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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-01040

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the delay in the publication of its final implementation strategy for the storage of higher activity nuclear waste; what assessment it has made of the effect of this delay on nuclear sites in Scotland, and what contact it had with experts and relevant stakeholders in the industry during the consultation period.

The draft implementation strategy is being revised following the public consultation. Scottish Government officials have continued contact with the nuclear decommissioning authority, the committee on radioactive waste management, nuclear site managers and stakeholder groups. There is no material effect on radioactive waste management, with Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste arising continuing to be placed into safe storage.

Question reference: S5W-00373

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to applying business rates relief for mobile phone mast sites in rural areas with no coverage or where there is a clear developmental need.

Telecommunications, including mobile telephony, is a reserved matter for which the UK Government has responsibility to ensure adequate coverage and to fund improvements and developments. The Scottish Government is committed to using devolved levers where appropriate such as business rates relief to improve the commercial case for investment.

With effect from 1 April 2016, the Scottish Government launched a scheme offering non-domestic rates relief for new mobile masts in certain non-commercial areas for a period of five years. This initial pilot covers parts of Arran and the Cairngorms, and it is our intention to widen the scheme across Scotland if the pilot is successful and once an intervention area can be accurately defined.

Maps showing the pilot areas eligible for relief can be found at:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Economy/digital/Publications/NDR-maps

Question reference: S5W-00389

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits to consumers of increasing competition in the mobile backhaul market.

Competition in the mobile backhaul market is a reserved matter and is the responsibility of Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator.

Wider assessment of enhanced connectivity, its usage, and the socio economic benefits arising - which assumes the availability of sufficient backhaul – has been undertaken by the Scottish Futures Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government. This report, published in July 2015, suggests that a fully digitised Scotland could see GDP growth of £13 billion by 2030: http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/files/publications/Impact_of_digitalisation_in_Scotland.pdf

We continue to engage with UK Government Ministers and Ofcom to make the case for improved investment in mobile infrastructure in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-00374

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include the south of Scotland and, in particular, Dumfries and Galloway in any proposed pilot of business rates relief for mobile phone mast sites in areas with poor mobile coverage.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00373 on 13 June 2016. 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

It is our intention to widen the scheme across Scotland if the pilot is successful and once an intervention area can be accurately defined.

Question reference: S5W-00209

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to carry out a feasibility study into the dualling of the A75 between Dumfries and the M74.

The National Transport Strategy (NTS) Refresh, published in January 2016 makes reference to the consideration of a full NTS review in the next parliament, to tie in with the next National Planning Framework and followed by a refresh of the Strategic Transport Projects Review which was published in 2008.

This will enable the Scottish Government to take a comprehensive review of national infrastructure priorities including projects within Dumfries and Galloway.

In addition, Mr Swinney and I plan to host a transport summit in Dumfries and Galloway and I will provide the member with further details in due course.

Question reference: S5W-00210

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic benefits of upgrading the A75.

Question reference: S5W-00208

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to dual the A75 between Dumfries and the M74.

Question reference: S5T-00010

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of financial difficulties at Police Scotland following the departure of its Director of Financial Services.

Question reference: S5W-00212

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the possible extension of the Borders Railway route to Carlisle.

Question reference: S5W-00211

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it plans to take in the current parliamentary session to improve support for Dumfriesshire farmers and secure the future of the family farm.

The Scottish Government will work with stakeholders to identify how best to improve support to farmers and crofters across Scotland throughout this parliamentary session.

Our immediate efforts will be focussed on delivering outstanding common agricultural policy (CAP) payments and providing solutions to the current payment situation.

Over the last year, the Scottish Government has held a national conversation on the future of Scottish agriculture and it is clear that many farmers and crofters have great ideas and enthusiasm for developing not only their own businesses but the industry in general and for growing the rural economy. We will listen to those farmers and crofters and work with them to identify and lift the barriers that may be holding them back.

The current CAP is now in place until 2019, but discussions and negotiations on the CAP beyond 2020 will commence in the next year or so. We will work to secure an outcome that will maximise support to farmers and crofters across Scotland, this includes securing a fairer share of the UK’s CAP budget.