- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
Answer
The following table provides information on how many applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme have been rejected, in how many cases the applicant formally requested a review of the approval decision, how many reviews have been upheld and how many are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
FGS Case Approval Status | Calendar Year | Total |
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Applications whole or partially rejected | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 21 |
Rejections for which a review was requested | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
No. of requests for review upheld | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
No. of Reviews awaiting a decision | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme there were, and of those how many (a) were approved and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
Answer
The following table provides information on how many applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme there have been, how many have been approved and how many are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.
FGS Case Approval Status | Calendar Year | Total |
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Applications Submitted | 324 | 723 | 714 | 663 | 629 | 746 | 592 | 4,391 |
Applications Approved | 309 | 712 | 708 | 655 | 621 | 716 | 397 | 4,118 |
Awaiting a Decision | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 193 | 252 |
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers who have applied for peatland restoration funding through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in receiving funding.
Answer
To date 251 businesses have been successful and 49 unsuccessful in receiving funding contributing to peatland restoration through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 25 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in and improve the ferry network.
Answer
The Scottish Government has announced investment of £580m in ports and vessels to support and improve Scotland’s ferry services over the next five years, as part of our wider Infrastructure Investment Plan, unveiled in February 2021. This builds on this Government’s commitment to our island and remote communities which, since 2007, has seen us invest more than £2bn in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service, the Northern Isles Ferry Service and the supporting vessel and harbour infrastructure.
As part of these investment plans, the MV Utne arrived in Scotland last week from Norway and transferred to CMAL on Monday 22 November. MV Utne will undergo modification works and is expected to enter service during the summer 2022 timetable. The announcement (14 September) of the extension of the Islay vessel invitation to tender for a second vessel is welcome and these major additions to the fleet and the resulting cascade effects will bring real benefits across our island and remote communities and businesses in the coming years.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support people in education or training in rural areas who have dyslexia.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2021
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.
Answer
The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.
Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are still being assessed for approval.
Year | Total LFASS Claim Population Received | Eligible Population (Approved) | Awaiting Decision |
2015 | 12,198 | 11,406 | 0 |
2016 | 12,092 | 11,334 | 0 |
2017 | 11,916 | 11,186 | 0 |
2018 | 11,790 | 11,058 | <3 |
2019 | 11,644 | 10,920 | 5 |
2020 | 11,602 | 10,877 | 23 |
The following table summarises how many applications to the (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision. The figures below exclude those applications that were submitted then subsequently withdrawn by the businesses concerned.
Please note the 2020 Round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer.
Regards the 2021 Round, no approval decisions have been made as yet. However 72 applications have, so far, been deemed ineligible for approval.
Year | Received AECS Applications | Approved AECS Applications | Awaiting Decision |
2015 | 927 | 594 | 0 |
2016 | 1,251 | 979 | 0 |
2017 | 989 | 807 | 0 |
2018 | 900 | 604 | 0 |
2019 | 709 | 506 | 0 |
2021 | 753 | 0 | 681 |
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.
Answer
The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.
Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are still being assessed for approval.
Year | Number of Appeals | Upheld (in favour of the applicant) | Awaiting Decision |
2015 | <3 | <3 | 0 |
2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | <3 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following table summarises how many applications to the (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.
Please note the 2020 Round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer.
Regards the 2021 Round, no approval decisions have been made as yet.
Year | AECS Applications Reviewed | Review Upheld (in favour of the applicant) | Awaiting Decision |
2015 | 66 | 13 | 0 |
2016 | 93 | 18 | 0 |
2017 | 54 | 14 | 0 |
2018 | 76 | 27 | 0 |
2019 | 63 | 17 | 0 |
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Water last undertook an assessment and upgrade of the drainage in Newcastleton.
Answer
Monitoring has found previous flooding incidents in Newcastleton to be due to recurring blockages in the network which Scottish Water’s Sewer Response Team duly attended and cleared. Scottish Water is also aware that more recent incidents have arisen from severe wet weather events leading to surface and river flooding.
The primary flooding issue in Newcastleton is associated with the Liddell Water breaking its banks and I refer the member to the answer to S6W-04149 on 17 November 2021 for further information.
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: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the data that shows the efficacy of the Hawick flood defences that are soon to be completed.
Answer
The data about the efficacy of the Hawick flood defences is not held by the Scottish Government. The scheme is being taken forward and constructed by Scottish Borders Council and they will be able to provide the relevant data.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Water and SEPA last conducted a river profile assessment of the Liddel Water through Newcastleton.
Answer
The most recent cross section survey of the Liddel Water was commissioned by Scottish Borders Council in 2017. This survey was carried out as part of the flood study for Newcastleton. As part of the flood study, SEPA also provided Scottish Borders Council with a LiDAR topographical survey, undertaken in 2013.
SEPA carried out a trash line survey following flooding in February 2021 to determine the flood extent.
A CCTV survey was also undertaken after Storm Dennis in 2020.
Newcastleton is part of the Scottish Borders flood warning scheme. This scheme will be reviewed by SEPA’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Team during the next FRM cycle (2021 – 2027) to determine whether improvements can be made or if there is a need to recalibrate at this location.
