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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: S5O-02258

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to tackle the reported high levels of COPD in the Stranraer area, and whether this will include the installation of new air monitoring equipment.

Question reference: S5O-02209

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for the funding of further education courses in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S5W-16869

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many funding applications have been received by the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, and how many of these (a) have been successful and (b) are waiting to be processed.

In the 2018-2019 Budget, the Scottish Government identified £10million to drive forward inclusive growth and support communities across the South of Scotland. The budget will support the work of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, enabling additional activity to take place supporting businesses and communities. A range of individuals, groups and organisations have made initial approaches to the Partnership to explore the potential for funding and whether to progress their ideas and submit applications for support. There have been nine formal applications for funding, with two approved and seven under consideration.

Question reference: S5W-16870

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what process is in place for funding applications to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership.

Those with potential projects seeking funding should submit their ideas to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership ( sosep@scotborders.gov.uk ).

The Partnership will consider initial enquiries and the potential for those projects to progress to a formal funding application. Projects progressing to a formal funding application will require a business case setting out information about the project and its contribution to inclusive growth. The business case will be assessed by the Partnership against a set of agreed and consistent criteria including demonstrating: a clear link to the Partnership's priorities; additionality, activity that could not otherwise have happened; ambition, making a significant difference; partnership; and leverage of other funding sources.

The Partnership will then submit a recommendation to the Government to decide on whether or not to approve the funding application. The process will be set out on the Partnership's website.

Question reference: S5W-16853

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many on-board compliance inspections Marine Scotland has conducted each month as part of the scientific trial of electrofishing for razor clams, also broken down by how many boats have failed the inspection, and how often after their initial inspection can boat owners expect their craft to be further inspected.

The scientific trial commenced on 1 February 2018. Vessels selected to participate are required to undergo an inspection by Marine Scotland to ensure that each vessel and its operation fully meets the criteria for the trial. There have been 17 such inspections (5 in February, 7 in March, 4 in April and 1 in May) and each of these vessels have now received a derogation allowing them to commence fishing. Vessels are not failed on initial inspection and operators are given the opportunity to address any identified shortcomings prior to any derogation being issued, the time taken to address operational issues varies from case to case.

Marine Scotland Compliance deploy resources based on regular risk assessment. Since the start of the trial there have been 6 boardings of razor vessels at sea and 13 inspections following landings undertaken by Marine Scotland Compliance. These numbers do not indicate a heightened risk. However inspections would be increased if intelligence received warranted it or if infringements were detected.

Question reference: S5W-16095

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15636 by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 April 2018, by what date it expects the legislation to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to be (a) introduced and (b) in place.

The Scottish Government has committed, in its Programme for Government 2017-18, to prepare to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to increase the maximum penalty for the most serious offences to 5 years imprisonment.

The Scottish Government will introduce the legislation when the most suitable legislative vehicle to deliver this commitment is identified and it will come into force on approval by the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5W-15640

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has prohibited fishing for razor clams by hydraulic dredge as part of the razor clam electrofishing trial and, if so, for what reason.

The Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017 prohibits all fishing for and landing of razor clams within the Scottish zone, except in relation to any operations that are conducted for the purpose of scientific investigation authorised by the Scottish Ministers and in relation to fishing for razor clams by hand in tidal waters, up to a maximum of 30 clams per person per day. The Order applies to all forms of fishing, including by hydraulic dredge. The Order is made under powers in the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967, and not under EU law.

Further to the Order, a controlled trial of electro-fishing for razor clams commenced on 1 February 2018. The scientific trial is being conducted in terms of Article 43 of EC Regulation 850/98. The purpose of this trial is to undertake a commercial level test of this fishing method, to confirm that it can be undertaken safely and sustainably, and to gather information about impacts upon the benthic environment It is considered necessary to prohibit all commercial fishing outside the trial in light of a risk, which is considered to be a high risk, that any such fishing would be undertaken with the use of electricity. Fishing with electricity, while illegal under EU law, has in the recent past been the predominant method used in the commercial fishing for razor clams.

It is not planned as part of the trial to undertake a comparison, through an economic and environmental assessment, of hydraulic dredging and electrofishing methods, and an economic and environmental assessment of hydraulic dredging for razor clams was not conducted prior to setting the terms of the razor clam electrofishing trial. Scientific research has already shown that the electro-fishing method is highly selective, produces high quality produce with zero bycatch and is less intrusive than dredging.

Since August 2014 Scottish vessels have been required to apply for a specific additional permit to fish for razor clams, including by hydraulic dredge. Marine Scotland is not aware of any fishing vessel fishing for razor clams by using hydraulic dredges in Scottish inshore waters in the twelve month period prior to the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017 coming into force.

There has been extensive consultation about razor clam fishing in Scotland. Following the Scottish Government’s response to a 2016 public consultation about the regulated use of electricity in the fishery, consultation meetings were held with fishermen, businesses, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties to discuss the development of the electro-fishery trial.

Question reference: S5W-15643

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it conducted an economic and environmental assessment of hydraulic dredging for razor clams prior to setting the terms of the razor clam electrofishing trial.

Question reference: S5W-15644

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether a comparison, through an economic and environmental assessment, of hydraulic dredging and electrofishing methods will be conducted during the razor clam electrofishing trial.

Question reference: S5W-15641

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it used EU law to end hydraulic dredging for razor clams through the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017.