- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to reduce any inequalities in pregnancy loss and baby deaths of Black and Asian babies in Scotland.
Answer
We are dedicated to tackling inequalities in maternity experience and outcomes. That is why we asked NHS Boards to prioritise the roll-out of continuity of carer in maternity care, that underpins The Best Start programme leading to improved outcomes, for women from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as for women experiencing multiple social complexity.
In January 2023, we launched a programme of work with a focus on racialised inequalities in maternity, informed by data and evidence from reports, including MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK) confidential enquiries, audit reports, and third sector reports on the lived experiences of service users. We have established a short-life working group, bringing together third sector organisations, healthcare professionals, professional bodies and national networks to identify and take evidence-based actions addressing inequalities, with the voice of those with lived experience at the centre.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Net Zero Nation's proposed project for a Net Zero Pilot Accelerator involving 20 SMEs “to help decarbonise the Grangemouth supply chain”, as referred to in the Grangemouth Future Industry Board minutes of 11 August 2022.
Answer
Net Zero Nation launched their first Pilot Accelerator programme in Grangemouth in June 2023. This was funded by the Grangemouth Future Industry Board. The launch of this event was hosted by Forth Ports, who collaborated with Net Zero Nation to identify businesses in the Grangemouth area to recruit onto the Accelerator programme. The organisation successfully recruited 20 local SMEs onto the programme in 2023 and have plans to launch their Accelerator 2.0 Programme with a second cohort of Grangemouth businesses in early 2024.
The Accelerator programme provides businesses with advice on developing carbon reduction plans as well as access to CBN Expert carbon accountancy software, allowing them to record and report their carbon emissions in compliance with SECR and PPN 06/21 standards. The programme also facilitates networking opportunities for businesses to share their experience, with a goal of fostering collaboration between businesses who are seeking to decarbonise their operations.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it can take any action to enable Petroineos Grangemouth to refine a greater volume of crude oil from the North Sea, and if doing so could potentially extend the life of the oil refinery beyond 2025.
Answer
As I outlined in my correspondence to you on 17 January, presently and historically, the vast majority of the crude oil transported into Grangemouth via the FPS is exported and not refined at Grangemouth.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy can take to secure the reported £60-80 million investment in the hydrocracker at Petroineos Grangemouth, in order to extend the life of the oil refinery beyond 2025.
Answer
The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the business on its plans to bring forward new low carbon projects at Grangemouth. We are committed to exploring all opportunities that would preserve employment and maintain the cluster’s position as a supplier of critical fuels.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to co-ordinate any necessary (a) investment and (b) action to help sustain the refinery operations at Petroineos Grangemouth.
Answer
The Scottish Government chaired the Grangemouth Future Industry Board Industrial Leadership Forum on 18 January which included representation from the UK Government and Petroineos to explore all options regarding the future of the refinery site. I am encouraged that, at this meeting, the UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed the UK Government's willingness to consider any proposals that support a long-term and sustainable future for the refinery business, recognising its strategic importance to the economy of the whole of the UK.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it has provided to the Al-Mahdi Foundation and Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre since 2019.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24394 on 19 January 2024 which outlined the objectives of the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) programme and covers the 2019 period. 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 .
The Scottish Government has provided no direct funding to the Al-Mahdi Foundation beyond the Climate Challenge Fund projects.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) Petroineos, (b) Unite the Union and (c) local businesses to discuss the future of Petroineos Grangemouth, and what matters were discussed.
Answer
Representatives from Scottish Government, Petroineos and Unite the Union met on 18 January 2023 to during the Grangemouth Future Industry Board Industrial Leadership Forum discuss the future of the refinery.
For discussion topics I refer the member to the published minutes from this meeting.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government on what date its Culture and Creativity in Learning Group will publish its workplan, as set out in A Culture Strategy for Scotland: Action Plan.
Answer
The Culture and Creativity in Learning Group will support the delivery of the actions in the ‘Culture Strategy for Scotland: Action Plan’, published in December 2023.
We are working closely with the Culture and Creativity in Learning Group in early 2024 to develop a shared workplan.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it has provided to Lesmahagow Parish Historical Association since 2019.
Answer
There is no record of funding being provided to Lesmahagow Parish Historical Association by the Cultural Access and Organisations Division of Scottish Government since 2019.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress on the development of the Natural Capital Market Framework announced in its Programme for Government 2023-24; what consultation has taken place on this to date; what further consultation is planned on the proposed contents of the framework, and who it plans to consult.
Answer
Scotland’s Market Framework for natural capital markets aims to guide the development of responsible, high-integrity and values led natural capital markets in Scotland by setting out a clear long-term vision, a policy framework and guidance for market participants.
The project is currently in its discovery phase; desk-based research has been undertaken to collate existing evidence. We are also developing our engagement plan to help support and empower people to actively participate in the definition, design and delivery of the framework.
In the Spring, the project will enter its engagement and co-development phase. Stakeholders with a known interest will be approached within their existing networks. We will also host a series of open workshops for those with a general interest and ensure there is an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their reflections in writing.