- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has estimated the time that it will take for (a) Marine Scotland and (b) any statutory consultees to process applications for offshore windfarms through the ScotWind process.
Answer
The Scottish Government target for a decision on an offshore windfarm is 9 months from the point that an application is submitted. This is what we would expect for high quality applications which are based on the scoping opinion issued by the Scottish Ministers, although that timeframe will be subject to responses received from statutory and non-statutory consultees and any complications which may arise from those. This timeline is likely to be challenging for applications of more variable quality or those required to submit additional information under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, or which require a derogation under the Habitats Regulations. Statutory consultees, other than the relevant planning authority, have a 30 day or 42 day period, depending on the location of the wind farm, to respond to consultations on applications. Extensions to this period may be granted. Relevant planning authorities have a period of four months to respond.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether any statutory consultees will have sufficient capacity to process applications for offshore windfarms through the ScotWind process.
Answer
As well as providing funding to increase resource within the Marine Scotland Directorate of Scottish Government in relation to planning and consenting for ScotWind, the Scottish Government has provided additional funding to NatureScot, a key statutory consultee, to secure a number of new posts in light of the increased statutory consultee demands expected from the ScotWind process. As with the resources within Marine Scotland Directorate, the resources required by NatureScot to meet the demands arising from ScotWind will be subject to applicants’ timelines and will be kept under review.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to invite nominations for the Access for All programme for the 2024-29 control period, prior to submitting nominations to the Department for Transport, and what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the programme.
Answer
As the member will know, rail accessibility is reserved to the UK Government. However, my officials are in regular dialogue with the Department for Transport on matters of rail accessibility.
Nominations seeking Access for All funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029) were submitted to the Department for Transport in time for the 16 September 2022 deadline. The Department for Transport is anticipated to announce successful nominations in Spring 2023.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recently reported comments made by venue operators at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, concerning short-term let regulations, that “unless secondary letting is also available in all types of property, including tenement stairs, there will simply not be enough accommodation for August's Festivals”.
Answer
Regulation of short-term lets is vital to balance the needs and concerns communities have raised with wider economic and tourism interests. Local authorities are responsible for developing policies on short-term lets in line with the short-term let regulations, and other relevant factors such as feedback received through local consultations, and Scottish Government short-term lets guidance.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with representatives from TATA Steel regarding the sale of Dalzell and Clydebridge steelworks, and whether the minutes of the meeting will be made publicly available.
Answer
Scottish Government officials last met with representatives of Tata Steel UK on 5 December 2022. The minutes of such meetings with officials would not normally be published.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on pay negotiations between teaching unions and COSLA, in light of the EIS rejecting the most recent offer and reports that industrial action is set to continue.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2023
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many potholes have been repaired in each of the last five years.
Answer
Transport Scotland, through its Trunk Road Operating Companies and Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. Repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.
The Scottish Government fully funds the inspection and repair of all potholes that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. These are defined as Category 1 defects within the term maintenance contract, which also sets out strict timescales for their repair. Following identification of Category 1 pothole defects, the Operating Companies are required to make the defect safe by 6am the following morning, preferably by completing a permanent repair. Where this is not possible then a temporary repair is required within the same timescale with permanent repairs required 28 days. The following table shows the number of Category 1 potholes identified and repaired in each of the last five whole years.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many potholes there are on the road network.
Answer
Transport Scotland, through its Trunk Road Operating Companies and Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. Repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.
The Scottish Government fully funds the inspection and repair of all potholes that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. These are defined as Category 1 defects within the term maintenance contract, which also sets out strict timescales for their repair. Following identification of Category 1 pothole defects, the Operating Companies are required to make the defect safe by 6am the following morning, preferably by completing a permanent repair. Where this is not possible then a temporary repair is required within the same timescale with permanent repairs required 28 days. The number of Category 1 potholes identified and awaiting repair changes daily in response to ongoing inspections and repair work.
The following table shows the number of Category 1 potholes identified and repaired in each of the last five whole years.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) estimated cost of repairing a pothole and (b) current total estimated pothole repair bill is.
Answer
Transport Scotland, through its Trunk Road Operating Companies and Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. Repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.
The Scottish Government fully funds the inspection and repair of all potholes that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. These are defined as Category 1 defects within the term maintenance contract, which also sets out strict timescales for their repair. Following identification of Category 1 pothole defects, the Operating Companies are required to make the defect safe by 6am the following morning, preferably by completing a permanent repair. Where this is not possible then a temporary repair is required within the same timescale with permanent repairs required 28 days. The repair of all Category 1 defects is funded from commercially sensitive rates and prices and cannot be provided.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to deliver superfast broadband to 100% of premises in Scotland by 2021.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2023
