- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a complete breakdown of the fee structure for NHS dental payments (a) before and (b) after 1 November 2023.
Answer
The current fee structure for NHS dental payments, as of 1 November 2023, is detailed in Determination I of the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR), which can be accessed online at: Statement of Dental Remuneration | Scottish Dental .
The fee structure for NHS dental payments prior to 1 November 2023 is detailed in previous versions of the SDR, which are also available at the above link.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to upgrade the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) funding formula, and when any update will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring funding is distributed equitably across the country as set out in the 2021-22 Programme for Government. The existing National Resource Allocation Formula (NRAC) is updated on an ongoing basis for a range of factors including population demographics, relative health needs and remote and rural factors. We will continue to assess the need for a more detailed review of the formula, in line with developments in National Care Service funding and Integration reform.
The formula is inherently complex and the review will take time. However, work to determine how the review should be taken forward is underway, with initial meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation (TAGRA) having taken place, considering the next steps to determine scope and timing of the review.
Further work is required prior to confirmation of a timeline for the publication of the updated formula.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government for how long NHS Dumfries and Galloway has qualified for the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.
Answer
The Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) was introduced in 1997. Over the course of this period, areas of NHS Dumfries and Galloway included within the scheme have varied depending on the access to NHS dental services at a particular time.
The whole NHS Dumfries and Galloway Board area was added for inclusion to the scheme from 20 December 2021.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on transport infrastructure projects in the south of Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support and improve the network of community hospitals.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 January 2024
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming Regional Marine Plans will be required to identify locations where seaweed cultivation is to be supported.
Answer
The development of the marine planning framework will build on the existing consenting regime for aquaculture developments. Planning permission for finfish and shellfish farms are determined in accordance with National Planning Framework 4 and Scotland’s National Marine Plan. Seaweed farming is subject to the requirements set out under section 15 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 regarding decisions of public authorities affected by marine plans, including the National Marine Plan and any Regional Marine Plan, once adopted.
We will seek to ensure that National Planning Framework 4 and National Marine Plan 2 are aligned and consider any updates which are required to Planning Circular 1/2015: relationship between the statutory land use planning system and marine planning and licencing - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
Regional marine plans are developed by Marine Planning Partnerships, and must conform with the National Marine Plan currently in effect. The content of the regional marine plan is for these partnerships to determine based on local priorities.
In 2017 The Scottish Government published a Seaweed Cultivation Policy Statement to help facilitate the growth of the sector by setting out policy on the suitability of seaweed cultivation in different scenarios. This provides those wanting to operate in this sector with a better understanding of the type of development that may be given approval.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23367 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 December 2023, in light of the Scottish Budget for 2024-25 now being published, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what the eligibility criteria are for slurry storage grants under the new Agri-Environment Climate Scheme, which is due to open in early 2024, in light of reports that, if a holding or farm has been in receipt of a grant in the past, then it is ineligible.
Answer
Arrangements for the 2024 round of the Agri-environment Climate Scheme (AECS) are being finalised following the UK Government’s very disappointing Autumn Statement. An announcement on this matter will be made shortly when AECS 2024 opens for applications.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities will be statutory consultees in relation to the licensing of seaweed aquaculture in their areas.
Answer
Seaweed aquaculture is subject to the requirements of Scotland’s National Marine Plan and is a licensable marine activity under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. A marine licence is therefore required for construction of a seaweed farm. The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate determines marine licence applications on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
Statutory consultees for the marine licensing process are defined in the Marine Licensing (Consultees) (Scotland) Order 2011, and include the Northern Lighthouse Board, Maritime Coastguard Agency, NatureScot, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, where applicable, the relevant Regional Marine Planning Partnership. A Local Authority may form the whole, or part of a Marine Planning Partnership as per section 12(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Sole delegates are possible, and Orkney Islands Council is the sole delegate for regional marine planning in the Scottish marine region for the Orkney Islands. Local authorities are not therefore statutory consultees, but it is standard process to consult the relevant local authority during the marine licence application determination process and they may be consulted in their remit as part of a marine planning partnership (where applicable).
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what public funding is currently available to support community-scale participation in the seaweed cultivation industry, and what additional funding might become available during this early development phase of the industry.
Answer
In 2022-23 the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) provided £370,000 to support processing and innovation in the seaweed industry. The MFS for 2023-24 is focused on supporting projects that deliver outcomes relating to Scotland's Blue Economy Vision , published in 2022. The funding supports eligible individuals, businesses, organisations and communities to deliver projects contributing to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, reducing carbon emissions and supporting coastal communities. The outcome of the second round of applications to support the aquaculture industry, including the seaweed sector, will be announced shortly.
The MFS will re-open in due course to new applications for 2024/25.
Additionally, to ensure that the seaweed sector in Scotland develops sustainably, the Scottish Government and Crown Estate Scotland are jointly funding a 3-year business development manager position at the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association to represent the industry across various fora and identify opportunities for growth.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what role local authorities will have in relation to the regulation of seaweed aquaculture in their area.
Answer
Local authorities are a non-statutory consultee to the marine licence application determination process. This allows the local authority to make representations on any marine licence application for a proposed seaweed farm.
The exception is in the case of Marine Planning Partnerships, who are statutory consultees to marine licence applications. A Local Authority may form the whole, or part of a Marine Planning Partnership as per section 12(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Sole delegates are possible, and Orkney Islands Council is the sole delegate for regional marine planning in the Scottish marine region for the Orkney Islands. Local authorities are not therefore statutory consultees but may be consulted in their remit as part of a marine planning partnership (where applicable).
