- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how courts take domestic abuse into account in child contact cases.
Answer
Section 11(7A) to (7E) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 makes provision in this area. These subsections provide that the court must have regard to the need to protect from abuse when considering cases such as contact and residence.
We have recently consulted on reforming family law and are committed to introducing a Family Law Bill. One of its aims is to ensure victims of domestic abuse and children are protected in child contact cases.
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support schoolchildren with mental health issues.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2018
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) advice and (b) support it gives to freshwater fisheries management bodies regarding the removal of historic manmade features that can act as obstacles to the movement of migratory fish.
Answer
The Scottish Government advises fisheries management bodies to contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding any historic manmade features that may be acting as obstacles to the movement of migratory fish.
The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 require that any owner of a structure such as a weir or dam ensures it does not impact on fish passage. SEPA is progressively working to ensure that owners put any necessary measures in place.
Any historic structures no longer serving an economic purpose and which are impacting on fish passage, may be eligible for funding from the Scottish Government’s Water Environment Fund, which is administered by SEPA. SEPA is progressively working with local fisheries trusts to identify all such structures and develop solutions.
It is important that SEPA is contacted about such cases to ensure an appropriate solution is developed which takes account of the circumstances of each case.
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) advice and (b) support it gives to freshwater fishery management bodies regarding riparian tree planting.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides a range of guidance and tools to fisheries managers on the issue of tree planting to manage river temperature. These can be found on Marine Scotland's Scotland River Temperature Monitoring Network webpages at https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Salmon-Trout-Coarse/Freshwater/Monitoring/temperature/Timeline
In summary the resources available include:
- The Scotland River Temperature Monitoring Network itself, which will provide a long-term, quality controlled and centrally stored, dataset from which to assess the status of Scottish rivers and provide management advice.
- Marine Scotland Topic Sheets #90 and #91 which have been updated in recent months. These provide an overview of the network and the ways in which the outputs can be used to inform policy and management of rivers
- A range of interactive maps of river temperature and climate sensitivity which provide tools for river managers to plan and prioritise riparian planting when combined with the leaflets above.
In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Research also publish guidance on how riparian woodland can be used to improve water management and provide benefits such as reducing diffuse pollution, protecting river morphology, moderating stream temperature and aiding flood risk management. Forestry Commission Scotland also administers grants for riparian woodland creation through the Scotland Rural Development programme.
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) advice and (b) support it gives to district fishery boards and trusts to encourage them to install large wooden debris installations in river systems to help improve nutrient concentration and create a varied habitat for fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Answer
The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 require any engineering activity in rivers or lochs to be authorised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Large woody structures may have a part to play in nutrient management, but within a wider context of ensuring effective passage of migratory fish and other river users, as well as management of flood risk. The Scottish Government therefore advises fisheries management bodies to contact SEPA before undertaking any action in rivers.
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what issues it expects to be given priority at the UN Climate Change Conference in December.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2018
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that the housing built as part of its affordable and social house building programme contributes to a low carbon future.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2018
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 October 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to make misogyny a crime.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2018
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) other support (i) it and (ii) Scottish Enterprise has provided to the film and video sector in each year since 2008.
Answer
(a)(i), I refer the member to the answer to S5W-15226 on 27 March 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
(b)(i), the Scottish Government provides a vast amount of support for film and video sector, out with financial support, which we are unable to breakdown by year. We have supported film and video in Scotland in a variety of ways since 2008, for example:
- We committed to setting up a new dedicated screen unit, within Creative Scotland to streamline public support for film and television. Screen Scotland was launched in August 2018.
- We have brought screen industry expertise into Creative Scotland with the appointment of three new Board members: Elizabeth Partyka, David Strachan and Ewan Angus. All three have especially strong broadcast backgrounds in, respectively, STV, the independent sector and the BBC.
- We actively engage with the screen sector to show our continuing support and appreciation for its progress. For example, every year I host a reception at Edinburgh Castle to support the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the indigenous and international talent the festival brings to Scotland. I also attend events which showcase Scottish talent and filming locations to a global audience.
- We respond to consultations on areas of interest to the Scottish people and economy on matters of filming and broadcasting in Scotland.
(a)(ii) and (b)(ii), the information requested on behalf of Scottish Enterprise is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and is a matter for Scottish Enterprise to address directly. I have made Scottish Enterprise aware of your question and you may contact them directly for a response.
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 October 2018
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 4 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to bring forward a Female Genital Mutilation Bill.
Answer
Work is underway to develop legislation, for introduction during the Parliamentary year. The Scottish Government has today published a consultation paper on strengthening protections around Female Genital Mutilation, which seeks views from stakeholders on what further steps we can take to ensure that no-one is ever subject to this most fundamental breach of human rights.
