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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: S5W-06023

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers have been working on the air weapon licence project in each of the last 12 months.

Question reference: S5W-06024

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has introduced to ensure that unlicensed air weapons have been stored with a firearms dealer or another certificate holder since 31 December 2016, and how many such weapons have been recorded.

The Scottish Government has, over several months, undertaken a wide-ranging public information campaign to advise people about the new legislation, and about the various deadlines for applications. Targeted media events and news statements in September highlighted the fact that people should apply for an air weapon certificate before 31 October 2016 to ensure they could keep their guns in their possession until their application has been processed.

For those who applied for a certificate after 31 October, a further news release on
19 December reminded people to ensure their air weapons are stored safely, with a registered firearms dealer or another certificate holder, until they receive a decision on their application. The advice also appeared on Scottish Government and Police Scotland websites. In addition, Police Scotland contacted applicants directly to provide advice on the actions they must take.

The onus is on individuals to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the new licensing regime in terms of using and possessing air weapons, including the safe storage of weapons. Failure to comply with those requirements is an offence and could, on conviction, lead to a fine or imprisonment, or both.

There is no central record of stored, unlicensed air weapons.

Question reference: S5W-06083

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question SW5-05690 by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2017, how many times Transport Scotland's (a) electric and (b) petrol vehicles have been used by officials in each of the last six months.

Transport Scotland operate five vehicles in their car fleet, two electric (a Renault Fluence and a Nissan Leaf) and three diesel (a Mitsubishi Outlander a Skoda Superb and a Skoda Fabia). Details of the number of times each of the vehicles has been used by officials in the last six months are provided in the following table:

Month	Renault Fluence	Nissan Leaf*	Mitsubishi Outlander	Skoda Superb	Skoda Fabia
Jul-16	5	8	8	11	11
Aug-16	20	14	9	11	13
Sep-16	12	12	11	16	6
Oct-16	7	17	8	1	13
Nov-16	13	18	10	13	7
Dec-16	4	14	7	7	8
Total	61	83	53	59	48

*Due to the Nissan Leaf being fitted with a telemetry system, the “journeys” for that vehicle are based on the number of days the vehicle was in use, whereas the vehicle log books were used for all other vehicles in the fleet.

Question reference: S5W-05934

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 19 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many legal challenges regarding (a) third party rights, (b) intellectual property rights and (c) copyrights it has been involved in, in each year since 2007-08.

The Scottish Government have had no involvement in any legal proceedings regarding third party rights or intellectual property rights (which includes copyright) during the period between 2007 to date. Seven claims relating to intellectual property rights were made by correspondence to the Scottish Ministers over the period referred to: one claim in 2011, two claims in 2012, two claims in 2013 and two claims in 2016. In each case, the claim was resolved through correspondence between the parties.

Question reference: S5W-05681

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors human rights protection and its implementation through the National Performance Framework.

The National Performance Framework (NPF) uses broad measures of national wellbeing to reflect how Scotland performs against a range of economic, social, health and environmental indicators.

Existing NPF outcomes include matters of direct relevance to the realisation of internationally-recognised human rights - for example: tackling inequality; building strong, resilient communities; delivering better employment opportunities; confronting crime; supporting successful learning and education; improving life chances for children; and enabling people in Scotland to live longer, healthier lives. In reporting against these (and other) outcomes and indicators the NPF contributes to ensuring that human rights are protected and implemented in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to further enhancing the NPF. Both human rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals are central to that work. A review of the National Outcomes is currently underway.

Question reference: S5W-06035

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05525 by Angela Constance on 9 January 2017, whether it will publish the proposals that were presented on 31 October 2016.

Information about Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) can be found at: http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/scotlands-national-action-plan/ and http://www.snaprights.info/.

The proposals presented on 31 October 2016 were prepared by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and circulated by the SHRC to SNAP partners on 26 October 2016. Further information can be obtained from the SHRC.

Question reference: S5W-06142

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what requirement is placed on local authorities by the Scottish Planning Policy to have a land-bank of reserves for construction aggregates, and whether this must be within their own administrative boundaries.

Paragraph 238 of Scottish Planning Policy 2014 states: 'Plans should support the maintenance of a landbank of permitted reserves for construction aggregates of at least ten years at all times in all market areas through the identification of areas of search. Such areas can be promoted by developers or landowners as part of the plan preparation process or by planning authorities where they wish to guide development to particular areas. As an alternative, a criteria based approach may be taken, particularly where a sufficient landbank already exists or substantial unconstrained deposits are available.'

The market area, which is not necessarily the same as the administrative boundary of the planning authority, as described in paragraph two of the Scottish Aggregate Survey 2012.

Both documents are available from the Scottish Government's website: https://beta.gov.scot/?utm_source=gov.scot&utm_medium=betabanner&utm_content=notificartion-banner-text-button&utm_campaign=beta

Question reference: S5W-05847

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05040 by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2016, on what date it will provide a summary of the discussion.

Question reference: S5W-05684

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals initiative into the National Performance Framework.

Scotland’s aims and ambitions– such as tackling inequality, ensuring access to high quality education, and healthcare – are already a key part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the National Outcomes, these aims and ambitions are enshrined in the National Performance Framework (NPF). The NPF and Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights will be the means by which progress towards the SDGs is measured in Scotland. This is one of the Open Government Partnership Commitments made by the Scottish Government. A review of the National Outcomes is currently underway and is being overseen by the cross- party Round Table on the NPF. This provides a further opportunity to ensure that the SDGs continue to be reflected in the NPF.

Question reference: S5W-06097

Current Status: Withdrawn