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-17385

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when all (a) residential properties and (b) businesses on Scotland's islands will have access to superfast broadband, broken down by island group.

The Scottish Government is enabling access to superfast broadband through the £600 million R100 contracts (North, Central and South) and the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS).

All three island local authority areas are covered by the R100 North Contract, with build already underway in Orkney and Shetland which is expected to conclude in 2026. Build is currently expected to begin in Na H-eileanan Siar in 2025 and conclude in 2028.

In 2022, as part of the R100 North contract, 16 new subsea fibre broadband cables were laid, providing future-proofed, resilient connections to 15 Scottish islands, including 4 islands in Shetland and 7 in Orkney.

All premises not in commercial or R100 contract plans can access a minimum of a superfast service via the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme. However, this is a demand-led scheme, meaning it is ultimately up to tenants and owners to secure a connection through this route.

Question reference: S6W-17378

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that the SaxaVord Spaceport will have on Shetland’s economy.

SaxaVord Spaceport has the potential to have a major beneficial impact for Shetland’s economy.

An economic impact assessment produced as part of the Spaceport’s planning application, estimates that once operational the spaceport will support over 209 jobs in the Shetland Islands, and generate c.£7.5 million GVA per year. This increases to 255 jobs and £9.3 million GVA when considered at a Scottish level.

According to the Spaceport's website the company is set to invest upwards of £43m over the next 18 months, rising to £100m in the next five years as it seeks to establish three launchpads and continues to attract both domestic and international launch customers.

Question reference: S6W-16982

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport will next meet with local communities to discuss the Corran Narrows crossing.

I recognise the unavailability of the Corran Ferry is causing major disruption for communities, businesses and visitors to the area.

While the operation of transport links across the Corran Narrows is the responsibility of the Highland Council and any decisions on maintenance, upgrades, or options to replace ferries is for them, I recently met with the Highland Council to hear more about their plans for the route. I would be happy to visit Lochaber to learn further about The Highland Council’s plans and to meet the local community.

Question reference: S6W-17380

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided to support cultural activities on Scotland's islands in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) island group and (b) government body providing the funding.

Question reference: S6W-17379

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development will attend the Tall Ships Races Lerwick 2023.

I am delighted that the Tall Ship Races will be coming to Lerwick at the end of July this year. They represent a fantastic opportunity for Scotland, in particular Shetland and our island communities. This event, supported by £130,000 of EventScotland funding, is expected to attract up to 30,000 spectators and around 1,300 participants from 8 countries to Shetland. Ministers with a portfolio interest will be delighted to consider any invitation in line with current commitments.

Question reference: S6O-02197

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how the Scottish Government analyses the impact on island communities of disruption to ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-16983

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Highland Council regarding the condition of roads in the Highland Council area.

Transport Scotland officials attend a quarterly liaison meeting with the Highland Council regarding trunk road matters within their area. In addition to the quarterly meeting, the Highland Council road officers get in touch with Transport Scotland officials as and when required.

The local road network is the responsibility of local authorities and they will allocate resources on the basis of local priorities.

Question reference: S6W-16984

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what specific support it provides to local authorities to address any potholes caused by deteriorating roads.

The local road network is the responsibility of local authorities and they will allocate resources on the basis of local priorities. The vast majority of funding to local authorities from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their individual allocations. It is therefore the responsibility of each local authority to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Despite UK Government cuts, the Scottish Government has protected Councils in the most challenging Budget since devolution to provide nearly £13.5 billion in the 2023-24 Local Government Settlement – a cash increase of over £793 million or 6.3%, which is a real terms increase of £376 million or 3%.

Question reference: S6W-16981

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport will next meet with Highland Council to discuss the Corran Narrows crossing.

Question reference: S6O-02183

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any potential impact on local communities of the reported deterioration of vital transport links in the Highlands and Islands region.