- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support the promotion of cultural assets connected to Robert Burns in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021
- Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how its policies across government will support the north east’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
We are actively supporting economic recovery in the North East and have provided close to £100 million to support businesses and additional funding of almost £150 million to councils to help achieve that. We are also investing £157 million in the Aberdeen City Region and Moray Growth Deals, and over £14 million to develop the skills needed to support regional economic recovery.
Alongside this, we have recently confirmed our intention to commit £500 million capital over the next ten years to support the Just Transition of the region and Moray to support energy transition, create jobs and maximise the region’s future economic potential.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04529 by Mairi Gougeon on 26 November 2021, how many hectares of peatland will be restored under the scheme as a result of the 251 successful applications, and how many hectares in total were the subject of the 49 unsuccessful applications.
Answer
The Agri-environment Climate Scheme (AECS) does not contain a standalone Peatland Restoration option. AECS contributes to peatland restoration indirectly, mainly through the funding of certain capital items.
As there is no AECS contract data regarding the area of peatland under management it is not possible to report on the area of peatland restoration contribution related to AECS.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02085 by Maree Todd on 23 August 2021, how regularly women who have had breast cancer are screened following recovery, and how many women over 70 who have had breast cancer self-referred into the breast screening programme in each year since 2011.
Answer
Following treatment for breast cancer, women are followed up by the symptomatic breast service annually, commonly for at least 5 years. After that, women who are aged between 50 and 70 years are invited to attend the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) every 3 years. Women who are aged 71 years or over following discharge from symptomatic breast cancer treatment and follow up appointments can ordinarily self-refer to the SBSP once every 3 years; however, self-referrals for women in this age-group are currently suspended due to capacity challenges in the programme associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of women who had breast cancer and self-referred into the SBSP following treatment is not routinely collected or reported, and therefore the Scottish government cannot provide this information.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on authorising COVID-19 antibody tests for people in high-risk groups who have received three vaccinations, to enable those with a positive result to move freely and safely during the Christmas period without being required to self-isolate.
Answer
Antibody tests measure the number of antibodies in the blood when the test is taken, however immunity is more complex than antibodies alone and we still do not know what level of antibodies offer protection from COVID-19 infection or reinfection. Research is underway to understand more about COVID-19 antibodies and reinfection and therefore antibody tests are currently only available as part of research and surveillance studies and in some specific circumstances for the clinical management of patients. There are currently no plans to introduce on-demand antibody testing in Scotland.
Current self-isolation policy does not permit a positive antibody test as an exemption to self-isolation, and there are no plans to introduce this at the present time. Adults aged over 18 years and 4 months can end self-isolation as a close contact if they remain without symptoms, are fully vaccinated and receive a negative PCR test result. If they are unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons, or are involved in a clinical trial which means they cannot take a vaccine as part of the trial, they are also allowed to leave self-isolation if they remain without symptoms and receive a negative PCR test result. If they test positive they will need to self-isolate for 10 days. If someone is identified as a close contact related to the Omicron variant, Test and Protect will phone them to give them specific advice.
The current advice for people at highest risk (who may formerly have been asked to shield) is for them to follow the same advice as the rest of the population.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to use the conclusions of the Glasgow Climate Dialogues in developing its post-COP26 climate justice work.
Answer
The Scottish Government was pleased to work with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and partners to deliver the Glasgow Climate Dialogues, and its communique which set out recommendations for COP26 from four thematic dialogues.
The Scottish Government has already advanced communique recommendations for our climate justice work, including our announcements on funding to address loss and damage, and – following the evaluation of the Climate Justice Fund - by committing to ensure communities themselves are central in future project design. The final Glasgow Climate Dialogues meeting, to take place in January, will discuss post-COP26 actions.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to continue the discussions and networking established by the Glasgow Climate Dialogues beyond COP26, and whether it will use its role as Co-chair of the Under2 Coalition of sub-states, cities and regions to promote a similar dialogue among all the Under2 Coalition members.
Answer
The Scottish Government will continue to build on the discussion and networking that was in place before and was developed through the Glasgow Climate Dialogues at COP26. This includes hearing directly from partners in the Global South and working in collaboration on shared issues.
As European co-chair, Scotland is committed to promoting values of justice and inclusivity within the Under2 Coalition. This includes championing dialogue with and response to the interests of members from the Global South.
The Just Transition Alliance the Scottish Government established at COP26 will act as a vehicle for discussion, knowledge sharing and action across Coalition members on issues of voice, inclusion and fairness.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote agriculture in the (a) primary and (b) secondary school curriculum, and how much funding has been allocated for this purpose since 2007.
Answer
Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to deliver a broad general education suited to the needs of learners in their own contexts, including on agriculture. For example, the Social Studies Experiences and Outcomes enable young people to explore foods produced in Scotland, discuss agricultural production methods and consider sustainability.
The Scottish Government funds the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and Education Scotland for programmes helping ensure children can explore where food comes from and learn about careers in food and farming. Since 2012 the Scottish Government has given RHET £563,276 for such projects, and has provided £3.32m to Education Scotland for the Food for Thought Fund, which supports food education projects in schools.
We have set up a Commission to review learning in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors, and provide Scottish Ministers with independent advice on how to improve learning pathways and attract more people into these sectors, supporting the delivery of a just transition to net-zero.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Regan on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform legal aid.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that legal assistance continues to be available to all those facing legal concerns. In our Programme for Government we committed to engage with the legal professionals and other stakeholders to review the Legal Aid system, and to introduce a Legal Aid Reform Bill in this Parliament, to deliver a system that is flexible, easy to access and that meets the needs of those who use it.
The Scottish Government consulted on legal aid reform in 2019 and has stated its willingness to take forward supported recommendations that will deliver an enhanced system of legal aid across Scotland and reiterated its commitment to retaining a demand led Fund to support a wide scope of actions. Particular consideration will be given, during the development of the Bill, to how more targeted and planned interventions can support user need and align with identified government priorities. There is real value for both users and providers in achieving a user-focused and diverse delivery model; users can access appropriate interventions at the right time, and providers can better target their expertise to those who require it.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Regan on 8 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend access to legal aid.
Answer
The scope of legal aid will be considered as part of the development of a Bill, and I refer to my response to S6W-04609 on 8 December 2021 which provides information on the Scottish Government’s plans to reform legal aid. The Scottish Government has previously committed, in its response to the Independent Review on Legal Aid by Martyn Evan, that legal aid will continue to be available for a wide range of cases and proceedings.
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
