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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-05269

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with EU officials regarding funding for public infrastructure projects, including the new Cumbernauld Academy.

Question reference: S4O-05220

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the development of new allotment sites.

Question reference: S4O-04778

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the average police response time is to reports of serious violent crime.

The Scottish Government does not hold information about police response times to reports of serious violent crime. Police Scotland Contact, Command and Control centres receive around 500,000 emergency (999) calls per annum. HMICS has recently provided assurance in its review of call handling that the grading, prioritisation and dispatch of officers for emergency calls is working well with a prompt response from officers.

Violent crime has reduced by 55% since 2006-07 and clear-up rates for violent crime have increased to 84.1% – the highest since comparable records began in 1976. Crimes of handling and offensive weapon are down by 67% since 2006-07. Homicides are at their lowest level of any year on record. Fewer Scots are likely to become victims of crime and this is all supported by the 1,000 extra officers in our communities since 2007.

Question reference: S4O-04737

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support the PACE team can provide to unemployed professional footballers who have been released by their club.

Question reference: S4F-03003

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2015

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the report by the Child Poverty Action Group, The Cost of the School Day.

Question reference: S4W-27703

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met Universities Scotland to discuss the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill.

I last met with Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal of University of Dundee and Convener of Universities Scotland and Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland to discuss the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill on 20 May 2015. This is only one of a number of meetings which I, and my officials, have undertaken on this Bill. These have included meetings with Chairs of university courts, rectors and former rectors, principals, and trade union and student representatives.

All stakeholders were given an opportunity to provide their views on the Bill through the Consultation Paper on a Higher Education Governance Bill. All views and ideas offered by stakeholders on the provisions for the Bill were carefully considered and informed the shape of the Bill at introduction.

I will continue to listen carefully to the views put to me in the many meetings I have had relating to this Bill, and will consider all constructive suggestions that are raised in evidence and as we debate the detail of the Bill in Parliament.

Question reference: S4O-04654

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the European Commission.

Question reference: S4O-04626

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the removal of old age psychiatry beds from Coathill Hospital and the impact on people using public transport to visit.

This was a decision for NHS Lanarkshire to make. Only proposals which constitute major service change are subject to ministerial approval. Nonetheless, the associated public engagement process undertaken by the health board was consistent with national guidance, in the view of independent Scottish Health Council.

The health board recognises that, for some patients and relatives, the changes will result in additional travel. NHS Lanarkshire has provided assurances that they are actively working with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and engaging with community transport operators to develop opportunities to improve local transport links.

Question reference: S4O-04598

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is of EU rule changes on capital projects in Central Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-04566

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what financial impact the delayed timetable for the announcement of its draft budget will have on local authorities.

The current devolution settlement sees around 80% of the Scottish budget being directly determined by decisions taken in Westminster meaning that we have no alternative but to await the outcome of the UK spending review before publishing the draft budget. While this will be inconvenient for Scotland’s local authorities and other public sector partners in trying to set their 2016 to 2017 budgets, the delay is unavoidable. The Government will work with Parliament to consider the most effective timetable for considering the Local Government Finance Order.