- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what planning rules are in place, relating to proximity to communities and individual dwellings, for the siting of future wind farm developments.
Answer
All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), adopted in February this year, forms part of the statutory development plan alongside the relevant Local Development Plan (LDP).
NPF4 places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system and makes clear our support for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies, including onshore wind.
NPF4 policy 11 makes clear that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors remain important considerations in the decision-making process. Additionally, the policy requires that project design and mitigation will demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker will be addressed. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments, including Environmental Impact Assessment where applicable.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the Minister for Transport's concerns about strangers sharing cabins on the Serco NorthLink Ferries, what consideration it has given to obtaining vessels with single occupancy cabins.
Answer
CMAL has appointed naval architects Leadship to carry out future vessel feasibility studies and concept designs which will include passenger cabin options.
As the project progresses, engagement events will be held which will ensure that all key stakeholders are able to contribute to the outcome of the project.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17312 by Kevin Stewart on 25 April 2023, what progress it has made towards confirming fares for Serco NorthLink Ferries, and whether it will provide an update on when bookings will be opened for dates beyond 30 September 2023.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in place to ensure sufficient freight capacity on Serco NorthLink Ferries during the autumn 2023 livestock sales season.
Answer
The contract for operating services to the Northern Isles lies with Serco NorthLink Ferries (SNF). The responsibility and expertise for operational decisions rightly sits with them. As has been the case in previous years, SNF, is currently forecasting requirements in advance of this year’s livestock sales season. Working with key stakeholders, including those in the farming and aquaculture sectors, the operator expects to manage capacity by introducing the peak freight timetable earlier than usual and by fully utilising available capacity on the freight and passenger vessels to manage traffic during this busy period.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when freight rates on Serco NorthLink Ferries, for dates beyond 30 September 2023, will be made available.
Answer
Fares on the Northern Isles Ferry Services network have been frozen until the end of September 2023 to help combat the ongoing cost of living crisis facing communities across Scotland.
I appreciate the need to get bookings released so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead, and aim to confirm all fares and open bookings beyond 30 September as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17312 by Kevin Stewart on 25 April 2023, whether it will consider opening Serco NorthLink Ferries for rolling bookings beyond 30 September 2023 now, and highlighting to travellers that the fares are not fixed and may increase, with payment taken at a later date.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making freight rates on Serco NorthLink Ferries available in advance on a rolling basis.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with NHS Shetland regarding the reported backlog of ophthalmic surgery, including cataract operations, for patients resident in Shetland, and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times.
Answer
The Scottish Government are in regular contact with NHS Shetland to identify short term options and sustainable long-term solutions to support ophthalmic surgery, including cataract operations, across the North of Scotland.
We are working with all NHS Boards including NHS Shetland to reduce long waiting times. This includes targets announced in July 2022 to address the backlog of long waits and the delivery of the £1 billion NHS Recovery Plan to support sustainable improvements and new models of care, such as the National Treatment Centre Programme.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently on the waiting list for a cataract operation within NHS Shetland.
Answer
Public Health Scotland (PHS) uses the national waiting times warehouse to collect electronic patient records. This data source can be used routinely to identify the specialty of treatment. However, although the records are designed to collect coded information on the procedure that is planned for the patient, this information is often either incomplete, lacking in essential detail and/or its accuracy cannot be assured. In addition, for patients who have completed their wait the procedure(s) that was planned may not always reflect that performed after they were admitted for treatment. The latter is not captured through the warehouse, and as such we would be unable to report accurately on ongoing waits to this level of detail.
Public Health Scotland publishes quarterly statistics relating to the number of ongoing waits, by specialty and health Board of treatment. The latest statistics for Ophthalmology in NHS Shetland are published up to 31 st March 2023, and for new outpatients, this information can be found under Table 1.1 using the link below:
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- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Levelling Up funding for Scotland's islands.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2023