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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: S5O-01892

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS monitors children diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome.

Question reference: S5O-01761

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to end unpaid work trials.

The Scottish Government opposes the use of unpaid work trials and is concerned about how the Department for Work and Pensions is promoting them through Jobcentre Plus.

If a trial period is offered, then this should be paid whether this leads to permanent employment or not.

Whilst employment law is reserved to Westminster, we are using all levers at our disposal to promote Fair Work and to tackle worker exploitation. Initiatives such as the Scottish Business Pledge, encouraging the payment of at least the real Living Wage, and supporting strong industrial relations, are making a real difference to workers throughout the country.

Question reference: S5O-01736

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to empower community councils.

Question reference: S5O-01707

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding introducing a safe injection room for drug users in Glasgow.

Question reference: S5O-01483

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to the family of Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton, in light of reports that he is being held in prison in Punjab without charge and has faced torture.

Question reference: S5O-01414

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 9 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any correspondence that it has had with the UK Government regarding the release of the Brexit impact study on Scotland.

Earlier this month I wrote to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, to ask for further discussions with devolved administrations on the analysis of sectorial issues in each part of the United Kingdom. We are still in dark on many issues and the impact the UK Government believe Brexit will have on Scotland and our economy.

We have been told there is a Scotland analysis, and then that there is not. Now we have been told there are 58 pieces of sectoral analysis but the government will not release these for at least three weeks.

These 58 documents should be made available to the Scottish Government so we have a collective understanding of the analysis available to support negotiations and decisions about the UK position for those negotiations.

Question reference: S5O-01359

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it helps people in receipt of universal credit with managing their money.

The Scottish Government is using its new social security powers to give people in Scotland more choice in how they manage their Universal Credit benefit.

From 4 October, people making new claims in full service Universal Credit areas can choose to be paid either monthly or twice monthly and have their rent paid direct to their landlord.

The new Scottish Universal Credit choices have been warmly welcomed by people in receipt of Universal Credit, welfare advisors, local authorities and landlords. However, it will not address the fundamental flaws with Universal Credit – and that is why the Scottish Government, along with many others, has repeatedly called on the UK Government to halt the roll out of Universal Credit, until all the implementation issues are fully addressed.

Question reference: S5O-01107

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers negative media coverage of the education system could have on pupils and teachers.

Question reference: S5O-01042

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the rollout of superfast broadband in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency.

Question reference: S5O-00966

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to nursing and midwifery students.

In stark contrast to the UK government, we are continuing to protect core bursary support for nursing and midwifery students – this provides eligible students with a non-means tested, non-repayable bursary of £6,578 per year while studying.

Earlier this year we announced increased financial support for nursing and midwifery students with children and dependents – supported by £3m additional funding each year, benefitting around 1,000 of our most in need students.

Last October we launched a discretionary fund of at least £1m to provide a safety net for nursing and midwifery students needing additional support.

We’ve also committed to creating 1,000 extra training places for nurses and midwives over the course of this parliament.

We will continue to consider what additional support may be needed to enable wider participation and increased retention on programmes.