Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-04854

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the capacity of Marine Scotland to ensure the effective and robust enforcement of fisheries and marine conservation legislation.

Question reference: S6W-04856

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to commission new (a) boats, (b) vessels and (c) aircraft (including drones) to strengthen the capacity of Marine Scotland to ensure the effective and robust enforcement of fisheries and marine conservation legislation.

Marine Scotland has commenced a long-term process to assess the future needs of its offshore marine assets.

A contract was awarded in late 2020 to deliver specialist Marine Protection Vessel (MPV) and Marine Research Vessel (MRV) concept designs. Subject to funding, these designs will be used in the coming years in the procurement of replacement vessels as existing vessels reach the end of their service lives.

Marine Scotland has also further invested in its inshore protection capability with two new small patrol craft delivering in early 2022 to add resilience to our inshore protection capability.

Our future aircraft needs will be assessed in the coming year, including consideration to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), both from ashore and vessel application.

Question reference: S6W-04814

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 10 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to carry out its 2022 census as per its current timeline.

Question reference: S6W-04823

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been awarded to businesses in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) the Western Isles, (c) the Highlands, (d) Orkney, (e) Shetland and (f) Moray from the Regional Food Fund in each year since it was established.

Question reference: S6W-04822

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were (a) approved and (b) not approved for an award from the 2021 round of the Regional Food Fund.

Question reference: S6W-04829

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Inner Sound Local Fisheries Management Advisory Group last met, and how often it meets.

In February 2020, the Scottish Government published the Inshore Fisheries Pilot: Inner Sound of Skye Consultation Outcome Report. One of the recommendations contained in the report, was to establish an Inner Sound Local Fisheries Management Advisory Group. There are currently live legal proceedings relating to the Outcome Report and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.

Question reference: S6O-00538

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how its Housing Strategy is supporting action to prevent fuel poverty in households in rural and remote areas.

Question reference: S6O-00470

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help improve employment opportunities in the Highlands and Islands, including for young people.

Question reference: S6W-03874

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages onshore and offshore wind farm developers to work with businesses in Scotland in the construction and installation of wind turbines.

Renewable energy is a crucial element of our transition to deliver a net-zero economy and We are determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain from both our onshore and offshore wind potential. We remain fully committed to using every lever within our devolved competence to support and grow the wind supply chain here in Scotland.

In offshore wind, the first cycle of ScotWind leasing is currently underway, which will provide a pipeline of new projects from the late 2020s onwards. As part of the ScotWind bidding round, applicants have submitted a Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) to Crown Estate Scotland, outlining the supply chain activity they commit to undertaking within Scotland, the UK and overseas.

There is considerable additional and ongoing work to support the growth of our domestic supply chain and capitalise on the economic opportunity resulting from offshore wind including the Strategic Infrastructure Assessment (SIA), which was referenced as a 100 Days’ Commitment of this government. Published on 20 August the SIA is now being taken forward by Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC), with the group developing an action plan to take forward the SIA’s recommendations. This assessment highlights the need for urgent investment in port infrastructure to support the growth of the sector. We look forward to SOWEC taking forward next steps on the recommendations set out in the report.

For onshore wind, our consultation on the draft Onshore Wind Policy Statement was launched on 28 October 2021 and will run until January 2022. This considers and seeks views on a variety of issues related to onshore wind including supply chain issues, and specifically seeks views on minimum local content, similar to the sector deal for offshore wind.

Question reference: S6W-03877

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it offered CS Wind UK Ltd any financial incentives and/or subsidies in order to avoid it entering into administration.