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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: S6O-01433

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle rural isolation and loneliness, particularly in the approach to the winter period.

Question reference: S6W-10961

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Transport Scotland has reportedly exceeded its projected timescale of six months to carry out the roadworks between Cairnryan and Glenapp on the A77 by over four years, and whether it will provide (a) an urgent update on the status of these roadworks and (b) a timescale for their completion, in order to prevent any further disruption due to any single-lane traffic convoy systems for both HGV traffic, and other drivers, on the A77 arterial route.

I understand the frustration of local communities and users of the A77 and the difficulties and delays they cause, but these works are essential to maintain the safety and resilience of this section of the A77. Work at Carlock Wall commenced in February 2020 and was due to be completed by the end of that year. However, unforeseen adverse ground conditions were identified during construction. This included bed rock to support the new wall being much deeper than anticipated and significant volumes of unstable material on the existing slope face requiring additional stabilisation. Work started immediately to tackle both of these issues. Good progress has been made despite impacts associated with Covid-19. Carriageway re-opening to two way traffic is currently programmed to be completed by late Autumn 2022. Further landscaping and finishing works to areas remote from the carriageway will be complete in Spring 2023.

Question reference: S6W-10556

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its meeting with the Galloway Community Hospital Action Group and members of the Wigtownshire community regarding maternity service provision in the Wigtownshire locality, whether it will provide an update on its discussions with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the establishment of a Community Midwifery Unit (CMU) at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer.

Question reference: S6W-10656

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact fishery management networks, including the Galloway Fisheries Trust, have on its biodiversity enhancement objectives.

The Galloway Fisheries Trust, along with other fishery and river trusts, fishery boards and angling associations, play an important role in helping Scotland meet its nature recovery ambitions. The Trust was successful in securing £100,000 through the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) this year, to undertake a project on invasive species control and knowledge across nine river catchments in the Solway. This work builds on their previous NRF projects, which improved the climate resilience of local water courses and contributed to peatland restoration.

Through NRF funding, we continue to support fishery management organisations across Scotland in undertaking a range of projects that aim to address biodiversity loss.

Question reference: S6W-10662

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to recommence breast screening self-referrals for over-71s.

From 29 August 2022, eligible groups of women over the age of 71 will be able to register for self-referral appointments by contacting their local breast screening service.

Invitations will begin issuing to the eligible groups from 26 September, with appointments commencing from 24 October.

At this stage, the eligible groups being prioritised for self-referrals are women aged 71 to 74 (+364 days), and women over 75 with a history of breast cancer who have completed their hospital follow up. This phased approach allows self-referrals to restart in a way we hope will not unduly impact on waiting times for women aged 50-70 for whom screening is recommended.

The impact of the restart on programme capacity and wait times will be monitored closely. At the same time, the programme will continue to look for opportunities to increase the number of available appointments.

Question reference: S6W-10458

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Scotland is taking to help tackle the climate emergency.

Question reference: S6W-09802

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the joint £10 million of funding from the Scottish and UK governments, as committed to in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, will be released for the borders rail extension feasibility study.

Through the Borderlands Inclusive Deal the Scottish Government have allocated up to £5 million to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Borders Railway. That funding will be released on the achievement of agreed milestones, in line with the usual business case and governance processes that apply to all growth deal projects. As this is a joint funding commitment, the Scottish Government are currently awaiting the outcome of internal UK Government discussions on governance procedures to be able to align advice to partners and move things forward.

Question reference: S6W-09776

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the final recruitment figures under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027, which ended in March 2022, will be published.

The final recruitment figures under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27 will be published today, 12 July, at 10:30am, at Mental health workers: quarterly performance reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A total of 958.9 whole time equivalent mental health staff have been recruited in key settings over 4 years, significantly exceeding the original commitment for 800 additional workers.

Question reference: S6W-09610

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 1 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its further consultation paper on restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt.

The consultation paper on restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt will be published on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804356241 and on the Citizen Space portal at https://consult.gov.scot/population-health/restricting-price-and-location-promotions-on-foods on 1 July 2022 at 10am.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on 23 September 2022.

Question reference: S6W-09498

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 28 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the level of minimum unit pricing of alcohol.

We are currently in the process of evaluating minimum unit pricing (MUP) as a whole over its first five years of operation. Public Health Scotland will be producing a final report on MUP in 2023, which will inform our evaluation report which will be laid in Parliament and published in 2023.

Work on reviewing the level of MUP has started as part of our overall evaluation, as the impact of MUP is connected to the unit price. We are evaluating the impact of MUP at the current price of 50 pence per unit and will assess what level MUP should be set at going forward, if MUP is to continue. It is important that we have a robust evidence base to support any decision on a change in the level of MUP.

Against that background, I am announcing that the conclusion of the review of the level of MUP will be completed in late 2023. If our overall evaluation supports a continuation of MUP, we will lay Orders in Parliament in late 2023 to continue MUP beyond the initial six year period and if the evidence supports a change in price, to set a new unit price. If Parliament approves those Orders, it is intended that any new price would take effect from 1 May 2024 i.e. immediately after the initial six year period which would have otherwise have expired on 30 April 2024.