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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-15832

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult on compulsory microchipping of dogs.

Question reference: S4W-15651

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it was advised of Forestry Commission Scotland's decision to transfer land to Glenfeshie Estate, and what its response was.

Question reference: S4W-15648

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with the Land Reform Review Group; when these took place; who attended, and what was discussed.

The Scottish Government has met with the Land Reform Review Group on seven occasions. These are as follows:

23 August 2012 - Visit and photo opportunity at Neilston Development Trust with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Land Reform Review Group (Alison Elliott, Sarah Skerratt, Jim Hunter).

2 October 2012 - Meeting to discuss the Group’s work plan between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change and the Land Reform Review Group (Alison Elliott, Sarah Skerratt, Jim Hunter) and Scottish Government officials.

20 November 2012 - Meeting to discuss links between the review and the work on the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill. Present: Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Local Government and Planning, the Land Reform Review Group (Alison Elliot, Jim Hunter, Sarah Skerratt) and Scottish Government officials.

18 December 2012 – Meeting to discuss details of Review Group’s plans on urban issues to link with Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill. Present: Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Local Government and Planning, the Land Reform Review Group (Alison Elliot, Jim Hunter and via phone, Sarah Skerratt), and Scottish Government officials.

14 March 2013 – Meeting to update on review progress. Present: Paul Wheelhouse (Minister for Environment and Climate Change), Alison Elliot (Chair, Review Group) and Scottish Government officials.

8 May 2013 – Meeting to update on links with Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill, options for ensuring that liaison between review group and Bill team continue, and any options for early legislation through the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill, that have been identified during phase 1 of the review. Present: Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Local Government and Planning, and the Land Reform Review Group (Alison Elliott, Sarah Skerratt, Ian Cooke) and Scottish Government officials.

13 June 2013 – Update on progress and ideas for phase 2 approach. Present: Minister for Environment and Climate Change, the Land Reform Review Group (Alison Elliot, Ian Cooke, John Watt), and Scottish Government officials.

In addition, Scottish Government officials act as the secretariat for the group and have constant contact with them on operational matters.

Question reference: S4W-15647

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in the work of the Land Reform Review Group.

The Land Reform Review Group was announced in July 2012, by the First Minister. It was set up by the Scottish Government to develop innovative and radical proposals that will contribute to Scotland’s future success.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary Rural Affairs and the Environment, in discussion with Scottish Government officials, appointed the three original members of the review group. These were Dr Alison Elliot (Chair), Professor Jim Hunter (Vice Chair) and Dr Sarah Skerratt (Vice Chair).

The appointment of the group’s 13 advisers also took into account recommendations from the review group chair, Alison Elliot.

Replacements for Professor Hunter and Dr Skerratt, involved discussion between ministers, Scottish Government officials and the review group themselves.

The Scottish Government provide administrative support for the group, as well as paying fees for the review group members. The review group’s advisers do not receive fees, but are paid expenses.

Scottish Ministers commented on the initial work programme and have been consulted and interviewed as part of the process, as have representatives of a wide range of political, community and personal opinion.

Question reference: S4W-15646

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce legislation based on the recommendations of the Land Reform Review Group’s final report and, if so, when.

The Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill is currently proceeding and any relevant recommendations that the review group can make within the Bill timescale, will be taken forward as part of that Bill. The Bill team and review group are liaising closely to ensure that this happens.

The Scottish Government will look to take any necessary action to legislate on the proposals in the group’s final report, as quickly as possible following the production of the report but we don’t wish to prejudge the outcome of the review group’s work at this time, given that the second phase of its work is in its early stages and in advance of ministers having the opportunity to consider the review group’s findings.

Question reference: S4W-15645

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) remit, (b) timescale and (c) membership will be of the group carrying out the review of agricultural tenancy legislation.

Question reference: S4W-15644

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14141 by Richard Lochhead on 7 May 2013, what the qualifying criteria are for receiving the aid; how much has been paid, and when the first payment was made.

Farmers will be eligible to receive financial aid if they have used a fallen stock collection service during the period 1 March 2013 to 31 May 2013.

The financial aid will be administered by the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo). Farmers who are members of NFSCo need to take no action at this stage. Farmers who are not members of NFSCo need to complete an application form providing their name, address and bank details. This form should be submitted to NFSCo along with evidence to show that they have paid for collections made in the relevant period by an operator approved to collect and dispose of fallen stock by 31 July 2013.

Application forms are available to download at http://www.nfsco.co.uk/news.php or by emailing member@nfsco.co.uk or by calling the NFSCo helpline on 08450 548888.

Payments will commence in August 2013 and any subsidy payments to farmers will be calculated according to collections made.

Question reference: S4W-15643

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14139 by Richard Lochhead on 13 May 2013, what the qualifying criteria are for receiving the aid; how much has been paid, and when the first payment was made.

The Weather Aid Scheme opened for applications on 3 June 2013 and detailed notes for guidance are available on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/grants/WeatherAidScheme.

The eligibility criteria takes into account the impact of the severe weather on businesses and the type and extent of losses they suffered.

The scheme closes for applications on 5 July 2013 and the Weather Aid Industry Group will set the payment rates once all applications have been assessed. The aim is to make as many payments as possible in early August.

Question reference: S4W-15445

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its consultation on a plastic bag tax.

The Scottish Government has not consulted on a plastic bag tax. Our safeguarding Scotland’s resources consultation on efficient use of materials included a proposal for regulations requiring retailers to charge at least 5p for all single use carrier bags, regardless of material, and donate the net proceeds to good causes. We intend to publish our proposals soon, together with consultation responses and analysis.

Question reference: S4T-00390

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its 2011 climate change target.