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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: S5O-02021

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns raised by commuters regarding the level of stop-skipping by services that are scheduled to call at Drumchapel station.

Question reference: S5O-01991

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to farmers and crofters who face adverse financial circumstances following the recent extreme weather.

Question reference: S5W-14666

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the compliance of (a) farmers, (b) gamekeepers, (c) pest controllers and (d) local authority staff with the (i) Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use Code of Best Practice and (ii) rules governing the purchase and safe use of rodenticides to prevent the secondary poisoning of non-target species.

The Scottish Government undertakes a number of surveys of agricultural and local authority use of rodenticides. Agricultural use, by farmers and pest controllers, is surveyed on farms growing arable crops every two years (last published in 2016) and on farms growing grass and fodder crops every four years (last published in 2013). Local authority use of rodenticides is surveyed every four years (last published in 2015). These are published as National Statistics and can be found at: https://www.sasa.gov.uk/pesticides/pesticide-usage/pesticide-usage-survey-reports .

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use is an industry led initiative and publishes information online at http://www.thinkwildlife.org/downloads/ .

Question reference: S5W-14665

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the levels of rodenticides in (a) red kites, (b) kestrels, (c) barn owls and (d) other non-target species in each of the last five years.

Residues of anticoagulant rodenticides are monitored in suspected poisoning victims and non-target species as part of the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS), operated on behalf of the Scottish Government, by the Chemistry Branch of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA).

The results of WIIS investigations are published quarterly and are available on SASA’s website; http://www.sasa.gov.uk/animal-poisoning-reports .

This information covers all of the species mentioned in this question.

Question reference: S5O-01737

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging public bodies to do more to promote human rights.

Question reference: S5F-01972

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2018

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

Question reference: S5O-01691

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is improving rights for children with additional support needs.

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people in Scotland are given every chance to fulfil their full potential.

From 10 January 2018, children with additional support needs who are aged between 12 and 15 have been empowered by the extension of their rights under the Additional Support for Learning Act. This landmark extension of rights will enable children to have their voice heard and be fully involved in decisions about their education.

These rights are balanced by safeguards and supported by a newly created children's service which will help children to access advice and support at every stage of the process.

Question reference: S5W-13090

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of future reductions in defence spending on (a) jobs and (b) the economy in Scotland.

The Scottish Government are determined to minimise any potential impact on the defence sector from UK funding cuts. The announcements made by MOD 12 months ago, including, for example, the closure of Glencorse, a location that has seen considerable investment and which remains fit for purpose, are ill conceived and I have made this point to the Defence Secretary and his Ministers on several occasions.

We will continue to strongly oppose any further base closures in Scotland. We are committed to engaging with the MOD and the Defence Secretary for assurance that Scotland’s defence sector will not be further debilitated by UK Governments cuts.

Scottish defence industries are a key driver of innovation and boast highly skilled workforces. The Scottish government is committed to doing all we can to support the sector and the individuals within it. Through our enterprise agencies Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highland and Island Enterprise (HIE) companies involved in the defence sector in Scotland can access a wide range of support including R&D support, leadership and workforce development, and support to diversify into new products and markets.

We have a long and proud shipbuilding history and our yards on the Clyde and at Rosyth have proven their ability time and again to deliver important contracts such as the construction of the QEC Aircraft Carriers. Whilst we are pleased to finally have confirmation that eight Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde, we would also expect Scottish yards to be given full opportunity to bid for forthcoming defence contracts, including the Type 31.

Question reference: S5O-01618

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of Brexit on environmental legislation.

Question reference: S5W-12960

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 24 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the names of each special adviser, broken down by (a) responsibility and (b) pay band, and what the total cost of employing special advisers was in 2016-17.

Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers.

During the course of 2016-17 the maximum number of Special Advisers in post at any one time was 13. Taking into account departures, re-appointments and new appointments following the 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections, a total of 16 Special Advisers were employed over the 12 month period, however during most of time between the start of the election period and the formation of the new administration there were only 3 advisers in post. The *total cost of the 16 Special Advisers employed during the financial year 2016-17 was £897,714.

There are currently 14 Special Advisers and their specific responsibilities are as follows:

Name

Role

Liz Lloyd

Chief of Staff to the First Minister

First Minister’s Strategic Programme in Government including Inter-governmental relations

Co-ordination of the Special Adviser team

Stuart Nicolson

Head of Communications

Senior Political Spokesperson for the First Minister

Strategic communications

Colin McAllister

Head of Policy

Programme for Government.

First Minister’s Questions

Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister.

Education.

Ewan Crawford

Senior Special Adviser

Europe and Constitutional issues

Government Strategy

Ross Ingebrigtsen

Deputy Political Spokesperson for the First Minister

Strategic communications planning

Katy Bowman

Special Adviser

Culture, Tourism and External Affairs

Policy support to the Chief of Staff

Support for the First Minister and the First Minister’s Private Office

Outreach and stakeholder engagement

Jeanette Campbell

Special Adviser

Communities, Social Security, and Equalities (apart from Local Government)

Kate Higgins

Special Adviser

Rural Economy & Connectivity

Early Years, Higher & Further Education

Davie Hutchison

Special Adviser

Health & Sport

Broadcasting

First Minister Questions

John McFarlane

Special Adviser

Justice

Transport

Parliamentary Business and Parliamentary liaison

Stewart Maxwell

Special Adviser

Business, the Economy, Skills and Fair Work

Business and Economy outreach

John MacInnes

Special Adviser

Political Research

Support for First Minister’s Questions and parliamentary debates

Support to Communications and Policy Special Advisers

Callum McCaig

Special Adviser

Finance

Local Government

David Miller

Special Adviser

Energy, Environment, Climate Change & Land Reform

*Total cost includes all salary costs, ERNIC and employer pension contributions. The level of the employer ERNIC and pension contributions is not a matter for the Scottish Government.

The Special Adviser Pay Bands and Ranges and the number of Special Advisers within each Pay Band currently in place are:

Pay Band	Current Pay Range	Number of Special Advisers
1	£39,445 - £52,904	7
2	£51,041 - £67,709	3
3	£65,017 - £83,963	4
3 (premium)	£83,549 - £100,942	0
4	£86,965 - £104,462	0