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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-07603

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the UNICEF publication, Report Card 10: Measuring Child Poverty and what implications the report will have on its child poverty strategy.

The recommendations in the Measuring Child Poverty report are consistent with the strategic aims of the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland. Both documents highlight the importance of maximising household incomes and improving children’s wellbeing and life chances. However, I am greatly concerned that the UNICEF report also highlights the potentially serious negative impacts of benefit and tax credit cuts being made at Westminster and the likelihood they will reverse this trend. Whilst we are doing all we can to tackle poverty and inequality in Scotland, it is very difficult to make an impact on the headline figures while personal taxation and welfare benefits policy are reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S4W-07691

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to (a) future alternative uses for or (b) the possible disposal of HMP Cornton Vale.

The recent report by the Commission on Women Offenders included a recommendation that HMP Cornton Vale should be replaced with a smaller specialist prison for high risk, long-term prisoners.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S3W-07689 on 14 June 2012. 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.

The Scottish Government response will address this recommendation.

Question reference: S4W-07689

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the report by the Commission on Women Offenders and whether the response will address the future of HMP Cornton Vale.

Question reference: S4W-07364

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of seal licensing reports has been submitted on time since 31 January 2011.

Question reference: S4W-07362

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seals were shot under licence in (a) 2011 and (b) the first reporting period in 2012.

Question reference: S4W-07363

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is taken to ensure that seal licensing reports are submitted on time.

Question reference: S4O-01124

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its employees have their salaries paid off-payroll.

Question reference: S4W-07365

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports its employees to volunteer in sport.

The Scottish Government is committed to helping its employees participate in community projects and making a contribution to Scottish society. As part of this commitment, all staff are entitled to receive one day of paid special leave each year for volunteering activities. In addition, staff who participate in major sports events which are National Championships or Finals may receive up to five days’ paid special leave in any 12 month period; this is also available to those who are representing their country. Staff may also receive special leave without pay to take part in regional, area or zoned sporting events.

Question reference: S4O-01028

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the possible impact on public health of the Fife Diet Food Manifesto 2012.

We welcome Fife Diet’s new Food Manifesto and their cross-cutting community work to promote the development of a food system that better supports environmental sustainability in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to pursuing collaborative and sustainable approaches to food production and consumption, recognising that doing so will not only reduce our impact on the environment but also help individuals lead longer, healthier lives.

Our National Food and Drink Policy “Recipe for Success” sets out how the Scottish Government is taking forward a number of the issues covered in the food manifesto including skills development, food education, grow-your-own, the environment, and health and sustainable procurement.

One example of our work in this area is the development of a Health and Environmental Sustainability Framework which will provide a structured way of thinking to help decision makers address complex health and environmental sustainability challenges in a joined up way.

Question reference: S4W-06654

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a danger of pollution to the Scottish coast resulting from (a) aging infrastructure or (b) inadequate safety and environmental protection procedures in the North Sea oil and gas infrastructure.