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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.

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Question reference: S4W-23409

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 2 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to establish a clinical pathway for adults with cerebral palsy.

The Scottish Government funds the National Neurological Advisory Group (NNAG), whose aim is to improve the patient journey from the point of referral into the service, and to ensure that every patient with a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy experiences a quality of care that gives confidence to the patient, clinician and carer.

The NNAG is currently looking at pathways across neurological conditions with a view to publishing a library of good practice pathways that can be adapted to meet the needs of individual boards.

Question reference: S4W-23408

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 2 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what support with mobility it provides to people with cerebral palsy who are over 50.

Cerebral palsy is a condition where birth injury results in damage to the brain leading to impairment of movement in the limbs, sometimes problems with speech and language, and sometimes associated learning difficulties which may impact on daily activities and independence. These can persist into adulthood, and may require ongoing help with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and where appropriate help with benefits and social support.

Physiotherapy can offer assessment and advice which may be followed by treatment and/or equipment provision, however it is for local NHS boards to determine the level of service they provide based on local priorities and clinical need.

Services for adults with cerebral palsy fall within core local authority social work service functions generally supported by the Scottish Government. Access to services is based on an individual assessment of need.

Question reference: S4W-23097

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many trees have been planted under the initiative that it launched in 2010 to plant 100 million trees by 2015, broken down by (a) species and (b) acreage.

In 2010 Scottish Ministers pledged to plant 100 million trees by 2015 as part of the Climate Group’s States and Regions Alliance Billion Trees initiative. This Scottish figure of 100 million trees was based on achieving 50,000 hectares of woodland creation over that period at an average stocking of 2,000 trees per hectare.

On this basis, planting over the period 2010-14, to date, equates to 66 million trees – 9,300ha of conifers (18.6 million trees) and 23,700ha of broadleaves (47.4 million trees).

I note that planting in Scotland, over the period 2010-14, constituted 65% (33,000 hectares) within a total of 50,900 hectares (101.8 million trees) planted across the UK.

Question reference: S4W-23078

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish Natural Heritage determines the socio-economic impact of applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996.

Although the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 does not place a specific requirement on Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to consider the socio-economic impact of authorisations for close season culling, when making such decisions SNH applies the balancing duty under the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 to take account of the need for social and economic development in Scotland, the regulators’ duty under the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 to contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth, and the balancing duty in the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to take account of factors including the size and density of the deer population and its impact on the natural heritage, and the interests of owners and occupiers of land. Decisions by SNH to issue licences to cull deer will also be taken with regard to the Code of Practice on Deer Management, which sets out actions intended to support the environment, sustainable economic development and social well-being, as well as safeguarding the welfare of wild deer.

Question reference: S4W-23074

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been rejected by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last five years, broken down by the reason for rejection.

Year	Number of authorisations rejected	Reason for rejection
2010-11	4	No evidence of damage (4)
2011-12	2	No evidence of damage (2)
2012-13	3	No evidence of damage (1); general authorisation applied (1); covered by section 7 control agreement/negotiation (1)
2013-14	9	Deer welfare (1); no evidence of damage (1); could have taken other reasonable means (2); general authorisation applied (5)
2014-15	3	Deer welfare (1); other reasonable means (1); covered by section 7 control agreement/negotiation (1)

Note: A further 99 applications were voluntarily withdrawn over the five year period following discussion between the applicant and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Question reference: S4W-23076

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been approved by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last five years but with restrictions set on the number of deer that could be culled, broken down by the reason for setting a restriction.

Two authorisations have been issued which have specified limits on the number of deer to be taken, both in 2014-15. One limited the number of female deer plus calves to be taken with an agreement having been reached between the applicant and owners of neighbouring properties. The second authorisation limited the number of adult male deer to be taken following ongoing discussions within the deer management group about the sustainable harvest of stags and the potential socio-economic impacts of repeated close season culling.

Question reference: S4W-22799

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions have been made to set aside land for the future dualling of the Highland Main Line railway in accordance with the A9 dualling programme.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review formed a multi-modal appraisal of the Perth to Inverness corridor and concluded that both road and rail interventions should be brought forward. The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness and upgrade the Highland Main Line are programmed to be completed by 2025 and will significantly reduce the journey times between Perth and Inverness. Transport Scotland officials are working closely together to ensure that the optimum solution is found for both projects.

Question reference: S4W-22673

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) decision-making process and (b) timescale is for an application for a windfarm in a national scenic area.

Wind farm proposals of up to and including 50 megawatts will require an application for planning permission.

The exact planning application process, and the time it takes, will depend on the specific nature and location of the proposal. Planning authorities must consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) where they intend granting permission for certain types of development within national scenic areas. Where an authority wishes to grant consent contrary to the advice of SNH, they must notify the application to Scottish Ministers who will consider whether the application should be called in for their determination.

Where a decision is not issued within the prescribed period, or an extended period agreed by the applicant and planning authority, the applicant can appeal to Scottish Ministers or seek local review as appropriate. The prescribed periods are two months for local development and four months for major development.

Proposals over 50 megawatts require consent from Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Scottish Government has an aspirational nine month target for determining applications under section 36, where these do not require a public inquiry or information additional to the original application.

Question reference: S4W-22599

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 8 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the result of the referendum, whether there is a timetable for the privatisation of NHS services.

Question reference: S4F-02325

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to tackle overcrowding and understaffing in accident and emergency departments.