- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 8 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the housing stock in each local authority area is comprised of homes within traditional buildings.
Answer
The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) collects information about the physical characteristics of Scotland’s homes. The SHCS gathers data on the age of the dwelling broken down into six categories, pre-1919, 1919-1945, 1945-1964, 1965-1982, 1982-2002, post-2002. The age bands used reflect different architectural styles, construction techniques and building regulation standards. In the SHCS, traditional buildings are defined as pre-1919 built as evidence shows that construction methods moved away from solid stone walls to more modern practices at this time. The proportion of the housing stock in each local authority area comprised of traditional buildings is included below. Averaged over 2017-2019 we estimate that around 19% of occupied dwellings were constructed pre-1919.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Dorothy Bain on 8 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances Police Scotland has given to the Lord Advocate about supporting the establishment of a safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow.
Answer
Police Scotland consider they would be able to effectively police the proposed site in Glasgow. Police Scotland have operational independence and how any facility might be policed is a matter for them, however it has been of the utmost importance to me to ensure that Police Scotland retain the operational ability to effectively police the facility and ensure that the wider community, those operating the site and those using the facility can be kept safe.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential use of licensed itinerant slaughterers in island communities to slaughter livestock on farms, in order to compensate for a reported lack of available abattoir facilities.
Answer
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are in the process of undertaking a policy review on whether home slaughter by an itinerant slaughterer for the purposes of private domestic consumption could be undertaken legally under current food hygiene legislation. Subject to the outcome of this policy review, FSS may consult with relevant stakeholders on next steps in due course.
Under any revised home slaughter policy, it would not be possible for the meat from home slaughtered animals to enter into the food chain, as this is not permitted under existing food hygiene legislation. Only meat that has been slaughtered in an approved slaughterhouse can be legally placed on the market. There are currently no plans, therefore, to trial the use of itinerant slaughterers on island communities to produce meat that can be placed on the market.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated implementation timetable for the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019.
Answer
The pandemic and the subsequent pressures on the court system and justice partners arising from the backlog of cases it created, has impacted on the implementation timetable for the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019. We are working with partners and stakeholders through a cross sector implementation group to update the implementation plan and have committed to publish by the end of March 2024.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a mechanism in place for local authorities to report any spikes in bedbug infestations.
Answer
Local authorities are independent of the Scottish Government and responsible for their own delivery of pest control services. This information is not held centrally. General prevention advice for anyone who suspects an infestation can be found by contacting the relevant local authority.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage with the renewable energy industry in the delivery of the First Minister's commitment to "invest up to £500 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain".
Answer
We are already working closely with private and public sector partners, including developers and investors, through a variety of fora to ensure that together, we maximise the economic benefits that the offshore renewables sector can deliver for Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how the First Minister's commitment to "invest up to £500 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain" will be delivered in conjunction with the £500 million Just Transition Fund.
Answer
It is important that we take the time to work closely with industry, with investors and with our partners across the public and private sectors to ensure that we get our approach to this right. This process is already well-underway and will update the market once it has been completed.
Delivery of the £500 million Just Transition Fund remains ongoing with £75 million allocated to date, supporting projects and communities across the North East and Moray to create jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government with which organisations it has consulted regarding the development of a Green Industrial Strategy, as committed to in its Programme for Government 2023-24.
Answer
There will be an extensive programme of consultation as the Green Industrial Strategy is developed in line with our commitments within the New Deal for Business. We have already engaged with a number of organisations including Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI Scotland), Scottish Council for Development & Industry (SCDI), Federation of Small Business (FSB), Institute of Directors (IoD) and Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE). We will continue to engage with stakeholders through our New Deal for Business Group and other mechanisms in order to shape the strategy.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide more information on how the First Minister's commitment to "invest up to £500 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain" will be delivered.
Answer
We are working closely our partners in the Enterprise Agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank to develop an approach that will allow us to respond at pace to market needs. We will provide more detail to the market in due course.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of a Green Industrial Strategy, as committed to in its Programme for Government 2023-24.
Answer
Yes. We will update Parliament, when appropriate, in relation to the Green Industrial Strategy.