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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-30452

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 22 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government which body provides the expertise to ensure that private water supplies are protected adequately.

Question reference: S4W-30448

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 22 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that wind turbine construction near (a) public and (b) private water sources does not damage drinking water quality.

Responsibility for protecting drinking water supplies is shared across a number of different bodies and individuals.

In the first instance it is a matter for developers to identify any public and private water supplies likely to be affected by the development, so that any adverse effects from the development on the sources of the supplies can be properly assessed and any necessary mitigation put in place.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has a role as statutory consultee to assess the likely effects of the development on the water environment, including water supplies; and to provide advice to planning authorities about any likely adverse effects on the sources of water supplies, with reference to certain parameters. SEPA relies on any sources and receptors of possible pollution being identified by the developer.

Before granting planning permission the planning authority should take account of any potential adverse impacts on the environment, including water supplies, whether public or private.

The responsibility for ensuring a supply is wholesome rests with Scottish Water in the case of public water supplies, and in the case of private water supplies with the owners and users. The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR) maintains an overarching role, ensuring that effective monitoring and management procedures are in place, with enforcement powers for public water supplies to ensure a wholesome supply at the tap. The responsibility for enforcement in relation to private supplies lies with local authorities.

Question reference: S4O-05693

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to employers in the care sector to help them pay the living wage.

Question reference: S4F-03319

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2016

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government expects a new film studio for Scotland to be delivered.

Question reference: S4W-29864

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 8 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what resources it has allocated to provide support for farmers until a decision on the future of the beaver population is made.

Question reference: S4W-29923

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 1 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing restrictions on charities and other third sector organisations in using public funds to lobby (a) it, (b) local government and (c) the Scottish Parliament.

A key theme of the Programme for Government is encouraging and facilitating participation by everyone in the debates and decisions that matter to them most, regardless of circumstances or backgrounds. We recognise that third sector and equalities organisations play an important role in this, providing a voice for communities on public policy, and bringing a deep level of insight into the issues faced by communities and the most vulnerable people in society. We have no wish to deter this important part of our democratic process, and have no intention of adding a clause to our grant offer letters, as the United Kingdom Government is planning to do.

Existing Scottish Government grant provisions give the required protection and would prevent the use of grants for party political lobbying activity. We therefore already have appropriate and well-designed controls in place to ensure that public money is spent for approved purposes only.

Question reference: S4W-29926

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 29 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost is of planting one hectare of trees and what the cost will be of meeting its target of planting 100 million trees.

The average cost of planting one hectare of trees is £4,500. This figure is based on the average grant per hectare provided for tree planting within the new Forestry Grant Scheme as part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2014-20. The budget for tree planting within the Scotland Rural Development Programme is co-funded by the European Union, with 55% support from the European Union and 45% from the Scottish Government. Based on these figures, the cost of planting 100 million trees or 50,000 hectares will be approximately £225 million. It should be noted that this is an average cost and it will vary significantly depending on the location and type of woodland planted.

Question reference: S4O-05593

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Tayside and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4F-03231

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2016

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the latest Bank of Scotland's Purchasing Managers' Index.

Question reference: S4W-29392

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils have been classified as “school refusers” in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.