Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-30343

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) letters and (b) emails it received from businesses in relation to COVID-19 between 20 March and 30 June 2020, and how many of those have been responded to in full and substantively, not including holding replies.

The Scottish Government has received unprecedented levels of correspondence since March 2020 which led to a decentralised approach to the preparation of replies and associated data capture. The best available data available from these different systems confirm that the Scottish Government received 10,351 letters and e-mails from business in relation to COVID-19 between 20 March and 30 June 2020. All received a substantive reply.

Question reference: S5W-30231

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 13 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Corran Narrows ferry service, what its response is to The Highland Council’s position that councillors need to decide whether to “invest and retain the service in house or transfer responsibilities to Transport Scotland based on the principles set out in the Scottish Ferries Plan.”

The Highland Council is currently wholly responsible for the Corran ferry service including plans for the investment in vessels and shoreside infrastructure.

The Scottish Ferries Plan 2013-2022 states that the Scottish Government is willing to discuss with the relevant local authority the possibility of taking over responsibility for council ferry services in accordance with a set of funding and other principles set out in that Plan. A key principle is that any transfer should be at no net financial detriment to the Scottish Government and that the Scottish Government cannot guarantee to be in a position to provide any additional funding.

The Highland Council on 1 July 2020 approved a proposal “to 'approach' Transport Scotland regarding a transfer of responsibility based on the principles set out in the Scottish Ferries Plan.” Council officials have been in touch with Transport Scotland and an initial discussion between officials is being arranged.

Question reference: S5W-29685

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding plans to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so.

Question reference: S5W-29687

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has an indicative date for (a) certain types of and (b) all self-catering accommodation to trade again.

The route map shows how and when we will carefully seek to lift current restrictions beyond phase 1. Future phases are based on meeting particular criteria, including those set by the World Health Organisation. The Scottish Government is proposing a provisional timeframe of the week of 15 July for the opening of the tourism sector. In line with Phase 3 of the Route-map, this will be conditional on the scientific and public health evidence supporting the move at the time and compliance with sector and public health guidance. The indicative date will include all accommodation providers.

Question reference: S5W-29686

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers regarding plans to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so.

The Scottish Government’s sector guidance for Tourism & Hospitality has been developed in partnership with industry and unions through a sub-group of the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group, of which the Association of Scotland’s Self-caterers (ASSC) is a member. I have also engaged in a number of helpful conference calls with the ASSC to discuss the specific concerns and requirements of the self-catering sector.

Question reference: S5W-29684

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what safety measures and guidance it is putting in place to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so.

Question reference: S5O-04420

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of its plans to safely reopen sectors of the economy.

Question reference: S5W-29108

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants from the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund have been awarded that are less than the amount applied for, also broken down by where the award was (a) 75%, (b) 50%, (c) 25% and (d) 10% of the amount applied for.

The Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund (CTHEHF) provides support for small creative, tourism and hospitality companies who have experienced at least 50% loss of current or projected revenue as a result of COVID-19 and are experiencing hardship. Due to significant demand we have increased the fund from £20m to £30m. The fund is administered by our enterprise agencies, which are currently progressing applications. The fund closed to new applications on 18 May.

Each enterprise agency administers the fund in its respective area. The performance data are compiled by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of all three agencies. As applications are still being processed the fund’s performance data are incomplete. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you as soon as the data you have requested can be reported.

Question reference: S5W-29102

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants from the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund have been awarded that are less than the amount applied for, also broken down by where the award was (a) 75%, (b) 50%, (c) 25% and (d) 10% of the value of the amount applied for.

The Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund (NSEHF) provides support to people who became self-employed since 6 April 2019 and who were therefore not eligible for the UK Government Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. The fund provides support to people in hardship through a one-off, flat-rate £2,000 grant.

All successful applicants have been and will be awarded the full amount of £2,000.

Local Authorities are responsible for assessing claims and paying grants and the fund remains open to new applications. Data are still being collected from across the 32 Local Authorities and I shall write to you next week when we will have a better picture of the data and be able to provide up-to-date figures on the number and percentage of successful applications

Question reference: S5W-29107

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of applications to the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund has been awarded funding that is less than the amount applied for.

The Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund (CTHEHF) provides support for small creative, tourism and hospitality companies who have experienced at least 50% loss of current or projected revenue as a result of COVID-19 and are experiencing hardship. Due to significant demand we have increased the fund from £20m to £30m. The fund is administered by our enterprise agencies, which are currently progressing applications. The fund closed to new applications on 18 May.

Each enterprise agency administers the fund in its respective area. The performance data are compiled by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of all three agencies. As applications are still being processed the fund’s performance data are incomplete. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you as soon as the data you have requested can be reported.

Chamber and committees