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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-11394

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote green space recuperation therapy for people with mental illness.

The Scottish Government recognises that the quality of the physical environment, which includes access to green spaces, has an important role to play in mental health improvement.

We also know that recovery of those with mental health issues benefits from services that support physical activity and social integration, and support people in a variety of ways including, accessing information and advice, self help approaches, bibliotherapy, counselling and exercise on prescription, using resources such as Steps for Stress and Branching Out.

The Mental Health Strategy promotes Steps for Stress, which is available as a booklet, relaxation CD and website; all of which provide evidence-based information and practical actions to bolster good mental wellbeing, and which offer easy-to-follow suggestions and tips on sustaining the advice.

Branching Out is a green space and conservation course available for those who use mental health services in seven NHS board areas, and is managed by the Forestry Commission Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11328

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to help facilitate the erection of signs to promote Cycling Scotland's Cycle Friendly Communities initiative.

Question reference: S4W-11326

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote Cycling Scotland’s Cycle Friendly Communities initiative.

Through Transport Scotland grant funding, Cycling Scotland administers and promotes the cycle friendly & sustainable communities fund. The projects funded encourage a shift away from single occupancy car use, a reduction in carbon emissions and an improvement in wellbeing of communities across Scotland by enabling more people to have more opportunities to cycle.

The fund is promoted by Cycling Scotland through direct mailing to interested bodies, communication through partner organisations and the use of social media.

More information on the fund is available on Cycling Scotland’s website at: www.cyclefriendlycommunities.co.uk

Question reference: S4W-11327

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Cycling Scotland in the last year in relation to the creation of cycle-friendly communities under its Cycle Friendly Communities initiative.

The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland, has an observer role on the board of cycling Scotland, where many policy issues are discussed. The board meetings are held quarterly.

Following discussions with Highland Perthshire Cycling, East Dunbartonshire Cycle Co-op, Sustrans and Transport Scotland, Cycling Scotland has agreed to carry out exploratory research into the practicalities of cycle friendly communities, including elements such as an award.

At cycling Scotland’s annual conference in 2011, Highland Perthshire Cycling won the first Cycle Friendly Community of the Year award. This award was based on nominations received for the title and reviewed by an independent panel. The award winners had the opportunity to use this title for all relevant publicity. This year, the annual awards focussed on bikeability Scotland cycle training and outstanding contributions from individuals and schools in this field.

Question reference: S4O-01562

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that companies setting up or expanding activities in Scotland comply with the conditions attached to any financial assistance it has granted.

Question reference: S4W-11036

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures vaccine safety.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with independent expert advice from the Commission on Human Medicines is responsible for ensuring that the quality, efficacy and safety of a vaccine is positive at the time of licensing. Post licensure systems are in place to closely monitor the safety of vaccines, using a variety of available data sources, and to ensure that the overall balance of risks and benefits remains positive throughout the product lifecycle. Regulatory action is taken to minimise risk if supported by new data.

Question reference: S4W-11037

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements there are for the independent monitoring of (a) quality control and (b) hygiene regulation in vaccine manufacturing establishments.

There is a legal requirement for National Competent Authorities (NCAs) to supervise all manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, which includes vaccines, for human and veterinary use. This supervision is achieved by the initial and periodic re-inspection (and where necessary, unannounced inspections) of all manufacturing sites to determine whether they meet the required standards (good manufacturing practice.

Where this standard is met an authorisation to manufacture is granted. For human medicinal products manufactured in the UK, the NCA is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which has put in place robust procedures to ensure that it discharges its responsibilities in an independent manner.

Question reference: S4W-11034

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the recall of certain batches of Infanrix Hexa has no impact on children in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11075

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence it has considered in relation to setting minimum distances of wind farms from housing.

The Scottish Government has not set a minimum distance between housing and wind farms. Paragraph 190 of Scottish Planning Policy states ‘A separation distance of up to 2km between areas of search and the edge of cities, towns and villages is recommended to guide developments to the most appropriate sites and to reduce visual impact, but decisions on individual developments should take into account specific local circumstances and geography.’

Question reference: S4W-11076

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a duty of care to residents who have poor health as a result of inappropriately situated wind farms.