Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-29294

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 24 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how NatureScot (a) assesses, (b) monitors and (c) publicises routine progress toward reaching the additional 50,000 deer cull target.

NatureScot’s Deer Work Programme Action Plan and spreadsheet showing progress on delivery of the Deer Working Recommendations are on their website (https://www.nature.scot/doc/deer-work-programme).

These show progress across the range of projects, initiatives and activities that are aimed at increasing culls to achieve a more sustainable deer population in Scotland.

NatureScot are also working to improve cull data collection and presentation to better monitor progress.

Question reference: S6W-29658

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how any funds for a sports facility at Park of Keir will be re-allocated, in light of the withdrawal of the project.

We recognise the enormous contribution the Murray family has made to tennis in Scotland and we are committed to delivering a tangible and fitting legacy.

sportscotland’s provisional allocation of up to £5m for the development of a potential tennis facility at Park of Keir remains in place to deliver a suitable Murray Legacy in Scotland.

We will work with sportscotland, the Murray family, and wider partners, to ensure that we capitalise on the achievements of one of Scotland's greatest ever athletes.

Question reference: S6W-29374

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when NatureScot will be revising its Scottish Biodiversity List of species and habitats that Scottish Ministers consider to be of principal importance for biodiversity conservation in Scotland.

The Scottish Government and NatureScot have been focused on the development of the final draft of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and supporting Delivery Plans, which will be published later this year. The Scottish Biodiversity List remains an important part of this framework. NatureScot has already undertaken some preparatory work which will help inform this task, and we will continue to work together to produce a revised list in due course.

Question reference: S6O-03727

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the findings of HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland's report on the full inspection of HMP YOI Stirling.

Question reference: S6W-29136

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland report, HMP & YOI Stirling, Full Inspection, 19 February to 23 February 2024.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS welcomes the inspection report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS), and we are encouraged to hear that the Chief Inspector believes that Scotland is ‘leading the way when it comes to managing women in custody’.

SPS acknowledges that it has been just over a year since the opening of HMP & YOI Stirling, and although the report highlights many areas of good practice, there are areas where further development is needed. We are in the process of working through these areas for those in our care, our staff, and our neighbours.

SPS will work collaboratively with HMIPS on the recommendations made and will provide updates to HMIPS on the actions taken forward in the areas that require further development.

We are confident that our transformative and groundbreaking Strategy for Women in Custody, supported by significant investment from the Scottish Government, has delivered a step change in how we support the rehabilitation of women in our care.

Question reference: S6W-28692

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28363 by Mairi Gougeon on 22 July 2024, what consideration it will give to potentially extending the boundary of the (a) Cairngorms National Park and (b) Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park to incorporate parts of the Tay Forest National Park bid area.

On 22 July 2024, the Scottish Government announced that Galloway has been proposed as the location for Scotland’s third National Park. A detailed investigation will now be carried out on its suitability including extensive engagement and consultation with local communities, businesses, interest groups and representatives from the agriculture, forestry and other land-based sectors given their importance in the area. NatureScot has been asked to take forward this investigation and to provide a report to Scottish Ministers by 28 April 2025.

New National Park nominations were also received from groups in Loch Awe, Lochaber, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest.

I have written to all of the groups that submitted nominations, including for Tay Forest, to offer meetings with Scottish Government officials to discuss the outcome of this process and any reflections they may wish to share following its conclusion.

These meetings with officials will offer an opportunity for groups to make the case for such proposals and, where relevant, groups may wish to explore particular elements of their nominations that would merit further consideration. For example, they may wish to explore potential opportunities to support nature restoration and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Question reference: S6W-28842

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the analysis of the performance of BIDs Scotland.

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Scotland was contracted by Scottish Government in 2014 to help support the delivery and development of BIDs across Scotland. Scottish Government published a report in December 2016 outlining research findings on the impact of the support they provided. The report can be found on the Scottish Government website. Research Findings 9/2016: Review of Business Improvement Districts Scotland (www.gov.scot) .

Since September 2018, Scottish Government has funded Scotland’s Improvement Districts (SIDs), which forms part of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, as the lead organisation for supporting and encouraging the development and success of the nation’s Improvement Districts. Though there are no plans to undertake a formal analysis of their performance, we review progress of BIDs activity with SIDs on a regular basis.

Question reference: S6W-28691

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28363 by Mairi Gougeon on 22 July 2024, what further action it will take to support the development of nominations for new national parks.

In October 2023, communities were invited to explore and develop proposals for their local area to be considered for designation as Scotland’s next National Park. The nomination phase closed on 29 February and nominations were received from Galloway, Loch Awe, Lochaber, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest.

The appraisal process concluded in May and the appraisal panel’s report has been published on our website: Scotland's New National Park Appraisal Panel: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . On 22 July 2024, I announced that Galloway has been confirmed as the proposed location for Scotland’s next National Park. A Reporter process will now be undertaken by NatureScot to consider this proposal. That process will include extensive public consultation and engagement with local communities, stakeholders, businesses, landowners and managers and public bodies to discuss, test and further shape and refine the National Park proposal.

I have written to all nominating groups to offer meetings with Scottish Government officials to discuss the outcome of this process and any reflections they may wish to share following its conclusion.

On behalf of the Scottish Government, I would like to offer our thanks for the considerable time, effort and commitment that all the nominating groups and members of these local communities have invested in exploring and developing their nominations.

Question reference: S6O-03866

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2028

To ask the Scottish Government test.

Question reference: S6W-28671

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19916 by Gillian Martin on 31 July 2023, what progress has been made towards reviewing building standards to require the use of swift bricks and other features to support birds.

Noting the answers previously provided to questions S6W-19916 on 31 July 2024, S6W-26193 and S6W-26194 on 28 March 2024 on this topic, I can confirm it remains our intent to review standard 7.1 (statement of sustainability) to consider further opportunities for building regulations to make a positive contribution to biodiversity within new developments. As this standard sets out additional voluntary actions a developer may adopt, it would promote but not require specific provisions, such as the use of swift bricks, in new buildings.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

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