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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: S5W-13584

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish an update on registration statistics for blind and partially sighted people, given that figures were last released in the publication, Registered Blind and Partially Sighted Persons, Scotland 2010.

NHS National Services Scotland is developing a web platform to capture diagnostic data from ophthalmologists and registration data from local authorities or agents acting on their behalf. The first full year of data collection will commence from 1 April 2018. Once complete this data for 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 will be subject to quality assurance and analysis by Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland, and will be published by September 2019.

Question reference: S5W-13585

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on registration figures for blind and partially sighted people in each year since 2010.

There are no national figures on the number of people registered as blind or partially sighted since 2010 as the statistics and associated data collection have been under review. In 2010, 34,492 people were identified as being registered as blind or partially sighted. The following year, 125,660 people reported in the 2011 Census that they had ‘blindness or partial sight loss’.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting adults and children who have sight loss, deafness and dual sensory loss to access the services, care and support they need through its See Hear Strategy. The Strategy is jointly endorsed by COSLA and is being delivered in local areas by partnerships between statutory and third sector organisations.

Question reference: S5O-01664

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the full membership of the interim board for the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency will be announced.

Question reference: S5W-13618

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, whether it will provide an update on its plans to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty, in light of the UK Government publishing a bill proposing that this should be increased to five years.

Question reference: S5O-01627

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss crossborder rail services.

Question reference: S5O-01579

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to improve facilities at HMP Dumfries to meet the needs of older prisoners.

Question reference: S5W-12892

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet ministers in Wales to discuss the use of electronic shock collars on dogs.

Question reference: S5W-12893

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing an SVQ for dog trainers on the use of electronic shock collars.

Question reference: S5W-12891

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet (a) animal welfare organisations, (b) veterinary organisations, (c) academics and (d) clinical behaviourists to discuss the use of electronic shock collars on dogs.

Question reference: S5O-01518

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding reported ticket price anomalies on the Nith Valley line and West Coast Main Line.