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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: S4W-24548

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 6 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Shetland Island Council's decision not to (a) produce a consultation report or (b) impose a five year moratorium, following its decision not to proceed with proposed closures of the junior secondary schools on Whalsay and Yell, is in accordance with the Children and Young People's (Scotland) Act 2014.

We fully expect local authorities to comply with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (as amended by the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014), including the requirements regarding publishing a consultation report and observing a five year restriction on further consultation.

I understand that Shetland Islands Council is reviewing its position to ensure that it complies with all the requirements imposed on it by the legislation.

Question reference: S4F-02629

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2015

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the National Trust for Scotland, the John Muir Trust and RSPB Scotland's view that the planning process should be wholly independent of government.

Question reference: S4W-24462

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government who the members will be of its expert group to review the guidance on assessing and reporting on the condition of the school estate, and when it will meet.

The working group is comprised of representatives from: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities The Association of Directors of Education in Scotland Scottish Futures Trust NHS Scotland (Estates) Education Scotland Architecture and Design Scotland The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Scottish Government officials The group held an initial meeting on 8 January 2015 and will continue to meet on a regular basis over the coming months. It is expected to report to ministers in the autumn of 2015.

Question reference: S4W-24470

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents there have been of pupils being injured at school in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S4W-24444

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona McLeod on 2 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) health visitors and (b) teachers will have a legal right to opt out of being designated named persons under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Health boards, local authorities and other specified organisations have a duty to implement and deliver the Getting it right for every child provisions in the Children and Young Person (Scotland) Act 2014, including the identification of named persons. They will put in place the mechanisms and local procedures to deliver the provisions in accordance with the legislative requirements. They will also determine who, in the circumstances, it should appoint as a named person, having regard to the legal requirements, the statutory guidance (draft currently out to consultation) and the particular circumstances. The consultation on the draft statutory guidance and a draft Order on the named person will close on 1 May 2015 and the analysis report will be published in mid-June 2015.

Question reference: S4W-24445

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona McLeod on 26 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether parents will have a legal right to withdraw their children from the provisions of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 in relation to named persons.

Question reference: S4W-24546

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 25 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce average speed cameras on the (a) A92 and (b) A85.

Average speed cameras have a proven track record in improving road safety and have been deployed successfully in many countries. We currently have no plans to install an average speed camera system on the A92 or the A85, but we will continue to promote evidence based road safety interventions across the trunk road network. This may include the wider use of speed management, including average speed cameras, where this is justified in light of the evidence available to us at the time.

Question reference: S4O-04052

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions there are for parents to access the medical records of their children.

Question reference: S4W-24345

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 18 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support sportscotland provides toward the development of indoor bowling.

Question reference: S4W-24279

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to Tesco in light of reports that the recently announced job reductions in its retail stores were proportionally higher in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.

The Leader of Fife Council, David Ross and I wrote a joint letter to David Lewis, Tesco Chief Executive on 30 January 2015 following the announcement to close four Tesco stores in Scotland including a superstore in Kirkcaldy with 189 employees. This letter expressed both the Scottish Government’s and Fife Council’s concern that the company had decided to close these stores and the particular devastating effects this will have on Kirkcaldy, the employees affected and their families.

On 2 February 2015 a Scottish Government official and Councillor Ross had a constructive meeting with Tesco representatives. Fife Council agreed to consider their available options and put a proposal to Mr Lewis who confirmed that he was willing to look at all proposals put to him.