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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-07639

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the public liability requirements are for windfarm companies.

Wind farm operators are bound by the Health and Safety Executive Scotland's legislation, as the agency with executive powers in this area of policy, which is an area of policy currently reserved to Westminster although there is a condition for all developments above 50MW to notify Scottish Ministers in times of serious incidents, including notifications of remedial measures taken and or to be taken to rectify the break, within 24 hours of the incident occurring.

Question reference: S5O-00778

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in filling vacant GP posts in Dumfries and Galloway and other rural areas.

On Friday, I was invited to address the British Medical Association’s Scottish Local Medical Committee Conference in Clydebank. I was delighted to be able to announce that, next year, an additional £71.6 million will be invested in direct support of general practice, helping transform the way services are delivered in the community.

As part of this, I have increased the size of the GP recruitment and retention fund five-fold, to £5 million. This will help to fund GP bursaries and expand a scheme to encourage retired GPs to return to practice.

GP recruitment and retention in rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway has some particular challenges. This funding will also continue to support the work of the Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative. This project, run jointly by NHS Dumfries and Galloway and nine other health boards, is bringing together recruitment strategies and support networks for GPs working in remote and rural areas.

Question reference: S5W-07524

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many officials in its Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate are working full-time or full-time equivalent on preparing for the devolution to Scotland of EU powers over farming.

Question reference: S5W-07521

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have been made for Scotland regarding the UK leaving the common agricultural policy.

Scotland’s Place in Europe sets out our proposals for maintaining Scotland’s relationship with Europe, including the detail of a differentiated approach which would allow Scotland to retain European Single Market membership as part of the UK. The First Minister’s speech at the NFU Scotland AGM on 7 February set out further detail of the Scottish Government position and our commitment to supporting and developing the sector as we await further clarity from the UK Government on the implications of leaving the EU for Scottish agriculture. We will continue to work closely with our farming bodies for the good of the sector in Scotland and to achieve the best possible outcome for Scottish farming and farmers.

Question reference: S5W-07523

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many Marine Scotland staff are working full-time or full-time equivalent on preparing for the devolution to Scotland of EU powers over fisheries.

Fisheries are fully devolved and therefore once Scotland is no longer part of the Common Fisheries Policy, we expect that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers will continue to exercise full control over fisheries management in Scotland, and of all Scottish vessels. Marine Scotland is making preparation for EU exit, although we do not yet know what approach the UK Government will take during the exit negotiations. However, Scotland will continue to manage fisheries in order to ensure a sustainable and vibrant industry now and into the future. As part of good governance and risk management, all Marine Scotland staff are giving due regard to the need to plan for Brexit including, where appropriate, identifying and delivering actions necessary to prepare for the devolution of EU powers to Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-07522

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time or full-time equivalent staff it has working on preparing Scotland for the UK leaving the EU.

Staff across the Scottish Government Directorates are working in support of Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries on Scotland’s place in Europe. In addition to Private Office staff, there are currently 64 staff working in the Directorate for External Affairs in Scotland, which is the main Directorate supporting the work of the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe. This number does not include the staff in our offices overseas who support the work of all Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S5W-07525

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have been made for Scotland regarding the UK leaving the common fisheries policy.

The Scottish Government does not yet know what approach the UK Government might take to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) during any negotiation on UK exit from the European Union. The Scottish Government has in particular sought an undertaking from the UK Government that it will not enter into an agreement with the EU to continue present arrangements that allow EU vessels access to UK and Scottish waters. The Scottish Government's view is that the rules of the CFP should not apply in Scottish waters if the UK leaves the EU.

Fisheries is a devolved matter under the Scotland Act, and so the Scottish Government has power over the regulation of sea fisheries in the Scottish zone of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Accordingly, the Government is undertaking discussions now with representatives of fishermen in Scotland and other interested parties about the design and conduct of fisheries management in the Scottish zone, and what improvements might be possible should the CFP no longer apply in our waters.

Question reference: S5W-07338

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the need to licence sanctuaries and re-homing organisations as part of its review of the Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) Act 2006.

The possible need for licensing and sanctuaries and rehoming agencies is being considered as part of an ongoing review of pet welfare. The Scottish Government has already held a number of meetings with stakeholders around that ongoing review; and will be looking at the need for regulation of sanctuaries and animal rehoming agencies. If the Scottish Ministers decide they need to be licensed, proposals will be brought forward in due course.

Question reference: S5O-00713

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the time taken to conclude cases in the courts.

Question reference: S5W-06511

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the Scottish Prison Service project, Shaping our Future.