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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-01363

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government when the economic benefits of minimum pricing of alcohol will be evident.

Question reference: S4W-09591

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has regarding health concerns in relation to the use of aspartame as a sweetener in diet soft drinks and foodstuffs.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for the provision of advice to the government on matters relating to food safety.

The FSA considers aspartame can be safely consumed at current permitted levels.

Despite extensive safety testing some people consider they experience adverse effects after consuming food and drink containing aspartame. The FSA considered it was important to increase its knowledge and to see whether these reports can be put onto a more scientific footing so it funded a double-blind study by the University of Hull. The FSA expects to receive the results of this research in December 2012.

Question reference: S4W-09590

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered banning the use of aspartame as a sweetener in diet soft drinks and foodstuffs.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for the provision of advice to the government on matters relating to food safety.

Sweeteners such as aspartame are regulated under harmonised European Union (EU) legislation on food additives and may only be used once their safety has been rigorously assessed. Aspartame has been extensively tested and reviewed for safety by independent experts at national, EU and international level.

The FSA supports the conclusions of these reviews and considers aspartame can be safely consumed at current permitted levels. As with any approved food additive, there is an ongoing need to review any new relevant information as it becomes available.

Question reference: S4O-01253

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the economy would be if the shovel-ready projects proposed to the UK Government were approved.

Question reference: S4W-07366

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any indication of companies (a) leaving or (b) choosing not to invest in Scotland due to the independence referendum.

Companies are attracted to Scotland for a range of reasons such as skills availability, a supportive government and pro-business environment, a clear economic strategy and a strong track record in attracting investment. The success of Scottish Development International in attracting inward investment has helped create or support over 32,000 planned jobs over the last five years and support Scottish businesses in their international ambitions.

I can confirm that no company has informed the government that they intend to or have withdrawn business as a result of the Scottish Government plans to hold a referendum in 2014 and that despite UK Government claims of business uncertainty they have yet to provide any evidence for these claims.

Question reference: S4W-09107

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect people from street violence.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling violence in Scotland, wherever it occurs. Recorded crime in Scotland is at a 37 year low, violent crime has reduced by 17 percent in the last year and crimes of handling an offensive weapon are their lowest in 18 years.

These reductions have been delivered through a combination of tough enforcement, early intervention and education. I would like to recognise the significant and sustained efforts of our local partners in tackling and preventing violence.

This includes the 17,436 police officers who are working in our communities. This visible police presence is helping to make Scotland a safer place to live – as shown in the recent results of the Scottish Household Survey that over three quarters of adults (78%) say they feel very or fairly safe while walking alone in the neighbourhood after dark, whilst almost all (97%) say they feel safe when they are alone in their home at night.

Our courts are also sending a clear message that violent behaviour will not be tolerated. For example, in terms of tackling knife crime, those who are caught carrying knives are being given longer sentences than ever before. The average length of custodial sentences for carrying an offensive weapon has increased, from 118 days in 2005-06 to 288 days in 2010-11 and is at its highest for a decade. The Lord Advocate’s prosecution guidelines for knife carrying are also sending a clear zero tolerance message. Under these guidelines, anyone caught in Scotland’s town and city centres in possession of a knife will be prosecuted on indictment before a sheriff and jury. This means an increase of the potential maximum prison term for offenders from one to four years.

Furthermore, in March 2011, we published the first National Strategy for CCTV in Scotland. This government believes that CCTV systems can play a crucial role in the prevention, detection and, as recent high profile court cases have shown, the prosecution of crime.

In addition to these enforcement measures, we believe that addressing the root causes of violent behaviour and knife crime is key to preventing violence in the future and making Scotland’s streets safer. That is why we are investing in a range of educational initiatives, including No Knives Better Lives, which are raising awareness of the dangers and consequences of violence amongst young people and supporting them to make positive choices.

We have also invested over £46 million, recovered from the proceeds of crime, into the highly successful CashBack for Communities Programme. CashBack improves self-confidence, self-esteem and provides positive opportunities for the young people who take part, while also supporting those communities worst hit by crime and anti-social behaviour. Since its launch in 2007 more than 600,000 young Scots have participated in a wide range of positive activities in their communities.

Question reference: S4W-09108

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its environmental policies of the UK Government's decision to freeze support for geothermal power.

In its response to the recent consultation on a review of bands under the England and Wales Renewables Obligation, the UK Government announced its decision re retain support for electricity generated using geothermal energy at the current level. The Scottish Government has conducted a similar consultation exercise, and we will announce our decisions shortly.

Meanwhile, in order to encourage commercial interest in this energy source, the Scottish Government has commissioned a research programme aimed at identifying the next steps to take forward the commercial exploitation of deep geothermal energy, including high level mapping of potential and the scope for licensing. The study will also include a costs and financial risk assessment which should identify the likely capital and operating costs for exploring and developing the geothermal energy resources identified. We expect the results to be available by spring 2013.

Question reference: S4W-09106

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ask (a) district and (b) sheriff courts to produce a summary of court decisions for the media.

We have no plans to ask the Scottish Court Service to produce a summary of justice of the peace and sheriff court decisions for the media. The Scottish Court Service does already publish the decisions of the Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary and sheriff courts on their website where there is a significant point of law or particular public interest.

http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinionsApp/index.asp?txt=False.

Question reference: S4O-01170

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the development of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-07523

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 13 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed shovel-ready projects with the UK Government.