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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: S5W-34474

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed short-term let regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact on bed and breakfast businesses, and what consultation there has been with the sector.

The use of houses (class 9 in the Use Classes Order) as bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) is a form of home sharing and these will require a licence. Guest houses (class 7) are excluded from the definition of a short-term let and will not require a licence.

The principal component of our licensing scheme is a set of mandatory standards which apply to all short-term lets, and will help to protect the safety of guests and neighbours across Scotland. Many hosts, including B&B operators, will already be following these standards as a matter of compliance with existing law or best practice.

In developing our regulatory proposals, we have directly engaged with and heard from a wide range of stakeholders covering a range of interests. The Scottish Bed & Breakfast Association responded to both our 2019 and 2020 consultations on short-term lets.

Question reference: S5W-34469

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the date for the roll-out of the Dumfries and Galloway Virtual School.

The Scottish Government has not had direct discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council, however Education Scotland, in its role as improvement agency for education, has been in contact with the Council in order to share information on progress with its Virtual School.

Education Scotland has confirmed its understanding is that the school covers both the Broad General Education and Senior Phase, that virtual teachers have been appointed to the school and that prior to the recent school closures the virtual school had been providing support to pupils who had been absent for Covid-19 related issues.

The responsibility for the school rests with the local authority, however Education Scotland will continue to liaise with the local authority as part of its role in providing improvement support across Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway Council, in common with other local authorities, can also access options via the National E-Learning Offer.

Further information can be obtained from the local authority.

Question reference: S5W-34149

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the independent economic impact study of Scottish hospitality carried out by BiGGAR Economics.

The Scottish Government fully understands the challenges facing the hospitality sector as we look to balance measures to suppress the virus and protect lives with keeping businesses open and trading viably. The scale of the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality sector is significant. Data from Scottish Government’s Monthly GDP statistics for October indicates that GDP in Accommodation and Food Services was almost 44% lower than in February, while data from our analysis of ONS’s BICS survey indicates that 52.4% of the workforce in the sector were on furlough leave in the period 16 November to 13 December. The findings from this report offer a further illustration of the negative impact Covid-19 has had on hospitality. We have provided substantial support to the hospitality sector in response to these unprecedented challenges, including 100% rates relief for pubs and restaurants for the year, and we will shortly announce details of further funding targeted for tourism and hospitality. We also pressed the UK Government intensively for the extension of the CJRS – in light of the challenges faced by sectors like hospitality. We believe the current restrictions for hospitality are the correct balance but we will continue to assess the restrictions to ensure they remain appropriate for the circumstances. A Four Harms analysis report has also been published which set out the impact and analysis across all four. We remain committed to building on our constructive dialogue with the industry – including regular contact with key business organisations – and are listening carefully to their suggestions and concerns.

Question reference: S5W-34147

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported concerns regarding forestry planting at Tansy Hill, and what action it is taking to protect peatland.

Scottish Forestry investigated the concerns about forestry planting operations at Tansey Hill in December 2020 and found that some small areas of deep peat, adding up to 0.5 hectares in total, had been ploughed in preparation for tree planting.

The Scottish Government’s policy seeks to protect areas of deep peat and does not approve ploughing or tree planting on deep peat. The ploughing of deep peat on Tansey Hill did not comply with the terms of the planting approval or the Forestry Grant Scheme contract.

Scottish Forestry has requested a range of remedial actions to protect the peatland and reinstate the damaged areas. These have been accepted by the forestry agent and are in the process of being implemented.

The measures include removing the deep peat areas from the planting scheme and reinstating the disturbed peat on all ploughed areas where the depth exceeds 50 cm.

Ploughing will not be allowed to recommence until these remediation measures have been completed.

Question reference: S5O-04930

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with dualling the A75.

Question reference: S5W-34120

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of parents at Canonbie Primary School regarding changes to the building to establish additional space to deliver increased nursery hours.

The Scottish Government’s 2017 publication A blueprint for 2020: the expansion of early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland - ELC expansion planning guidance for local authorities sets out a framework to support local authorities in developing plans for the expansion of early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours. This framework encourages local authorities to make full use of existing assets before purchasing or building additional capacity.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for the planning and execution of any changes required to its infrastructure in preparation for the increase to 1,140 funded nursery hours for eligible children in August 2021.

The Scottish Government would expect local authorities to work with school communities to discuss how they make changes to the learning estate, and we would encourage anybody who is concerned about the proposals for Canonbie Primary School to discuss these with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Question reference: S5W-34121

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to Canonbie Primary School to facilitate the changes required to accommodate a nursery classroom.

The Scottish Government has provided no direct funding to Canonbie Primary School to facilitate the accommodation of a nursery classroom.

In May 2018, the Scottish Government awarded Dumfries and Galloway Council a multi-year capital funding settlement of £9.1m for early learning and childcare, including any capital works required to make the council’s infrastructure ready for the increase to 1,140 funded nursery hours for eligible children.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for decisions on how that £9.1m should be allocated to individual projects.

Question reference: S5W-34119

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 cases have been identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

Question reference: S5W-34286

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent COVID-19 developments, whether it will reconsider its proposals to move trials from Dumfries Sheriff Court.

Question reference: S5W-34066

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of solicitors and the Faculty of Procurators of Dumfriesshire regarding plans to move all sheriff and jury business from Dumfries to Ayr Sheriff Court.