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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: S6W-09522

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the recommendations of the SEPA report, Preliminary environmental assessment of Flubendazole use in Scotland for parasitic worm control in Moorland Grouse, published in November 2020.

As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will – ‘deliver the recommendations of the Grouse Moor Management Review Group as a matter of urgency, including the licensing of grouse moors. Licensing or further regulation will cover the key areas identified in the review, including muirburn, wildlife control, the use of medicated grit and wildlife crime. Licensing will be supported by clear penalties to encourage compliance, as well as additional effort to detect wildlife crime’.

The Scottish Government has been working with SEPA on how best to address the recommendations of the SEPA report Preliminary environmental assessment of Flubendazole use in Scotland for parasitic worm control in Moorland Grouse.

SEPA are currently preparing to test particulate release of flubendazole from medicated grit. We will provide an update on the findings in due course.

Question reference: S6W-09520

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what research is being carried out into the potential for resistance from use of veterinary medication on wild red grouse.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any research being carried out specifically on the potential for resistance from the use of veterinary medication in wild red grouse.

However, Moredun Research Institute are currently leading on a Strategic Research Programme project on ‘Strategies to promote sustainable parasite control and reduce anthelmintic usage’.

The aims of the research, which started in April this year, include:

• Investigate measures to minimise environmental impacts of anthelmintics whilst maintaining/boosting productivity and livestock efficiency

• Understand the tension between environmental benefits of livestock grazing vs impacts of treatment with anthelmintics

• Evaluate environmental implications of alternative strategies for animal health and welfare, specifically worms and fluke, and requirement for anthelmintic treatment

Question reference: S6O-01277

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the reinstatement of inpatient births at the Community Maternity Unit within the Galloway Community Hospital.

Question reference: S6W-08722

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for extended opening hours for licensed premises between 2 and 4 June 2022 to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Independent Licensing Boards in Scotland can grant general extensions of licensed hours if they consider it appropriate to do so in connection with a special event of local or national significance – as was the case during the Queen’s 60 th Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Whilst these are matters for Licensing Boards in their areas, the Scottish Government is supportive of Licensing Boards having these powers. It is worth emphasising the local decision making powers in this area, the Scottish Ministers do not have a power to grant a general extension of licensed hours, unlike the Home Secretary under the England and Wales licensing regime.

Question reference: S6O-01191

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a maximum bidding price has been applied to commercial-scale ScotWind projects, but not to 100MW innovation projects looking to progress through the forthcoming Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas leasing round.

Question reference: S6O-01111

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support a town centre first approach to the development of new housing.

Question reference: S6O-00920

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current levels of unmet need and staff vacancies in social care.

Question reference: S6W-06754

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when Ministers last discussed increasing rail services from Lockerbie railway station with train operators.

Lockerbie railway station is serviced by Avanti West Coast and Transpennine Express, known as cross-border rail operators. These operators are managed by the Department for Transport.

Transport Scotland officials have frequent meetings with all cross-border rail operators to discuss Covid related issues and service delivery. We are aware of the issues that Transpennine Express face in delivering a reliable service at Lockerbie due to Covid and industrial action but continue to press for improvements to performance.

We welcome their intention to increase services in May 2022 and the arrangement reached by Transpennine Express for Avanti West Coast to make special stops, where possible, at Lockerbie in the event that Transpennine Express is unable to call.

Question reference: S6W-06665

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 7 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial resources and (b) other support will be provided for the establishment of freeports in Scotland.

Each successful Green Freeport applicant will have the opportunity to access up to £25 million of capital funding to assist with site infrastructure costs. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to access up to £1 million of revenue funding to assist with set-up costs. Release of revenue funding will be subject to Green Freeports adequately demonstrating a need for this funding, and to suitable governance arrangements being established.

The successful Green Freeports will also benefit from a package of reserved and devolved incentives, including tax reliefs and customs easements.

Officials from both the Scottish and UK Governments will work with the successful applicants to support them to develop robust business cases which, once approved, will allow the Green Freeports to open for business.

Question reference: S6W-06664

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 4 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether all Scottish Ministers are of the same view regarding the allocation of government resources for the establishment of freeports in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is very committed to the delivery of two Greenports in Scotland, which will create new, well-paid jobs, deliver a just transition to net zero and support economic transformation based on fairness.

As an Annex to the Bute House Agreement, freeports is listed as an excluded matter to the Agreement and is therefore a policy which is not subject to co-operation between both our parties.

We plan to proceed with plans to deliver two Greenports in Scotland with the UK Government, working on a partnership basis. All details will be set out in a finalised joint applicant prospectus to be published later this month.