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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: S4O-04597

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on its policy will be of reports that Germany, Latvia and Greece are to opt out of growing genetically modified crops.

The fact that Germany, Europe’s largest country, Latvia, Greece and others are going to opt out of growing EU approved genetically modified (GM) crops shows the continuing concern that exists across the EU about the cultivation of GM crops and confirms that we were right to lead the way in exercising the new powers to opt out.

Scotland’s decision was based on the societal and economic consequences that growing GM crops might have for Scotland and that, as consumer surveys continue to show, there is little demand for GM food.

Question reference: S4W-26584

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 4 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide toward establishing pilot programmes to assess the efficacy of green space therapy.

The physical and mental health benefits of greenspace are well established and evidence is outlined on the NHS Health Scotland website: http://www.healthscotland.com/topics/settings/nhsgreenspace/evidence.aspx

The Scottish Government is supportive of projects that apply these principles and many projects are already ongoing. For example, in 2007 NHS Health Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage established the Green Exercise Partnership (GEP) to promote better health and quality of life for people in Scotland through greater use of the outdoors for physical activity and contact with nature.

Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSCD), NHS boards, the GEP and other key partners are clear about the need to lift the outdoor estate quality and improve access to greenspace. Since 2010, the GEP has worked with Health Facilities Scotland, an operating division of NHS National Services Scotland, to support NHS boards unlocking their estate as an important ‘Health Promoting Health Service’ resource and to disseminate good practice. Recently, the SGHSCD has provided £1 million matched funding for ‘Greening the NHS Estate’ pilot projects. The money, with GEP and board contributions, is used to promote better health and quality of life by increased use of NHS grounds for physical activity and contact with nature.

The Scottish Government has also committed to introducing the greenspace principle within the review of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual, and is looking to embed support for the provision of greenspace within NHS board property and asset management strategies.

Further relevant programmes are outlined in the answer to question S4W-26583 on 4 August 2015.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S4W-26583

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 4 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what resources are deployed toward the use of (a) woodlands and (b) other green spaces to improve the (i) wellbeing, (ii) educational and (iii) employment prospects of (A) young people experiencing difficulties and (B) adults with mental illness.

The Scottish Government and public bodies support a wide range of programmes that use woodlands and/or other green spaces to improve wellbeing, educational and employment prospects of young people experiencing difficulties and adults with mental illness.

Public sector supported initiatives that involve greenspace more widely will also bring benefits. For example, the Central Scotland Green Network is a national development in the National Planning Framework 3 and will bring a range of wellbeing, educational and employment benefits to residents across central Scotland including young people experiencing difficulties and adults with mental illness.

In addition, the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park operates programmes aimed at young people such as the rural skills programme which helps tackle rural unemployment in their area and can include skills learned in woodlands and green spaces.

Local authorities, land-managing organisations and other non-governmental organisations also engage in a range of relevant programmes and projects.

Projects supported by the Scottish Government and public bodies include:

Programme Name	Description	Target Audience	Lead Organisation	Green Space Type	Resources (2015-16)
Youth Employment and Skills Training	Programme to equip unemployed young people in central Scotland with skills training and work experience	Young people from disadvantaged areas	Forestry Commission Scotland	Woodlands	£300,000
Woods for Health	Programme promoting links between physical and mental health including engagement with younger audiences and a focus on wellbeing	Disadvantaged communities	Forestry Commission Scotland	Woodlands	£60,000
Imbewu	Pilot project to engage disadvantaged young people in the outdoor and rural skills	Disadvantaged young people	Wilderness Foundation	Rural Estates	£135,160 over two years (£50,780 from Scottish Natural Heritage)
Change Cycle	Pilot project to engage young people involved in the criminal justice system in the outdoors using mountain bikes	Young people in the justice system	Venture Trust	Cairngorms National Park	£264,000 (£48,800 contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage)
Outward Bound Courses	Residential outward bound courses	Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds	The Outward Bound Trust	Loch Eil	£168,000 over two years (£27,598 contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage)
Branching Out	Programme to improve health-related quality of life of adults experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems	Adults experiencing mental health issues	Forestry Commission Scotland	Woodlands	£80,000
Outdoor Bound	Outdoor activities including multi-day trips	High need adults recovering from mental illness	Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services	Greenspaces	£83,180 over two years (£25,155 contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage)
MINE (Mental Health, Innovative, Natural environment, Enterprise)	Nature-based rehabilitation	Adults with mild to moderate mental health issues and long term unemployed	Highlife Highland	Greenspaces	£79,200 over two years (£25,000 contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage)
Energise Programme	Personal development programme using the countryside to provide confidence and cores skills to help towards social inclusion	Adults with mental health problems	Momentum Scotland	Greenspaces	£294,600 over three years (£100,616 contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage)
CHANGES	Wellbeing walks	People with physical and mental health issues, specifically depression and anxiety	Paths For All with East Lothian Community Health	Greenspaces	£29,850 over three years
Walk with FEAT	Weekly outdoor walks aimed at improving physical and mental health	People with complex, severe and enduring mental health conditions	Paths For All with Fife Employment Access Trust	Greenspaces	£5,000 over two years

Question reference: S4O-04501

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support and develop the use of Doric and Lallans Scots.

Question reference: S4O-04417

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the level of engagement undertaken by Network Rail with local constituents during the building of the Borders Railway.

Question reference: S4O-04343

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Marco Biagi on 20 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

The Commission on Local Tax Reform was established in February 2015 and has now met six times. The minutes of those meetings are openly published online at the commission's website.

The commission is taking evidence from a number of witnesses and has launched a call for written evidence and a short online survey, requesting responses by 22 June 2015. Submissions received so far are also available on the commission's website.

The commission remains on-course to report in autumn 2015.

Question reference: S4O-04251

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it has to support community-based sporting groups over the coming year.

Question reference: S4O-04195

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the Scottish economy would be of the UK leaving the EU.

Question reference: S4O-04152

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what help it can provide to encourage dog owners to pick up dog waste.

The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging responsible dog ownership and recognises that dog fouling is a concern for many residents in communities across Scotland and, as I am sure the member is aware, aside from being unsightly and an unpleasant hazard for pedestrians and those using sports pitches, dog waste can pose a serious health risk to the public and, in particular, is a risk for children.

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 gives local authorities the powers to deal with irresponsible dog owners, through the issuing by ‘authorised officers’ of fixed penalty notices to those owners who do not pick up their dog’s waste, and such powers are essential.

Looking beyond the power of the Act, I intend to approach Scotland’s local authorities in an effort to identify best practice in encouraging dog owners to pick up dog waste and look at opportunities to promote that best practice across all local

Question reference: S4O-04107

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what investment will be made in active travel using the Future Transport Fund.