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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.

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Question reference: S5O-02333

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will respond to the results of its consultation on improving the protection of wild mammals.

Question reference: S5W-17883

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing each of the recommendations of the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06079 on 25 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Further to the above answer, the following updates can also be provided.

Recommendation 2 - Use of impact statements

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) continue to request impact statements from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) or veterinary staff on environmental or animal welfare impacts, where appropriate.

Additionally, in April 2018, 13 SNH specialist advisory staff, together with key managers received training on the provision of expert witness statements and giving evidence at Court. Training was delivered by COPFS, Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Recommendation 10 - sentencing guidelines

In its first business plan, for the period 2015-2018, the independent Scottish Sentencing Council undertook to begin preparatory work for the development of a sentencing guideline on environmental and wildlife offences. During the period covered by the plan, which is about to conclude, some initial scoping work and research has been carried out, which will inform future work in this area. The Council’s business plan for the period 2018-2021 will be laid before Parliament later this year.

Question reference: S5W-18179

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its Programme for Government 2017-18, what progress it has made in developing an action plan for Dumfries and Galloway, similar to the Tweed Valley action plan in the Borders.

The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of actions to support the development of tourism in Dumfries and Galloway, including the establishment a South of Scotland enterprise agency which will focus on supporting and developing the economy of the south of Scotland, including the tourism sector. In the interim, we have set up the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, drawing together the key public sector organisations supporting economic development in the South, including Dumfries and Galloway Council and VisitScotland. We are providing VisitScotland with £500k to specifically market both Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders over the next two years and will work closely with both local authorities to maximise the many attractions of the area. We are also providing Forest Enterprise Scotland with £500k to develop its tourism offer around the Tweed Valley and Galloway Forest parks. In addition we are also working, along with partners including Dumfries and Galloway Council, to develop potential projects that could form part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, which will have significant benefits to the south of Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-17825

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what official Ministerial visits have taken place in the South Scotland region in the last 12 months that were notified to (a) all South Scotland region MSPs and (b) only SNP South Scotland region MSPs.

Question reference: S5W-17776

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16299 on 10 May 2018 by Humza Yousaf, whether it will publish the financial modelling that was completed at the end of May 2018 and any further modelling of road equivalent tariff options on Pentland Firth routes.

Question reference: S5W-17823

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15117 by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2018, which trains stations are (a) fully, (b) partly and (c) not accessible.

Question reference: S5W-17847

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 6 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the (a) crew welfare and (b) pollution prevention measures in place following the grounding of the MV Priscilla cargo vessel on the Pentland Skerries off the coast at Caithness.

The Scottish Government’s discussion with the UK government has been through liaison with the UK government’s Secretary of State’s representative (SOSREP) who was in overall charge of the incident response to the grounding of MV Priscilla. The SOSREP also issued situation reports that included updates on the welfare of the 6 crew members. Prior to the recovery operation three crew members left the vessel. There were no reported injuries to the 6 crew.

There were no reports of any pollution during the grounding or subsequent recovery operation. The salvage plan included pollution prevention measures in the event of any pollution. Prior to re-floating of the vessel, the salvors successfully removed 28 tonnes of fuel oil to reduce any possible pollution risk as well as lighten the vessel for re-floating.

Question reference: S5W-17781

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17561 by Fergus Ewing on 20 July 2018, whether it remains committed to bringing forward a Good Food Nation Bill.

Question reference: S5W-17890

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the submissions to its Consultation on Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People and Modern Apprentices have not been published, and when it will publish its analysis of and response to the submissions.

We have today published the analysis of responses and, where permission was received, the responses themselves. They can be found on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/consultation/consultation-on-free-bus-travel-for-older-and-disabled-people-and-modern-apprentices/.

Also today, I have announced the Scottish Government's response to the consultation, including our decision to retain 60 as the qualifying age.

Question reference: S5W-17826

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government where the 18 turbines proposed for the Benbrack Wind Farm near Carsphairn in Dumfries and Galloway will be manufactured.

The development of the Benbrack Wind Farm will be tied to its grid connection date, meaning that we would expect construction to commence during 2022. This means that it is too early at this stage to establish details concerning the manufacture and supply of turbines and other components and services.

However, the developer (EON) is fully aware of the importance placed by the Scottish Government on economic impact, with a particular focus on Scottish supply chain content and economic benefit, and has confirmed that it will be contacting and adding local contractors to its procurement database.

The port of Ayr has been identified as the preferred entry point for relevant components, which will bring benefits to the immediate area. We also expect relevant specialist companies in Scotland to tender for contracts to deliver the required turbine components e.g. towers once a preferred supplier has been identified.