- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it gives to local authorities regarding how they can protect private water supplies of existing householders in relation to planning applications that require an additional private supply or water being taken from an existing supply.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not given guidance to local authorities as The Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies)(Scotland) Regulations 2017 makes clear the Duty of Care that must be exercised in respect of preserving the quality of an existing regulated supply.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it gives to local authorities to ensure that an existing householder's supply of water, whether private or otherwise, is protected, particularly in relation to planning applications.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35649 on 16 March 2021. 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
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much it has invested in Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) since 2016, also broken down by how much it expects to be returned.
Answer
Since 2016 the Scottish Government has committed £37.4 million, which was converted to a 32.4% equity stake and a loan facility of up to £15 million was provided, which supported not just the Beatrice but also the Moray East Pin Piles and First E&P contracts creating over a 1000 jobs across the 3 yards. However, I am aware that funding has been provided by Scottish Enterprise and, to be helpful, I have asked them to respond to you in writing.
In terms of returns against this investment, it is too early to estimate the amount of any return to the Scottish Government from the Administration process. We will continue to work closely with the Administrators as they progress their administration strategy.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding its agencies provided regarding the proposed Scottish stock exchange, and whether this has been reimbursed.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise who have confirmed that no funding for this project was ever released.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when private individual swimming lessons for children will be allowed to resume under its revised COVID-19 Strategic Framework.
Answer
Currently, indoor sport and leisure facilities, including swimming pools, are to remain closed. Therefore activities such as swimming lessons cannot currently take place. On 16 March, the First Minister will set out a firmer timetable for the easing of restrictions and publish a revised Strategic Framework document.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to raise tree-planting rates from 10,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares per year by 2025, how many hectares of trees were planted in (a) 2019 and (b) 2020.
Answer
Forest Research publishes National Statistics on the area of new woodland creation, which can be found at the following website: Forestry Statistics and Forestry Facts & Figures - Forest Research
In Scotland in (a) 2018-19, 11,210 hectares and (b) 2019-20, 11,050 hectares of new woodland were created. Provisional National Statistics which will include figures on woodland creation in Scotland for 2020-21 are scheduled to be published on 17 June 2021.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 12 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out to determine the reserves and other capital required for the establishment of a central bank for an independent Scotland, and how these would be funded.
Answer
All work to update the Scottish Government’s comprehensive plan for an independent Scotland from 2014 has been paused since 18 March 2020, to focus on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
If there is majority support for an independence referendum in the next parliamentary term, once the Covid-19 pandemic is over, the Scottish Government will return to this work to ensure that the people of Scotland have the information they need to make informed choices over the future of the country.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided any contingent liabilities in relation to the suspension of EU funds in the (a) last three financial years and (b) (i) current and (ii) next financial year.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s contingent liabilities for the potential recoveries by the European Commission (EC) as a consequence of the suspensions, as reported in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, are as follows:
| | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
Contingent Liabilities | Nil | £25m | £35m |
The Scottish Government’s financial year ends on 31 March 2021 and therefore no contingent liability is disclosed for the current or future financial years.
The European Social Fund (ESF) programme was formally suspended by the EC on 15 November 2019 because of deficiencies with procurement procedures, verifying costs for achievements and checks on the direct staff costs of Lead Partners that deliver projects.
The suspension of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme was confirmed on 3 February 2020 and lifted on 18 December 2020. The ERDF suspension was introduced due to issues relating to management verifications and maintaining a robust audit trail, including documents regarding expenditure and audits.
The ESF and ERDF programmes have not had funds decommitted as a result of the suspensions. For more information on reasons for decommitment, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34699 on 5 February 2021. 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
As the ERDF programme is no longer in suspension, there is no risk of a penalty. If the suspension of the ESF programme is not lifted, the EC reserves the right in its regulations to impose a penalty of up to 25% of the programme value, which would equate to £82.8m based on current exchange rates. The Scottish Government is working closely with the EC to lift the suspension of the ESF programme and is confident that no penalty will be applied. No penalties have been paid by the Scottish Government, nor has the EC informed the Scottish Government that any penalties are payable as a consequence of the suspensions.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the recent closures of the Queensferry Crossing.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27514 on 28 February 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
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, and whether it will provide an outline of the work that the Board carries out.
Answer
The Enterprise & Skills Strategic Board aims to create alignment and collaboration across the enterprise & skills system in Scotland, to drive economic growth and provide better support for businesses and users of the skills system. Over the past year the board has undertaken reviews of the Industry Leadership Groups and measures to mitigate the labour market impact from COVID-19, with all the recommendations accepted by Ministers. The immediate priorities for the board include: reviewing the innovation funding landscape to identify opportunities for greater collaboration and alignment; identifying how the enterprise and skills system can best support Scottish businesses with the new trading arrangements with the EU; and refreshing the board’s Strategic Plan in light of the new challenges facing the Scottish economy. More information on the board’s work can be found on its website.
The board is an independent body, supported by the Analytical Unit who monitor the impact and outcomes of agency activity through a Performance Framework and the Secretariat Team who support the work stemming from the board’s priorities. A total of 10 staff (8.4 full time equivalent) work in the Analytical Unit and Secretariat for the board.
