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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-04872

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to deal with coastal erosion at Montrose.

The Scottish Government is responsible for national coast protection policy. We are working with Scottish Natural Heritage and other stakeholders to complete a National Coastal Change Assessment. This work will help identify our most vulnerable coastlines and inform local strategic plans, such as shoreline management plans.

In Scotland, the local authorities are the coast protection authorities and have discretionary powers under the Coast Protection Act 1949 to carry out any coast protection work in their area; however, landowners are ultimately responsible for coast erosion to their land.

The coastline of Angus is subject to erosion and accretion from natural processes. The impacts of these natural processes are being managed by Angus Council though the Shoreline Management Plan and the Montrose Beach Management Plan.

The Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Flood Risk Management Plan includes an action for the Council to carry out a flood protection study for Montrose. This study will consider measures to manage and reduce flood risk and manage coastal protection. The flood protection schemes/works (which may include works for coastal protection) identified in the study will go forward for prioritisation for Scottish Government funding in the second six-year flood risk management planning cycle from 2022.

Question reference: S5W-04873

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness.

The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030. This significant undertaking requires careful, in-depth planning and design so we deliver the right scheme and help tackle congestion, make journey times more reliable and, crucially, improve road safety for all along the route.

Transport Scotland has completed packages of preliminary engineering and strategic environmental assessment work along the route between east of Nairn and Aberdeen and presented the outcome of this work at a series of exhibitions in 2015. This is the first step in developing a robust plan to improve connectivity along the whole route.

The next stage of design, which is the route options assessment, for the Western Section between Hardmuir and Fochabers commenced earlier this year. This work is expected to take approximately two years to complete. Route options assessment on the Eastern Section between east of Huntly and Aberdeen is planned to start following the procurement of design consultants early next year with the Central Section between east of Fochabers and east of Huntly to follow in 2019.

Transport Scotland has also completed the development and assessment of the preferred option for the 31km Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) section and published draft Orders for the scheme on 29 November 2016 for formal comment. Progress on the scheme will depend on the level and nature of comments and/or objections received to the publication of draft Orders.

The overall timetable for the dualling programme is set by the Scottish Government’s commitment to complete the dualling between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030. The phasing for individual elements will take shape during the future stages of design and development work being progressed.

Further details on the A96 Dualling Programme can be found on the Transport Scotland website at www.transport.gov.scot/a96dualling.

Question reference: S5W-04599

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of the Dundee Academy of Sport; what support it offers the academy, and whether it is considering providing it with additional capital funding.

Through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Dundee Academy of Sport has been awarded investment totalling £2.7 million.

A full evaluation of the project, carried out by the Academy, was published earlier this year (see: http://www.dundeeacademyofsport.com/aboutus/). The evaluation showed that considerable progress had been made in addressing challenges around educational attainment and achievement.

Decisions on budget allocations to the Further Education and Higher Education sectors for 2017-18 will be made as part of overall budget preparations.

Question reference: S5O-00382

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 23 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote apprenticeships.

We will again support Scottish Apprenticeship Week in March 2017. This will be the 7^th annual campaign to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to employer and young people delivered in partnerships with employers, apprentices, colleges, councils and training providers.

In addition Skills Development Scotland promote Modern Apprenticeships in a number of ways including its new Apprenticeship.scot website and My World of Work. It is also widening the reach of the programme through its equality action plan and as part of its regular engagement with businesses across Scotland.

These are important means to help with the Scottish Government's ambitious plans to grow and enhance the Modern Apprenticeship programme to 30,000 new starts a year by 2020.

Question reference: S5O-00290

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 2 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consultation on a draft referendum bill.

Question reference: S5O-00259

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to attract visitors to Scotland’s town centres.

Developing tourism as a key sector remains an important Government commitment and we have made clear that we will continue to work to make all of Scotland a destination of first choice for visitors from around the world.

As part of the Town Centre Action Plan we have developed the Town Centre Toolkit. This free online resource gives communities information and advice on how they can make their town centres more attractive, active and accessible. It is being hosted and promoted by Scotland's Towns Partnership through their website.

Question reference: S5W-03689

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5O-00104 and S5O-00193 by Jamie Hepburn on 7 September (Official Report, c. 15) and 28 September 2016 respectively, whether the independent analysis of the responses to its consultation of the Apprenticeship Levy has been completed and, if not, by what date it expects this to be finalised; whether it will publish the findings of the analysis, and when it would then publish guidance on implementing the levy.

Question reference: S5W-02645

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 27 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact closing the Mountain Weather Information Service would have on North East Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-00206

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since January 2016 to improve air quality in Aberdeen.

Question reference: S5O-00158

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how the programme of closures of emergency call centres in Aberdeen and Inverness is progressing.