Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-01477

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how its Covid Recovery Strategy is supporting rural and island tourism businesses.

Question reference: S6W-11321

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to the UK Government regarding any reduction in access to skilled crew fishing vessels in the Western Isles from 1 November 2022 as a result of the UK Government's reported plan to strictly implement existing transit visa regulations with regards to non-EU fishers, such as those from Ghana and the Philippines, working on UK fishing vessels in Scottish waters, and what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding (a) how to increase the number of EU fishers accessing work permits and (b) amending the requirements of the sponsored employers scheme to better accommodate the needs of sectors such as fishing, in light of reports of a clear and persistent labour shortage in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is aware of Home Office plans to issue amended immigration rules to prohibit all forms of activity within UK territorial waters or onshore by crew employed using transit visas. Following representations from the Scottish Government and others – including a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to the Home Secretary on 20 September - the introduction of these new rules has been postponed to spring 2023, rather than 1 November as originally planned.

Whilst that delay is welcome, the Scottish Government is clear that changes to the transit visa rules must accompanied in parallel by changes to Skilled Worker Visa provision to ensure that the latter is genuinely proportionate and accessible to all parts of the fleet, since the alternative may be an exacerbation of current labour shortages and vessel tie-ups. We are similarly clear that the Home Office must ensure that meaningful consultation and robust impact assessments are undertaken before any changes to immigration rules affecting the Scottish fishing industry are made.

In addition to continuing to submit evidence on Scotland’s unique economic and demographic needs to the Migration Advisory Committee, the Scottish Government has offered to meet the Home Office and the other Devolved Governments to identify and implement alternative arrangements that promote proportionate border security whilst also protecting the rights of non-UK workers and the ability of industry to access the labour it needs. To date that offer has not been accepted.

Question reference: S6O-01415

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the issue of absenteeism in crofting.

Question reference: S6W-09878

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to (a) Ofgem and (b) energy supply companies regarding the reported issue of waiting times of more than three months for meters to be installed, exchanged or repaired in the Western Isles, in light of reports that this has become a significant issue for island consumers in the last 12 months due to an absence of energy company engineers on the islands and an unwillingness by companies to utilise local engineers.

I know that many consumers across Scotland are facing long waits for energy meters to be installed and this has been a source of much frustration.

Regulation of energy markets, including in relation to the installation of meters, remains reserved to the UK Government meaning that the Scottish Government's potential actions in regards to this are limited.

My officials have raised this issue with Ofgem, the energy regulator.

Question reference: S6W-09720

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland expects to provide an update on its consideration of the winter 2022-23 ferry timetable proposals, which were reportedly submitted to Transport Scotland by CalMac in May 2022.

Transport Scotland has engaged with CalMac and Ministers regarding routine Winter 2022-23 timetable requests and decisions have been fed back to Ferry Committees and local stakeholder groups.

The service continuity measures and alternative timetables during the Uig closure period are yet to be finalised. Transport Scotland continues to engage with CalMac and elected officials on this matter.

CalMac will publish Winter 2022-23 timetables in due course and are proactively engaging with stakeholders to keep them updated.

Question reference: S6W-09479

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new booking system for CalMac Ferries, Ar Turas, will gauge unmet demand for ferry services, and, if not, what systems can be put in place to ensure that unmet demand is recorded.

CalMac has noted that it is not possible to measure unmet demand using booking systems, including the eBooking solution being delivered by the Ar Turas Programme. We understand the desire to measure bookings “not made” for a specific set of reasons, principally vessel capacity on peak-demand sailings.

CalMac has been running a working group with a number of CalMac Community Board members during the last 18 months to help clarify and support understanding of measures that can be tracked. The group has explored a range of ideas and CalMac has developed a number of reports designed to support enhanced understanding of how and when vehicle bookings are made, amended, cancelled and the resulting impact on capacity. These requirements have been taken-forward for delivery against the improved data that the new system will capture.

A number of these items have already been made available in monthly Ferry User Group performance reporting packs.

Question reference: S6W-09480

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any attempt has been made to measure the financial and economic losses to the Uist community from ferry disruptions in 2022.

As the member will know, disruption to the network in early 2022 linked directly to weather conditions and Covid impacts. Whilst no specific analysis of the financial and economic impacts from this ferry disruption on the Uist community has been undertaken, the Scottish Government recognises the impact these disruptions have on island life.

CalMac forms part of the local resilience partnership and prioritises the shipment of essential supplies during disruption to minimise welfare issues on the islands. Transport Scotland works with CalMac to monitor the impact of cancellations, listening to feedback directly from island communities and local resilience partnerships as well as transport operators.

Question reference: S6W-09990

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 July 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Dorothy Bain on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the Lord Advocate’s reference to the Supreme Court on whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence relates to reserved matters.

I have decided to publish the written case in the matter of my Reference under paragraph 34 of schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998 in relation to whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence contained in the proposed Bill relates to reserved matters. The written case is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/reference-to-the-supreme-court-publication-of-the-lord-advocates-written-case .

I will represent the Scottish Government’s interests at the hearing and will argue the case personally .

Question reference: S6W-09254

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angus Robertson on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its prospectus for an independent Scotland.

As part of our Programme for Government commitment to provide the people of Scotland with the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, I am pleased to advise Parliament that the Scottish Government is today publishing Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland?

This is the first paper in the Building a New Scotland prospectus series designed to inform the debate on Scotland’s future. The paper sets out how other European countries comparable to Scotland use their full powers of independence to tailor policies to their own specific circumstances and in doing so outperform the UK across a range of indicators. The Building a New Scotland papers will set out the vision for a fairer, more prosperous and greener Scotland and, taken together, will form a prospectus for how an independent Scotland could work.

Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland? is available to view on the Scottish Government website from today :

http://www.gov.scot/newscotland

Question reference: S6W-08621

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that everyone in (a) Scotland and (b) rural and island areas has access to an epilepsy specialist nurse.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with epilepsy are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Decisions on local staffing requirements are the responsibility of individual NHS Boards, such as NHS Western Isles which is reviewing its method of delivery for all people with neurological conditions, including epilepsy, across the island groups.

The Scottish Government and COSLA recently published a National Workforce Strategy on 11 March 2022. The Strategy commits to publishing new workforce projections in the autumn, once we have had the opportunity to consider Health Board and Health and Social Care Partnerships' three year workforce plans. The staffing needs for services and professional specialties across NHS Scotland will be, in partnership with stakeholders, factored into the development of those projections.

In 2019 we published a Neurological Care and Support – National Framework for Action 2020-25 , which sets out a vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including epilepsy, can access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms. Since October 2020, we have invested £324,500 in funding via the Framework to projects which specifically improve the health and wellbeing of people with epilepsy in Scotland.

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