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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: S6O-00970

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what financial resources it has allocated to help those across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders who are most impacted by the reported cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6W-07744

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding any barriers to the recruitment and relocation of healthcare staff, including GPs, to rural locations in Scotland from countries within the EU.

The Scottish Government has consistently and unequivocally indicated to the UK Government the significant impact Brexit would have across our whole economy, including health and social care. Leaving the EU, and in particular the loss of freedom of movement, has undoubtedly added to the challenge of attracting and recruiting new staff to work in remote and rural communities.

Further to engagement between the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration, my predecessor and other devolved administrations about the impact of EU exit on the recruitment and retention of health and social care workers, the UK Government has amended the shortage worker visa scheme including social care workers through the Scottish Government remains of the view that this does not adequately address the barriers that exist.

We continue to invest in recruitment and retention of health care staff, including GPs in remote and rural locations and this include record levels of investment in international recruitment, direct support to international recruits, the Golden Hello scheme and the development of a National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Social Care.

Question reference: S6W-07653

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 March 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS will continue on the emergency footing that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care previously extended to 31 March 2022.

Once again, I want to thank our health and care staff for their magnificent work to date. The last few months have been enormously difficult and our health and care services are continuing to deal with a challenging combination of issues.

As we are now moving out of what has been a challenging winter period, the system remains under significant pressure. The number of new Covid-19 cases are at a high and continue to increase as well as currently having a record high number of Covid patients in hospital. Therefore, we must continue with a measured and consistent approach to the recovery and renewal of the vital service that we all rely upon. This will require balancing the capacity of the NHS and the wellbeing of our workforce to respond to increasing demands of emergency and urgent care, whilst reducing the backlog of planned care.

As we move through the next phase of the Strategic Framework, we will continue to support our NHS Boards to deliver against commitments in the NHS Recovery Plan and associated Delivery Plans to enable our NHS to plan and prepare the future delivery of health and social care services to our communities. We are confident that we have continued to build on lessons learned and that NHS Boards will be able to respond appropriately to any further challenges which lie ahead.

However, with that in mind, I have decided that the NHS will remain on emergency footing until at least 30 April 2022.

Question reference: S6O-00931

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-06981

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with JDH Exploration Ltd regarding licensing for mineral exploration across south west Scotland, and whether it is aware of any mineral exploration by JDH Exploration Ltd in that area.

The rights to naturally occurring gold and silver in this area are managed by Crown Estate Scotland, not by the Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government is aware that Crown Estate Scotland have issued two Mines Royal Options to JDH Exploration Ltd within Dumfries and Galloway for gold and silver exploration. Crown Estate Scotland do not manage the rights to the land or any other minerals in these areas and an option holder must obtain all other relevant permissions for its activities.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has subsequently granted access (only) permissions for metalliferous mineral prospecting to JDH Exploration Limited for an area of ground on Scotland’s national forests and land, South West of Loch Dee in Dumfries and Galloway.

These access permissions are not for mineral extraction.

The access permissions issued by FLS allow for a limited amount of ground survey work, including soil sampling using hand tools (e.g. hand auger) and aerial surveys within a defined area of Scotland’s national forests and land.

Question reference: S6W-06672

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether, during the period from 1 January 2016 to 20 February 2022, it received any information from Crown Estate Scotland regarding any expressed interest by any company over mineral exploration across south west Scotland, and whether it will provide details of any licences for mineral exploration that were granted during the same time period, broken down by the date on which they were issued.

The Scottish Government is aware that Crown Estate Scotland have issued Mines Royal Options Agreements for gold and silver exploration in south west Scotland. The Scottish Government do not have direct involvement in this process, and do not hold details of Crown Estate Scotland Option Agreements or leases for mineral exploration. You may wish to contact Crown Estate Scotland directly at FreedomofInformation@crownestatescotland.com .

Question reference: S6W-06432

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish Eating Disorder Services Review 2021 recommendation, what progress has been made in establishing a lived experience panel to work with the implementation group.

Question reference: S6O-00858

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it is taking to advance and support the use of the Scots language across the Scottish Parliament campus.

Question reference: S6O-00830

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how its housing strategy will support local authorities to take action in relation to vacant, derelict and abandoned buildings.

Question reference: S6F-00858

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2022.