Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-10291

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it can secure greater participation by (a) landowners and (b) volunteers in Scotland’s grey squirrel control effort.

Since 2009, the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust has co-ordinated grey squirrel control at a landscape scale in three project areas: North-East Scotland, the Central Lowlands and South Scotland. This work is undertaken by project conservation staff, Grey Squirrel Control Officers, Forestry Commission controllers working on the National Forest Estate, a network of landowners controlling grey squirrels on private forests and estates supported by Scottish Rural Development Programme funding, and up to 56 estates and over 200 individual volunteers operating traps via loans from the SSRS Project.

A new SSRS Project phase, ‘Developing Community Action’, is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund specifically to secure a long-term commitment to red squirrel protection. The additional funding for the next 5 years is intended to build capacity, skills and a sense of ownership of local red squirrel populations. In developing the new project, the SSRS Project has carried out market research, held community engagement workshops and stakeholder consultations and will be using this information to target communications to engage and sustain interest in the Project and its aims. A ‘Community Hub’ information management system will be developed for staff and volunteers, which will capture and integrate data from all sources and will allow feedback to be provided.

Question reference: S5W-10295

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a long-term, cost-effective means of controlling the reported spread of the non-native grey squirrel.

The current distribution and abundance of grey squirrels means that control and containment to minimise their impact are generally the only realistic options. The objectives of grey squirrel control co-ordinated through the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Project are to: eradicate grey squirrels from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire within 10 years; to contain the northward spread of grey squirrels into the Highlands and Argyll by carrying out control from coast to coast across the ‘Highland Line’; and to control grey squirrels in identified priority areas for red squirrels in southern Scotland.

A Heritage Lottery Fund Award of £2.46 million has been secured for the next 5 years (until 2022) towards a total SSRS Project cost of £4.4 million. The title of this phase of the project is ‘Developing Community Action’. Actions under this phase are aimed at developing long-term red squirrel conservation and embedding this in land management and community action, with a move away from reliance on project funding. The project aims to build capacity, skills and a sense of ownership of local red squirrel populations.

Work on developing a grey squirrel immuno-contraceptive is also progressing with support from the UK Squirrel Accord signatories; including Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Government. Immuno-contraceptives have the potential to significantly reduce the need for and costs of ongoing grey squirrel control.

Question reference: S5W-10037

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the responses to the consultation on a draft referendum bill.

Question reference: S5O-01186

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to build a new Belford Hospital in Fort William.

Question reference: S5W-09649

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made filling the chief executive vacancy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Question reference: S5F-01316

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2017

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to attract foreign direct investment.

Question reference: S5O-01004

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the fish catching industry on the west coast.

Question reference: S5O-00923

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what requirements local authorities have to provide children with the basic tools of learning at school.

Question reference: S5W-08164

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 27 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Bank of Scotland PMI.

The latest Bank of Scotland PMI figures signal that Scotland’s private sector continued to strengthen in February with business output increasing at its quickest rate since July 2015, alongside a further rise in new business. While this expansion is to be welcomed, the report also indicates challenges facing Scotland’s labour market and continued uncertainty over Brexit.

The Scottish Government is taking action to support the economy, for instance through the £100 million capital stimulus package that will help to protect jobs, and the planned £500 million Scottish Growth Fund, which is designed to support business growth.

Question reference: S5O-00853

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports residential care for older people in rural areas.

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