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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-15639

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides regarding community consultation on new wind farm applications.

The consultation requirements for planning applications vary depending on the scale of the application. Smaller scale, known as local, applications are subject to a 21 day period of neighbour notification. Larger scale, known as major, applications are subject to enhanced engagement procedures including pre-application discussions in advance of neighbour notification. Scottish Government Policy on the requirements can be found in Circular 3 2013 – Development Management Procedures: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/planning-series-circular-3-2013-development-management-procedures/

Where the wind farm is consented through the Scottish planning system, we have published guidance: ‘Public engagement for sub-20MW wind turbine proposals – good practice guidance’: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/public-engagement-sub-20mw-wind-turbine-proposals-good-practice-guidance/ . This describes the statutory requirements for applications for planning permission for different scales of proposals involving wind turbines, including pre-application consultation requirements for those above 20MW.

Question reference: S5W-16203

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statements by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in the Chamber on 27 June 2017 regarding mandatory cardiotocography (CTG) training that "The chief medical officer will ensure through medical directors that that happens" and that "It will be mandatory for midwives to attend a minimum of two sessions per annum, and the CMO will have oversight of that" (Official Report, c. 34), whether the mandatory CTG training has been fully implemented across all NHS boards.

Following the statement to Parliament, Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to review the currently suite of available training, and make recommendations on the approach to Core Mandatory Training, the methods of training and the frequency. This work concluded earlier this year and since then we have been working with midwives and obstetricians in Scotland to assess the additional time required to implement this training for the existing maternity workforce. We expect to finalise this work shortly and roll out the programme of core mandatory training, which will include CTG training before the summer. In the meantime, the CTG package remains a core part of MCQIC, the maternity, neonatal and paediatric strand of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme and Boards continue to implement improvements in this aspect of patient safety through the MCQIC programme. I will be happy to provide Mr Whittle with an update when the full package of Core Mandatory Training is rolled out.

Question reference: S5W-15865

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 8 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing the use of sports and culture services as part of its preventative health strategy, and what analysis it has carried out of how this could impact on demand for acute care services.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of being active and that is why the sport scotland budget was not only protected, but we decided to further demonstrate our commitment by underwriting the loss of their National Lottery income by £3.4m.

Scotland's public health priorities will be published in spring 2018. The Public Health Reform programme’s aspirations will be the focus of our collaborative effort, nationally and locally, to improve the public's health and reduce health inequalities. Physical activity is emerging as one of the key themes within the priorities that are being identified as a way of reducing the impact on care services.

Question reference: S5W-15766

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15274 by Humza Yousaf on 27 March 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether it has plans to expand the 50mph HGV pilot scheme to (a) the A77, (b) the A75 and (c) other routes and, in light of the Minister's commitment to the Public Petitions Committee on 23 November 2017 (Official Report, c.37) to give the matter consideration, for what reason it has not done so.

Question reference: S5W-16035

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14951 by Humza Yousaf on 13 March 2018 and, in light of the reported continuing deterioration of both carriageways of the M77 North of Fenwick and on the A77 from Symington to Fenwick, what progress has been made on repairs, and when such work will be completed.

Following the severe winter weather earlier this year, our operating company, Scotland TranServ, put in place additional repair squads on all trunk roads in the South West Unit to identify additional Category 1 pot holes and permanently repair them. This included repairs to the M77 between its junction with the M8 and J5, and south of J8 during March.

Connect, the DBFO company which maintains the M77 between junctions 5 and 8, has a resurfacing scheme underway which will resurface at least 28,000m 2 (or approximately 7.5km of lane length) of the M77 between junctions 5 and 8. These works began on 16 April and are being carried out under a series of overnight carriageway closures between 8pm and 6am. It is anticipated the works will take two to three weeks to complete and will help restore the overall condition of the carriageway following the severe deterioration experienced as a result of the severe winter weather.

Question reference: S5O-02052

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the A77/M77 main arterial route between Ayrshire and Glasgow is scheduled for repair.

Question reference: S5F-02274

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to support children from families with a parent who has an alcohol or drug addiction.

Question reference: S5F-02225

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2018

To ask the First Minister, in light of Scotland's success at the Commonwealth Games, what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that there is opportunity for all to participate in sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite sport.

Question reference: S5W-15465

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 3 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions were reached by the short-life working group review of nutrition standards in school meals, and what subsequent action was taken in light of these.

Question reference: S5W-15272

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the (a) A77 south of the Whitletts Roundabout and (b) A75 between Stranraer and Gretna has been closed, including closures in one direction, in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) reason for and (ii) duration of the closure.