Questions and answers

Question reference: S5F-02366

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2018

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of how any proposed post-Brexit trade deal with the United States could impact on the whisky sector.

Question reference: S5W-16200

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of disruption caused by the A939 regularly closing due to bridge repairs, what specific support is available to local authorities to construct new bridges that are required due to listed Highland bridges on key rural routes not being fit for purpose.

Transport Scotland is a member of the SCOTS Bridges Group which shares issues from the wider bridge community with local authorities. Transport Scotland take concerns raised about various issues to the UK Bridges Board, which is a sub group of the UK Roads Liaison Group, and also the Bridge Owner’s Forum.

The vast majority of funding from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and Transport Scotland 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. The Scottish Government allocated over £10.4 billion to local government for 2017-18. In 2018-19, councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion. This will provide a further real terms boost in both revenue and capital funding.

Highland Council will receive £487.5 million Scottish Government funding in 2018-19. Taken together with the decision to increase council tax by 3%, Highland Council will have an additional £17.1 million to support services compared to ‎2017-18.

In addition, the Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay MSP, has taken the decision to allocate an additional £10 million to cover all 32 councils, with individual council allocations to be determined by COSLA. This additional £10 million is being made directly available to local authorities immediately.

Question reference: S5F-02329

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2018

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on progress towards tackling excessive parcel delivery surcharges affecting parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-16116

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area, also expressed as a figure per 10,000 of the population.

This information is not collected or held centrally.

The National Advisory Committee on Neurological Conditions is developing Scotland's first National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions. As part of this project we are working closely with NHS National Services Scotland Information Services Division to understand the prevalence of neurological conditions and will share our findings during consultation events later this year.

Question reference: S5W-16115

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) funding and (b) support is available for people with Huntington’s disease in Moray, and what plans it has to enhance this.

NHS Boards are responsible for planning and delivering healthcare services, including specialist services, to meet the assessed needs of their resident populations, taking into account strategic frameworks and guidance, within the allocations provided. Specialist care for Huntington’s is usually delivered as part of a multi-disciplinary team, comprising a range of professional input across the clinical, nursing and allied health professions. Staff working within these specialities are likely to cover more than one area.

With regard to the support available for people with Huntington's Disease in Scotland, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16117 on 4 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-16117

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what specific funding is available to support the work of patient and community groups set up to offer advice and support for people with Huntington’s disease.

The Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) received £120,000 in funding to develop a National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease, plus a further £60,000 to deliver localised frameworks by 2019. The framework aims to help ensure families affected by the condition are given the best possible care, information and support - regardless of where they live in Scotland. Further information about the frameworks is available at: http://care.hdscotland.org/ . On
‎ 23 April 2018, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport launched the first phase of the localised frameworks at an event in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

In addition, SHA has received core funding of £146,000 split equally over two years (2016-17 and 2017-18) and will receive a further £73,000 in 2018-19. This funding contributes to SHA’s network of specialist support and initiatives to raise awareness of Huntington’s Disease.

Question reference: S5W-16034

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can legally enforce community benefit agreements between communities and wind farm operators.

The Scottish Government has no direct powers to oblige developers to pay community benefits or determine how funds are spent. In 2014, in partnership with industry and communities the Scottish Government produced Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments which set out national standards on community benefits, which we encourage all developers and communities to use.

In Scotland's Energy Strategy (published December 2017) the Scottish Government gave a commitment to review its Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits and Shared Ownership. As part of the review process we have set up a Steering Group comprised of representatives from communities and industry, and are gathering evidence more widely through stakeholder workshops prior to undertaking a formal consultation later this year.

Question reference: S5W-15472

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with its discussions with the UK Government regarding the Moray Growth Deal, and what its position is on the UK Government’s approach to the deal.

Question reference: S5W-15383

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making with the UK Government regarding growth deals, including that being discussed with The Moray Council.

The Scottish Government has already agreed deals for the Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness City Regions, identifying over £1bn of investment over the next 10 to 20 years. A deal for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region will be concluded soon. In addition, we are committed to agreeing deals for the Tay Cities Region, Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region, the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and every remaining area of Scotland, including Moray.

In line with a recommendation made by the Local Government and Communities Committee, we want the UK Government to confirm that they will join us in agreeing a timetable to deliver a growth deal covering every part of Scotland. Scottish Government officials are engaged in on-going dialogue towards this goal with local colleagues in Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute and Falkirk, as well as on-going discussions with Western Isles Council, Shetland Council and Orkney Council on their Island Deal proposals.

The Moray Growth Deal is progressing with a first tranche of strategic outline business cases submitted to the Scottish Government by Moray Council on 9 March. These drafts are currently being examined by my officials who last discussed them with Moray Council colleagues on 28 March as part of an on-going process to help the Council to refine and develop its plans.

Question reference: S5W-15468

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to retain the consultant-led maternity unit at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.

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