- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture plans to meet with (a) local MSPs and (b) other stakeholders to discuss the future of Kisimul Castle.
Answer
Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters relating to Kisimul Castle are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland who have delegated responsibility for managing the properties in care. I have been informed that Historic Environment Scotland are able to offer the Member a site visit to Kisimul Castle to discuss the conservation works directly with Historic Environment Scotland experts. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to contact the Member about this and to keep me informed of developments.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm how many Historic Environment Scotland properties are currently (a) open to the public at full-capacity, (b) partly open and (c) closed.
Answer
Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the number of sites open and closed, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland who have delegated responsibility for managing the properties in care. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to write to the member with the information requested.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07058 by Neil Gray on 14 March 2022, whether it will provide further details of the steps that it has taken to ensure that Hong Kong residents coming to the UK through the British National (Overseas) visa scheme are encouraged to resettle in Scotland.
Answer
Scotland has a long history of welcoming migrants and we are actively encouraging those from Hong Kong to make Scotland their first choice to resettle. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting their integration into our communities and we have also published a dedicated British National (Overseas) welcome pack, in both English and Cantonese, on our website.
We have provided funding to COSLA who have a dedicated online Hong Kong Welcome Hub, intended for Hong Kong BN(O) migrants arriving in Scotland and Council Officers supporting their integration. Scottish Government officials continue to engage with third sector partners and our overseas hubs to identify ways of encouraging BN(O)s to choose Scotland as their first choice destination to resettle.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when Kisimul Castle in Barra will reopen to the public, and whether it has had any discussions with Historic Environment Scotland regarding this issue.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07501 on 12 April 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has reported to it any long-term plan for remedial works to Kisimul Castle, and what its position is on whether any agreements undertaken on this subject are being honoured by HES.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07501 on 12 April 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Claire Baker (On behalf of the SPCB) on 12 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether there are any Hikvision cameras in or around the Scottish Parliament building, and whether any such cameras have been installed since the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report was published in July 2021 recommending that they not be used in the UK.
Answer
A project to deliver an essential upgrade of the Parliament’s security system was completed in 2019. Part of that project involved the upgrade of the Parliament’s CCTV system.
The specification required that all components, including CCTV cameras, successfully passed a security evaluation prior to installation. Careful consideration was also given to information handling and storage of CCTV images.
The SPCB can confirm that the Hikvision brand of CCTV camera has never been used at Holyrood. They were not used prior to 2019 and are not a component part of the current system.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many properties, broken down by local authority area, it anticipates will not meet an EPC rating of at least band E by 1 April 2022, as required under the Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.
Answer
As set out in the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, the draft regulations cited (to set minimum energy efficiency standards of EPC E, rising to EPC D) were withdrawn as a direct result of the impact Covid-19 has had on the private rented sector (PRS). Instead, as the Strategy confirms, the Scottish Government is now working with the sector to introduce regulations in 2025 which will require all PRS properties to reach a minimum standard equivalent to EPC C, where technically feasible and cost effective, at change of tenancy, with a backstop of 2028 for all remaining existing properties, in line with the direction provided by the Climate Change Committee.
Data giving an anticipated breakdown of properties not reaching EPC E is not available, however analysis carried out by the Energy Savings Trust in 2021 (using Home Analytics V3.7, which used a combination of modelled and reported data) gives a breakdown of PRS homes by local authority area which are assumed to be in bands E and F-G.
Local Authority | Dwellings | PRS Dwellings | PRS as % of Dwellings | PRS SAP E Dwellings | PRS SAP F-G Dwellings |
Aberdeen City | 122,915 | 22,215 | 18.07% | 2,725 | 1,154 |
Aberdeenshire | 123,048 | 13,440 | 10.92% | 3,179 | 2,717 |
Angus | 59,720 | 7,952 | 13.32% | 1,878 | 1,096 |
Argyll and Bute | 51,725 | 7,223 | 13.96% | 1,711 | 1,341 |
City of Edinburgh | 260,624 | 57,276 | 21.98% | 5,329 | 2,006 |
Clackmannanshire | 25,371 | 2,369 | 9.34% | 344 | 117 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 76,595 | 11,892 | 15.53% | 3,616 | 2,377 |
Dundee City | 76,767 | 15,085 | 19.65% | 1,814 | 947 |
East Ayrshire | 59,888 | 5,782 | 9.65% | 772 | 289 |
East Dunbartonshire | 48,304 | 3,415 | 7.07% | 446 | 97 |
East Lothian | 52,781 | 5,388 | 10.21% | 950 | 574 |
East Renfrewshire | 40,614 | 2,605 | 6.41% | 368 | 72 |
Falkirk | 76,947 | 6,482 | 8.42% | 858 | 290 |
Fife | 183,583 | 23,481 | 12.79% | 3,437 | 1,434 |
Glasgow City | 327,460 | 55,768 | 17.03% | 4,670 | 1,426 |
Highland | 126,897 | 16,788 | 13.23% | 4,125 | 2,873 |
Inverclyde | 40,176 | 4,398 | 10.95% | 617 | 333 |
Midlothian | 40,764 | 4,190 | 10.28% | 491 | 270 |
Moray | 47,335 | 6,302 | 13.31% | 1,439 | 1,036 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 15,802 | 1,366 | 8.64% | 492 | 391 |
North Ayrshire | 73,023 | 8,519 | 11.67% | 1,314 | 700 |
North Lanarkshire | 160,567 | 11,948 | 7.44% | 1,548 | 468 |
Orkney Islands | 12,164 | 1,660 | 13.65% | 529 | 185 |
Perth and Kinross | 76,123 | 12,540 | 16.47% | 2,969 | 1,822 |
Renfrewshire | 90,522 | 10,315 | 11.40% | 1,032 | 358 |
Scottish Borders | 60,632 | 10,023 | 16.53% | 2,729 | 1,997 |
Shetland Islands | 10,937 | 1,133 | 10.36% | 397 | 119 |
South Ayrshire | 57,071 | 6,833 | 11.97% | 1,188 | 578 |
South Lanarkshire | 159,196 | 14,410 | 9.05% | 2,142 | 841 |
Stirling | 42,562 | 5,391 | 12.67% | 917 | 507 |
West Dunbartonshire | 45,941 | 3,322 | 7.23% | 420 | 106 |
West Lothian | 84,727 | 9,231 | 10.89% | 893 | 210 |
Total | 2,730,781 | 368,742 | 13.50% | 55,339 | 28,731 |
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of experienced lung cancer nurse specialists who are Band 7 or above.
Answer
The National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care was published on 11 March. It is designed around the strategic objectives which support recovery, growth and transformation of health and social care services. Through the plan we have committed to modelling a sustainable cancer workforce. This work will be taken forward by a subgroup of the National Cancer Recovery Group.
Alongside the work on the National Workforce Strategy, a short life working has been established to review immediate pressures on oncology services and identify measures needed to ensure we have a sustainable and resilient oncology service across Scotland. This group is chaired by our Senior Medical Officer and is reporting directly to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in the development of Hillend junction.
Answer
Two junction improvement options have been identified and assessed to identify any impacts they may have on journey times along this corridor. The assessment has also sought to take into account the impacts of emerging development in the area.
Engagement with Midlothian Council which is the responsible authority for adjoining local roads is continuing. The intention is to confirm the preferred option in due course, followed by a detailed design process to finalise the junction layout to take into account the site constraints at this location.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to ensure that rental properties in rural and island communities meet energy performance certificate (EPC) rating standards.
Answer
The Private Sector Landlord specialist advice service, run by Home Energy Scotland, provides bespoke advice to private landlords throughout Scotland, this can include property visits and modelling as well as tailored advice for older properties.
Home Energy Scotland is also the route to Scottish Government funded loans and further support, in particular the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan ( Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan: overview - Home Energy Scotland ) and our national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland. This scheme is designed to make homes warmer for those living in or in risk of fuel poverty. Private rented sector tenants are generally not eligible for heating measures, however those who meet the criteria may receive energy efficiency measures, such as insulation, provided the landlord consents. Home Energy Scotland can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2282 or through their website https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/home-energy-Scotland .
There is also a range of guidance also available from Historic Environment Scotland to help with energy efficiency measures and climate change adaptations in listed buildings, traditional homes and buildings in conservation areas. This advice can be accessed through the Historic Environment Scotland website at: www.historicenvironment.scot .