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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-26787

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether Shingrix would be used as a replacement for Zostavax as a treatment for shingles were it to introduce this vaccine.

The Scottish Government is advised on these matters by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI has already evaluated and recommended moving from Zostavax to Shingrix in the current Shingles Vaccination Programme, providing that it could be secured at a cost effective and affordable price. The Scottish Government is working with colleagues in Public Health England (PHE), who procure the vaccine on behalf of the UK Health Departments, to take forward this recommendation. However, PHE have advised the availability of the Shingrix vaccine is expected to delay implementation of the JCVI recommendation, and in the meantime, the vaccine Zostavax will continue to be used for the programme.

The vaccination is not a treatment for shingles, however, protects against the disease.

Question reference: S5O-03963

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase its digital economy budget.

Question reference: S5W-26690

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-24325 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 August 2019, whether it will provide an update on Scotland’s progress towards achieving the 2020 Aichi Targets, and how many of the 20 global targets it expects to have met by January 2020.

We take our responsibilities on biodiversity very seriously and Scotland was the first country in the world to report against the full suite of Aichi targets. Our reports also contribute to those submitted to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the UK Government. The CBD is using reports received in 2018 to assess progress in meeting the 2020 targets. We intend continuing to report on progress in 2019 and 2020 which Scottish Natural Heritage will publish in due course.

Question reference: S5W-26565

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing hard engineering traffic calming measures, such as traffic islands, on the A75 at Springholm village.

The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland, has introduced a series of speed management measures in Springholm over recent years. These include the erection of vehicle activated speed limit reminder signs and speed indicator devices. It has also made significant investment on the A75 at Springholm with the introduction of a trial of innovative technology comprising two sets of reverse speed discrimination traffic signals through the village to manage driver behaviour. There are no plans to introduce traffic islands on the A75 at Springholm. Continual monitoring of speeds through the village has indicated that the speed management measures are continuing to show positive results in relation to speed reduction compared to prior to the measures being installed.

Question reference: S5W-26563

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the results of the A9 HGV speed limit trial, and what plans it has to carry out a similar exercise on the A75.

The Scottish Government published the evaluation of the A9 HGV speed limit pilot, following three full years of operation, on the Transport Scotland website in July 2018. The percentage of accidents involving HGVs on the sections of the A9 which were subject to the pilot fell and the wider performance of the A9 improved substantially when compared to the baseline period. While there are no current plans to increase the HGV speed limit on the A75 this will be re-examined once evidence becomes available. As such, the forthcoming Department For Transport 3-year evaluation of HGV speed increase in England and Wales will be critical to understanding the impact of the HGV speed limit change on driver behaviour, vehicle speeds, the economy, the environment and road safety.

Question reference: S5W-26561

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether all documentation received during an S36 planning application consultation is made public on its Energy Consents Unit website.

Question reference: S5W-26562

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that, during a consultation process, the website of its Energy Consents Unit provides (a) transparent information regarding timescales and (b) updates.

Question reference: S5W-26560

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that the website of its Energy Consents Unit records all information in a timeous manner, which is fit for purpose, transparent and audited, and how it monitors the effectiveness of this.

Statutory requirements for public notification of applications, consultation, the publication of additional information and the making of representations to which the member refers are given by the Electricity (Applications For Consent) Regulations 1990 ("the 1990 Regulations"), and the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 ("the 2017 Regulations"). Under these regulations, the legal responsibility for the publication of applications and informing the public of the procedures for making representations rests with the developer, not the Scottish Government. The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 require that an application website is maintained by the developer.

While not required by the regulations referred to above, the Scottish Government Energy Consents website has been established to provide increased transparency and facilitate public participation which goes beyond the requirements of the regulations. While there is no legal requirement for an auditor, we welcome all feedback on the effectiveness of the website from any source.

During a consultation process relating to an application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, we endeavour to publish substantive information received from the applicant or consultees in a timeframe which allows members of the public an opportunity to make representations prior to the decision. Confidential information in relation to the breeding locations of protected species is not published where it could place individuals or the wider population at risk. Personal information is redacted where necessary in order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations.

Statutory timescales for responses from consultees are set out in the 1990 Regulations and the 2017 Regulations. The Scottish Government may publish updates on the Energy Consents website during a consultation where it is appropriate to do so and depending on the circumstances of each case. The Scottish Government replies to all queries from members of the public requesting updates on applications. We aim to respond by the deadlines required by the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Question reference: S5W-26567

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a new medical school at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Question reference: S5W-26291

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 27 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government where the £2 million allocated for improvements in breastfeeding levels in the financial year 2018-19 has been spent, and on what.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S5W-19158 on 6 November 2018.

Health Boards and third sector partners received funding of around £1.4m in 2018-19 for breastfeeding projects and clinical quality improvement initiatives, aimed at improving the breastfeeding experience for women across Scotland.

The projects within maternity, neonatal and community settings include improving support for breastfeeding mothers through peer support programmes, staff training, improved access to equipment and a national campaign to positively influence attitudes to breastfeeding.

An additional investment, of around £500k, was provided for initiatives, such as development of eLearning, targeted digital parent information, Unicef UK BFI accreditation and the expansion of Scotland’s Donor Milk Bank.

The majority of these investments have been carried forward into 2019-20, since the projects were designed to extend over two to three years.