activities, including the development of a post-Covid recovery plan. HIE continue to offer practical support through their existing wide-range of client products and programmes.
In addition, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill would give councils the power to introduce a visitor levy in all or part of their area to raise funding for local tourism facilities and services. Before a visitor levy could be introduced a local authority will be required to consult with local businesses, communities and tourism organisations.
The Scottish Government would welcome any local tourism management plan that is in line with Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy.