Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-04506

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) whether the central register of interests held by the People and Culture Office is (a) published and publicly available in the interests of transparency and (b) monitored regularly to prevent breaches of the code of conduct for SPCB staff, including clerks, and whether any breaches of the code of conduct for SPCB staff, including clerks, are recorded.

The central register of interests is not published. The register is updated as and when new interests emerge and on an annual basis Group Heads are requested to review entries on the register for their staff to ensure that it remains accurate. However, the SPCB recognises that transparency is important to ensure confidence in the process for managing conflicts of interest for SPS staff. Officials are currently reviewing the Code of Conduct and as part of this review the SPCB will consider whether publication of all or part of the register of interests is appropriate. The SPCB has requested advice from officials to assist it with its consideration of this matter.

Question reference: S6W-04496

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many loans have been provided to customers through the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme to cover the purchase of used electric vehicles in the Scottish Borders area, and what the total value is of these loans.

The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan. In September 2020, this interest free loan scheme was extended to support individuals and businesses across Scotland purchase used electric vehicles.

As of 23 rd November 2021, 17 loans have been provided to individuals and businesses across the Scottish Borders to support the purchase of used electric vehicles to the value of £231,109.50

Question reference: S6W-04497

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many loans have been provided to customers through the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme to cover the purchase of new electric vehicles in the Scottish Borders area, and what the total value is of these loans.

The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan, this interest free loan has supported individuals and businesses across Scotland purchase new electric vehicles.

As of the 23 rd November 2021, 141 loans have been provided to individuals and businesses across the Scottish Borders to support the purchase of new electric vehicles to the value of £3,946,087.

Question reference: S6W-04498

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle domestic charge point grants have been provided to customers in the Scottish Borders area, and what the total value is of these grants.

The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Domestic chargepoint scheme, this scheme provides grant funding to support individuals across Scotland install electric vehicle home chargepoints.

To date Energy Saving Trust have provided 433 grants with a value of £137,423 to individuals across the Scottish Borders to install electric vehicle chargepoints.

Question reference: S6W-04510

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund there have been, and of those how many (a) were approved, (b) were not approved and (c) following appeal, were (i) approved and (ii) not approved.

In total 585 applications for the Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund were received. Of this:

- 460 applications were approved.

- Where an application was not approved (125 applications), there was always a reason provided, specific to the application and if sought clarification and discussion on this reasoning was provided.

- There have been no appeals. A number of applications were asked to provide additional information, and where provided the application was reviewed in light of the additional information.

Question reference: S6W-04512

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many successful applications to the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme there were from women in each year for which the scheme was open for applications.

Question reference: S6W-04453

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to replace vessels on CalMac services, in light of reports that the average age of each is 23.6 years old, compared with 13 years old in 1974.

The Scottish Government has announced £580 million investment in vessels and harbours over the next five years, in addition to the completion of vessels 801 and 802. These plans are set out in the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan published 4 February 2021 (link for convenience- ) which includes replacement vessel projects for:

Islay, 2 vessel procurement announced 14 June 2021
Gourock-Dunoon-Kilcreggan passenger services
Up to 7 small vessels for the Clyde & Hebrides network
Craignure-Oban
Mallaig-Lochboisdale
Northern Isles freight services

In addition to these projects the Scottish Government has recently funded the purchase by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd of the MV Utne to bring additional resilience and capacity to the fleet and provide a year round island-based service to the Isle of Mull from Oban.

Question reference: S6W-04454

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the age is of each CalMac ferry.

Question reference: S6W-04172

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
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.

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
FGS Case Approval Status	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

Question reference: S6W-04167

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
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.

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
FGS Case Approval Status	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

Scheme Year	Applications successful from women
2016	25
2017	10
2018	26
2019	1