- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what total area of forest has been felled in each of the last seven years, broken down by (a) conifers and (b) broadleaf forestry.
Answer
The area of forest that has been felled in Scotland is not monitored on an annual basis. Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government agency responsible for the regulation tree felling and monitors the area approved for felling each year. After approval for felling is issued, the landowner has flexibility to decide on the timing of felling.
Felling approvals are issued in a number of ways, including as standalone Felling Permissions, where felling is approved for a two year period, and Long-term Forest Plans, where felling is approved for a ten year period. Local Authorities may also approve felling as part of planning permission, but these figures are not collated. As approvals can be valid for over several years, the area of forest felled in a particular year is not available.
For the last seven years, including private sector approvals and forests managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, the areas approved for felling are as follows. Of this area, 96-98% is for conifer forest:
Financial year | Total felling area approved (hectares) |
2016-17 | 21,292 |
2017-18 | 20,989 |
2018-19 | 14,735 |
2019-20 | 13,337 |
2020-21 | 13,330 |
2021-22 | 16,365 |
2022-23 | 15,113 |
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what calculations are carried out to assess the greenhouse gas emissions in areas of clear felling, including the impact of ground disturbance, and what the estimated emissions have been in clear-felled areas in each of the last seven years.
Answer
The greenhouse gas impacts of all forest operations, including the effects of ground disturbance, are accounted for in the modelling used for the GHG Inventory, both for the UK and for Scotland. The Inventory is annually although impacts of specific operations such as clear felling are not reported separately. Recent work by Forest Research shows that the production cycle associated with timber adds significantly to the net greenhouse gas benefits of woodlands.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20426 by Mairi Gougeon on 29 August 2023, whether it can confirm how many cattle identification inspections, (a) in each year and (b) by each regional office included in its answer (i) were originally planned to review and (ii) actually reviewed records going back more than (A) one year, (B) five years, (C) nine years and (D) 10 years or longer.
Answer
The number of Cattle Identification Inspections undertaken by the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division on cattle keepers in the last five years, detailed per year and regional office and further detailed into originally planned to review and actually reviewed records and into four time categories is provided in the following tables.
SGRPID regional office | 2023 | Originally planned to review records – more than 1 year | Originally planned to review records – more than 5 years | Originally planned to review records -more than 9 years | Originally planned to review records – more than 10 years or longer | Actually reviewed records – more than 1 year | Actually reviewed records – more than 5 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 9 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 10 years or longer |
Ayr | 33 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 20 |
Benbecula | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
Dumfries | 27 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
Elgin | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
Galashiels | 24 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
Golspie | 10 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
Hamilton | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 |
Inverness | 24 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
Inverurie | 52 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 28 |
Kirkwall | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
Lerwick | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Oban | 23 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
Perth | 48 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 22 |
Portree | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
Stornoway | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Thurso | 20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
SGRPID regional office | 2022 | Originally planned to review records – more than 1 year | Originally planned to review records – more than 5 years | Originally planned to review records -more than 9 years | Originally planned to review records – more than 10 years or longer | Actually reviewed records – more than 1 year | Actually reviewed records – more than 5 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 9 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 10 years or longer |
Ayr | 46 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 37 |
Benbecula | 18 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
Dumfries | 51 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 36 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 36 |
Elgin | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Galashiels | 35 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 24 |
Golspie | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
Hamilton | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Inverness | 29 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
Inverurie | 68 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 41 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 41 |
Kirkwall | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Lerwick | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
Oban | 30 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
Perth | 60 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 37 |
Portree | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
Stornoway | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Thurso | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
SGRPID regional office | 2021 | Originally planned to review records – more than 1 year | Originally planned to review records – more than 5 years | Originally planned to review records -more than 9 years | Originally planned to review records – more than 10 years or longer | Actually reviewed records – more than 1 year | Actually reviewed records – more than 5 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 9 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 10 years or longer |
Ayr | 39 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 14 |
Benbecula | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Dumfries | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
Elgin | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Galashiels | 13 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Golspie | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Hamilton | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
Inverness | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Inverurie | 42 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 25 |
Kirkwall | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
Lerwick | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Oban | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Perth | 43 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 26 |
Portree | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Stornoway | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Thurso | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
SGRPID regional office | 2020 | Originally planned to review records – more than 1 year | Originally planned to review records – more than 5 years | Originally planned to review records -more than 9 years | Originally planned to review records – more than 10 years or longer | Actually reviewed records – more than 1 year | Actually reviewed records – more than 5 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 9 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 10 years or longer |
Ayr | 41 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 32 |
Benbecula | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
Dumfries | 46 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 34 |
Elgin | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
Galashiels | 38 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 29 |
Golspie | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Hamilton | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
Inverness | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
Inverurie | 72 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 49 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 49 |
Kirkwall | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
Lerwick | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
Oban | 29 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
Perth | 51 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 40 |
Portree | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Stornoway | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Thurso | 25 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 15 |
SGRPID regional office | 2019 | Originally planned to review records – more than 1 year | Originally planned to review records – more than 5 years | Originally planned to review records -more than 9 years | Originally planned to review records – more than 10 years or longer | Actually reviewed records – more than 1 year | Actually reviewed records – more than 5 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 9 years | Actually reviewed records – more than 10 years or longer |
Ayr | 73 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 57 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 57 |
Benbecula | 18 | | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 |
Dumfries | 57 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 44 |
Elgin | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Galashiels | 47 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 35 |
Golspie | 16 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Hamilton | 36 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
Inverness | 50 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 38 |
Inverurie | 90 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 53 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 54 |
Kirkwall | 22 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19 |
Lerwick | 12 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Oban | 35 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 27 |
Perth | 77 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 55 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 55 |
Portree | 19 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
Stornoway | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Thurso | 29 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16 |
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the second Strategic Transport Projects Review in relation to improving the A75.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many livestock inspections were undertaken by the Rural Payments and Inspections Division to "make sure cattle keepers are complying with animal identification and traceability, and (where applicable) voluntary coupled support scheme legislation set by the United Kingdom and European Union" in the last five years, broken down by each of the regional offices, and how many years of records in total are covered by all of the inspections in this period.
Answer
The number of Cattle Identification livestock inspections undertaken by the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division on cattle keepers in the last five years is provided in the following table.
Cattle Identification Inspections (CII) undertaken in the last five years |
SGRPID regional office | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | Total no. CIIs per AO | Number of years of records that are included in the inspections |
Ayr | 32 | 46 | 39 | 41 | 73 | 231 | 29 |
Benbecula | 14 | 18 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 72 | 24 |
Dumfries | 27 | 51 | 23 | 46 | 57 | 204 | 29 |
Elgin | 13 | 16 | 9 | 20 | 16 | 74 | 26 |
Galashiels | 24 | 35 | 13 | 38 | 47 | 157 | 28 |
Golspie | 10 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 51 | 19 |
Hamilton | 20 | 33 | 14 | 23 | 36 | 126 | 29 |
Inverness | 24 | 29 | 10 | 23 | 50 | 136 | 26 |
Inverurie | 52 | 67 | 42 | 72 | 90 | 323 | 28 |
Kirkwall | 19 | 23 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 95 | 28 |
Lerwick | 10 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 53 | 21 |
Oban | 23 | 29 | 7 | 29 | 35 | 123 | 27 |
Perth | 47 | 59 | 43 | 51 | 77 | 277 | 30 |
Portree | 11 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 49 | 21 |
Stornoway | 9 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 40 | 20 |
Thurso | 20 | 23 | 14 | 25 | 29 | 111 | 26 |
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) has any role in relation to the curriculum offering or subjects taught in local authority-run schools, and, if so, what its role is.
Answer
Under the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is excluded from considering complaints about the curriculum offering or teaching. They can consider complaints about complaints handling.
While the Curriculum for Excellence provides the overarching framework and sets out the eight curriculum areas, the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education sits with local authorities and schools under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are required, under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, to (a) disestablish or dissolve an all-through school and (b) create new partnerships with other schools; whether pupils and parents within the existing catchment area have any involvement in such decisions, and, if so, what their involvement is.
Answer
The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 does not make any specific provision regarding all-through schools or the establishment of partnerships between schools, for example, regarding school management. It is primarily for local authorities to consider whether any proposed significant change to a school is a “relevant proposal” as set out in Schedule 1 of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and, if so, to comply with its requirements.
Where a proposal would result in the permanent discontinuance of a school, or stage of education in a school, the local authority must publish a proposal paper, which includes a statement of the educational benefits of the proposal. The consultation must last for at least 30 school days. The local authority must let relevant consultees, including affected parents, Parent Council(s) and pupils, know about the consultation and invite responses. A public meeting must also be held. The local authority must invite Education Scotland to prepare a report on the educational aspects of the proposal. The local authority must publish a consultation report which responds to issues raised through the consultation period.
If the proposal involves the closure of a rural school, or stage of education in a rural school, the local authority must also comply with additional requirements, including considering reasonable alternatives to closure and only proceeding if closing the school is the most appropriate response to the reasons it has identified for making the proposal. For rural schools, a number of these steps must be carried out before the local authority embarks on the formal consultation as set out above.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have the ability to remove core subjects from a senior phase school without consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer
The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 does not require local authorities to consult on the removal of subjects from a school’s curriculum offer.
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education sits with local authorities.
While the Curriculum for Excellence provides the overarching framework and sets out the eight curriculum areas, it is a matter for individual schools and authorities to tailor their detailed curriculum offer.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanism is in place to remedy any non-compliance by local authorities with the provisions of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer
It is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to comply with the provisions of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”).
The Scottish Government has a power to call in a proposal to permanently discontinue a school or a stage of education if it appears to Ministers that one of the grounds in section 17(2) of the 2010 Act applies. Where a call-in notice has been issued, Ministers must refer the proposal to the Convener of the School Closure Review Panel.
If Ministers are of the view that a local authority has failed to discharge a statutory duty relating to school education, they may take action under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (“the 1980 Act”) in certain circumstances. Ministers would require evidence of such a failure before taking the action permitted by the 1980 Act.
In addition, Judicial Review may be available in respect of a failure of a public authority to comply with its statutory obligations.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS boards should provide palliative care in local healthcare settings, near to patients' families, friends and communities.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to equitable and timely access to general and specialist palliative care services, as needed, by each person of any age, living with any illnesses, in all places. We want people to receive care where they feel most comfortable. For many, but not all, this will be at home supported by their family and friends and cared for by primary care teams and care staff.
It is the responsibility of Integrated Joint Boards to plan and commission adult palliative care services which are provided in a wide range of settings including acute hospitals, community hospitals, specialist palliative care units, hospices, care homes and people’s own homes.
We are currently developing a new Palliative and End of Live Care Strategy with an overarching aim that everyone in Scotland receives well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around death and bereavement support based on their needs and preferences, including support for families and carers.
