Questions and answers

Question reference: S6F-01293

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2022

To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers based in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-01286

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2022

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will respond to reported calls by the industry to establish a Gamekeeping Taskforce to tackle abuse of rural workers.

Question reference: S6F-01280

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01279

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-09109

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 27 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with SEPA regarding the flaring, which is causing night-time noise and light disruption for local residents, at Grangemouth Refinery.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with SEPA, the independent regulator, concerning SEPA’s regulatory role in relation to industrial sites in Scotland, including the Grangemouth complex. Whilst we understand the concerns around flaring, it is an essential safety mechanism. Improvements driven by SEPA have reduced the overall frequency and duration of flaring at the Grangemouth complex, and the planned installation of totally enclosed ground flares will further reduce the noise and light disturbance experienced by communities.

Question reference: S6W-09222

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 June 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons were for applications to the Business Ventilation Fund from businesses in Aberdeenshire being declined.

Applications to the Business Ventilation Fund were declined if the business did not meeting the eligibility criteria for the Fund such as being in an eligible sector, claiming for eligible items by the fund deadline or meeting the fund business rules.

This includes claiming for premises which are registered for non-domestic rates, being classed as a small or medium enterprise and having purchased or carried out works between 23 November 2021 and 31 March 2022.

The majority of businesses declined in Aberdeenshire either weren’t in a eligible sector or had made duplicate claims. Additionally, a number of applications were closed when the deadline for claims had passed and no claim had been submitted by the business. Businesses had been notified that they were able to make a claim and for what and the deadline for this as part of the application process.

Question reference: S6W-09205

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 17 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported significant and ongoing impacts of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) on Scotland’s wild birds in the last eight months, what plans it has to ensure that the relevant preparations and arrangements are in place to ensure an effective response to the current and any future outbreaks.

The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza with commercial flocks of poultry and other captive birds, as well as wild birds, affected.

The disease control response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak is coordinated across the four UK administrations, with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) leading on triage, and testing and monitoring the spread in the UK. Dead wild bird findings (suspected of HPAI) in Scotland, England and Wales are reported to Defra’s national GB helpline. This information is then given to relevant teams in APHA to triage the collection of samples for testing, where required. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the other UK administrations (Defra (England), the Welsh Government and DAERA (NI)) on the disease control response.

The Scottish Government is also working with a range of partner organisations to monitor and respond to the current situation where action can be taken, recognising the importance of communication and coordination in preparedness and responses.

We continually review our response planning to current and future avian influenza outbreaks based on the latest scientific advice and existing disease control measures. This includes quantifying the impacts of such outbreaks on our wild bird populations, including seabirds. We will also be identifying with partner organisations what else can be done to respond to the outbreak and improve resilience of our internationally important seabird populations.

Question reference: S6W-09223

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 June 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19-related funding and payments for businesses has not yet been completely paid out.

Question reference: S6W-09206

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 17 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that (a) improved surveillance, testing and carcass collection is set up and (b) disturbance minimisation and biosecurity measures are put in place in preparation for the current and future outbreaks of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in wild birds.

The disease control response to the avian influenza outbreak is being coordinated across the four administrations, with the Animal and Plant Health Agency leading on surveillance, triage and testing in the UK. Wild bird findings (suspected of HPAI) in Scotland, England and Wales are reported to Defra’s national hotline. This information is then given to relevant teams to triage the collection of samples for testing, where required. This is an evolving situation with the species identified for collection and testing under constant review and adjusted according to surveillance needs.

As of 24 June 2022, 490 wild birds from multiple locations across Scotland, consisting of 24 species, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. More information, including the findings of HPAI in wild birds are available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-outbreaks/#wildbirds

Avian influenza is spread mainly through live birds, and current veterinary advice is that wild bird carcases should be left in situ, unless landowners consider it necessary to remove them. The Scottish Government has published advice for local authorities, landowners, wildlife rescue centres and members of the public regarding reporting, collection and safe disposal of dead wild birds. We will keep our guidance under continuous review as the situation develops.

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease, and while there is little that can be done to limit the spread within seabird colonies, action can be taken to reduce the risk of onward transmission from infected colonies to uninfected colonies and other locations, and to minimise additional stress on potentially infected birds. To that end, NatureScot has suspended all ringing activities within seabird colonies for the remainder of the breeding season to mitigate these risks. Surveys of some seabird colonies are also ongoing to monitor bird numbers, and any mortality events.

Moving forward, we are in contact with the other UK administrations and statutory nature conservation bodies with regard to the response plan for future disease outbreaks. Although the immediate response is to the spread of the disease, there is a need to look ahead at how we can quantify the impacts and what else can be done to improve resilience within the colonies.

Question reference: S6W-09203

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 17 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop an HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in wild birds response plan in Scotland, as recommended by the UN-convened Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds.

The 2021-22 season has seen the UK’s largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial flocks of poultry and other captive birds as well as wild birds. While maintaining high levels of biosecurity among domestic flocks helps protect against disease, addressing the disease among wild birds can pose significant challenges.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds reported to Defra’s GB national helpline. As of 24 June 2022, 490 wild birds from multiple locations across Scotland, consisting of 24 species, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Findings of HPAI in wild birds are published weekly by APHA and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with a range of partner organisations to monitor and respond to the situation where action can be taken, recognising the importance of communication and coordination in preparedness and responses.

We continually review our response planning to current and future avian influenza outbreaks based on the latest scientific advice and existing disease control measures. This includes quantifying the impacts of such outbreaks on our wild bird populations, including seabirds. We will also be identifying with partner organisations what else can be done to respond to the outbreak and improve resilience of our internationally important seabird populations.

Chamber and committees