- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with possible freeport locations in relation to how Scottish Ministers can support the establishment of prospective freeports and identify potential employment and investment opportunities.
Answer
We are aware of the UK Government’s proposals for Freeports to be established at 10 locations across the UK. I have engaged with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter, setting out our concerns that any Freeport in Scotland should not cause adverse economic impacts, such as displacement, or dilute workers’ rights or environmental standards. A dialogue will be maintained with UK Government Ministers and officials to establish what benefit, if any, can be accrued for Scotland in terms of accelerated inclusive growth and the creation of new high quality jobs.
A range of stakeholders and locations in Scotland have responded to the recent UK consultation. Officials have discussed the UK Government proposals with a number of these, including colleagues in Ayrshire. However, from the high level vision presented in the UK consultation document, it is clear that much still needs to be worked through regarding the value that Freeports would bring to trade and to local economies, and where a potential Freeport might be located in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 18 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government which locations it considers would be appropriate for the establishment of freeports.
Answer
We are aware of the UK Government’s proposals for Freeports to be established at 10 locations across the UK. I have engaged with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter, setting out our concerns that any Freeport in Scotland should not cause adverse economic impacts, such as displacement, or dilute workers’ rights or environmental standards. A dialogue will be maintained with UK Government Ministers and officials to establish what benefit, if any, can be accrued for Scotland in terms of accelerated inclusive growth and the creation of new high quality jobs.
A range of stakeholders and locations in Scotland have responded to the recent UK consultation. Officials have discussed the UK Government proposals with a number of these, including colleagues in Ayrshire. However, from the high level vision presented in the UK consultation document, it is clear that much still needs to be worked through regarding the value that Freeports would bring to trade and to local economies, and where a potential Freeport might be located in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 18 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s consultation on its aim of creating up to 10 freeports across Britain and Northern Ireland, which closed on 13 July 2020, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the establishment of freeports.
Answer
We are aware of the UK Government’s proposals for Freeports to be established at 10 locations across the UK. I have engaged with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter, setting out our concerns that any Freeport in Scotland should not cause adverse economic impacts, such as displacement, or dilute workers’ rights or environmental standards. A dialogue will be maintained with UK Government Ministers and officials to establish what benefit, if any, can be accrued for Scotland in terms of accelerated inclusive growth and the creation of new high quality jobs.
A range of stakeholders and locations in Scotland have responded to the recent UK consultation. Officials have discussed the UK Government proposals with a number of these, including colleagues in Ayrshire. However, from the high level vision presented in the UK consultation document, it is clear that much still needs to be worked through regarding the value that Freeports would bring to trade and to local economies, and where a potential Freeport might be located in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 July 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an assessment of biogenic habitats, and, if so, what the outcome was.
Answer
The Marine Strategy assessment published in October 2019 includes an indicator for sublittoral rock and biogenic habitats. The assessment found that Good Environmental Status has not yet been achieved in either the Greater North Sea or the Celtic Seas. The report can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system
/uploads/attachment_data/file/841246/marine-strategy-part1-october19.pdf .
Scotland’s Marine Atlas which was published in 2011 provides baseline information. The new version which is due to be published later this year will provide an assessment against the baseline for biogenic habitats.
Furthermore, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) undertook an assessment of 11 Priority Marine features which included biogenic habitats and provided advice to Marine Scotland. This advice was published as part of the scoping consultation on Priority Marine Features held from 05 July to 31 August 2018 and can be found at https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/priority-marine-features/ .
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 July 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether any review of the status of marine biogenic habitats has found that there has been (a) a loss, (b) no change or (c) a recovery in the status and/or extent of these since 2011.
Answer
The Marine Strategy assessment published in October 2019 includes an indicator for sublittoral rock and biogenic habitats. The assessment found that Good Environmental Status has not yet been achieved in either the Greater North Sea or the Celtic Seas. The report can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/
system/uploads/attachment_data/file/841246/marine-strategy-part1-october19.pdf ’.
Scotland’s Marine Atlas which was published in 2011 provides baseline information. The new version which is due to be published later this year will provide an assessment against the baseline for biogenic habitats.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 July 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fully implement the review of the impacts of bottom-trawling and scallop dredging of Priority Marine Features before 31 March 2021.
Answer
Work to develop fisheries management measures for Priority Marine Features (PMFs) following the PMF review has been postponed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We intend to resume the project when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2020
To ask the First Minister what steps will be taken to avoid a big increase in youth unemployment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2020
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 May 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much in non-domestic rates relief will be given in the financial year 2020-21 to (a) Aldi, (b) Asda, (c) Co-op, (d) Lidl, (e) Morrisons, (f) Sainsbury’s and (g) Tesco.
Answer
The grants and reliefs are being administered by local authorities and Scottish Government does not hold information on individual relief recipients.
We are determined to help keep companies in business and our financial support now exceeds the £2.3 billion passed on from the UK Government.
This includes a universal 1.6% relief available to all non-domestic properties, and a 100% relief for businesses in the Retail, Hospitality, Leisure and Airport sectors.
The Scottish Government accepted the recommendation of the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates to publish lists of recipients of rates relief, and we are working with local councils to deliver this in the future, in line with General Data Protection Regulations.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2020
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government has had any discussions with the Treasury regarding Project Birch, the plan to assist struggling companies of strategic importance.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2020
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 May 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will provide to North Ayrshire Council to support the construction of a new Ardrossan Academy, in light of the proposals being approved.
Answer
I am pleased that an Ardrossan Community Learning and Innovation Hub - to replace Ardrossan Academy and Winton Primary School - is one of the projects to benefit from the first phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme. Initial funding discussions have been held with Council officers regarding the Ardrossan project. These will be confirmed in the near future, once the immediate pressures arising from the COVID-19 crisis have been addressed.
