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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: S4O-02446

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities about teacher employment issues.

Question reference: S4F-01574

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2013

To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with providers of mobile phone services to improve coverage in rural areas.

Question reference: S4O-02433

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how preparations for the 2014 Commonwealth Games are progressing.

Question reference: S4O-02383

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all families with children up to two years old have regular access to a health visitor.

Question reference: S4W-16683

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 6 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to take forward the recommendations in Adapting for Change: Final Report of the Adaptations Working Group.

Question reference: S4W-16566

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 14 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have had their bid for additional funds to assist with wind turbine planning applications rejected.

Question reference: S4W-16443

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 30 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have received funding from the £300,000 announced to help deal with the increase in wind farm planning applications, broken down by amount.

Question reference: S4W-16229

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the future rail infrastructure needed to meet the projected 27% population increase in Perthshire and Kinross-shire between 2008 and 2033.

In 2008, the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) set out the Scottish Government’s 29 transport investment priorities over the period to 2032 and considered proposals for these areas, including new rail lines from Inverkeithing to Halbeath and between Perth and Inverkeithing.

The STPR was the first nationwide, multi-modal, objective led and evidence based review of the existing performance and future requirements of Scotland’s national transport networks and a wide range of options were appraised using the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance in reaching the recommended schemes. The appraisal criteria covered environmental, safety, social and policy issues (including population forecasts) as well as economic performance.

In addition, as part of the STPR process, a set of characteristics were developed that defined the primary function of the national strategic transport corridors. These included links to/from areas of projected population change. This process was also informed by land use forecasts supplied by the local authorities.

Question reference: S4W-16230

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it did not take forward the proposal to construct a railway line between Inverkeithing and Halbeath as one of the 29 transport projects and programmes identified in the Strategic Transport Projects Review Final Report, published in 2009.

Despite the Scottish Government’s capital budget being cut by 26% in real terms since 2010-11, we remain committed to delivering the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) recommendations.

The Scottish Ministers have prioritised a number of projects for delivery. These include the Queensferry Crossing, the Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvements Programme, the Highland Main Line, rail improvements from Aberdeen to Inverness and the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Given that the STPR covers a 20 year period, the pace at which the other STPR projects will be delivered, including a railway line between Inverkeithing and Halbeath will be determined by the availability of resources in future spending reviews, taking account of the benefits they offer and the contribution they make to this Government’s objectives.

Question reference: S4W-15831

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 18 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Funding Council provided information to the college sector regarding the implications of the reclassification of colleges by the Office for National Statistics.

Following ONS’ decision on the reclassification of colleges in 2010, there followed a period of extensive negotiation with HM Treasury on the basis for the decision, the timing of implementation and the scope for mitigating its implications in Scotland.

Once it became apparent that HM Treasury would offer no flexibility or mitigation, on 13 May 2013, Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, and John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, along with representatives of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), met with college Chairs, Principals and Regional Leads to discuss the impact of the decision.

Since then a project team, led by SFC staff and supported by SG officials and external experts including college representatives, has been established and has held a number of constructive meetings with the college sector.