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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-07375

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04921 by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 November 2016, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making regarding tackling the illegal trafficking of puppies through (a) Cairnryan and (b) other ports, and what discussions it has had or plans with (i) the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA), (ii) the Northern Ireland Executive and (iii) Northern Irish local authorities regarding this.

Scottish Government officials have had discussions with their counterparts in other UK administrations and the Republic of Ireland about the movement of puppies through Cairnryan and the other routes that puppies from elsewhere in Europe enter the UK. Further discussions are planned in the near future to share information about recent enforcement operations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

No specific discussions with USPCA or Northern Irish local authorities are planned, but we are aware that there is good liaison between the Scottish SPCA, USPCA and local authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland on this subject.

Scottish Government funded research on the scale of the illegal trade, what motivated buyers to obtain puppies from illegal sources and the most effective ways in which this can be addressed is making good progress. It is expected a report will be available by the middle of 2017.

Question reference: S5W-07080

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the research published by the charity, Feniks, which suggested that, following the EU referendum, European nationals living in Scotland felt safer than those in England.

The Scottish Government greatly values both the contribution that non-UK EU nationals bring to our economy and society, and the benefits of freedom of movement enjoyed by our own citizens. Non-UK EU nationals are an important part of Scotland’s future, in terms of contributing to sustainable economic growth, mitigating the effects of demographic change and enriching our culture and communities. In Scotland, we have not seen the same evidence of a ‘spike’ in hate crime as has been reported elsewhere. Nevertheless, we remain vigilant and would encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a hate crime to report it to the Police.

Question reference: S5F-00940

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2017

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has held regarding the future of broadcasting in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-06231

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 31 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it will undertake with the sheep farming sector on maintaining Scotland’s position in the single market, in light of reports that Scottish farmers may be exposed to significant competition resulting from a proposed trade deal between the UK and New Zealand.

We are having regular engagement with the food and drink industry on a range of Brexit related issues, most recently at the Food and Farming summit that I hosted last week in Edinburgh. The National Sheep Association was represented at the summit and we discussed the opportunities to further grow and support the sector. In addition I met with the NSA in November last year where we discussed among other things the Common Agricultural Policy and EU Exit. Scotland’s primary producers – including our sheep farmers – are vital to the future success of the food and drink industry and the Scottish Government will continue to protect their interests.

Question reference: S5T-00359

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update following the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on 30 January 2017.

Question reference: S5W-06307

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the value of the smartphone application development sector is to the Scottish economy.

Question reference: S5W-06308

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed in the smartphone application development sector in Scotland.

There is no specific category for the smartphone application development sector using the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007, produced by the Office for National Statistics.

However, data are available for the ‘Computer programming, consultancy and related activities’ sector (SIC 2007 Division 62) which will encompass the smartphone application development sector. Data from the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) shows that employment (employees plus working proprietors) in this sector was 34,100 in 2015, up by around 5% from 32,400 in 2014.

Question reference: S5W-06309

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact on the smartphone application development sector in Scotland of the decision by Apple to increase the price of its apps following a fall in the value of the pound as a result of the Brexit vote, and what representations it has made to the UK Government on this.

We have not conducted any analysis of the effects that this particular decision might have. Apple is one of a number of companies across different sectors who have stated their intention to increase consumer prices due to the recent devaluation of the pound.

However, the Minister for UK Negotiations for Europe has met with representatives from the digital sector to discuss the effects of the Brexit vote, and ensuring that he is fully briefed on the key issues and concerns from that sector's perspective.

Question reference: S5O-00584

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that the health advice it produces is accessible to people with hearing loss and deafness.

Question reference: S5O-00489

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to protect the marine environment.