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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-12699

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list all (a) formal and (b) informal meetings that (i) ministers and (ii) officials have had regarding the (A) Borderlands and (B) Ayrshire Growth Deal; when these took place; who attended; where the location was; at which meetings a minute or note of the proceedings was taken, and whether it will publish these minutes or notes.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to finding ways to support regional economies to thrive in Scotland. Ministers and Scottish Government officials have engaged regularly with a range of stakeholders as the proposals for both the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and Ayrshire Growth Deal have developed. We are committed to working with regional partners over the coming months as they shape and refine proposals for Inclusive Growth Deals for Ayrshire and for the Borderlands.

Question reference: S5W-12701

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11823 by Humza Yousaf on 26 October 2017, when the review of objections commenced; what additional information has been commissioned, and when it expects that information to be made available to ministers.

The objection period ended on 18 January 2016 and reviews of the objections commenced thereafter. Transport Scotland is clear on the opinions voiced by objectors and is collecting further technical evidence to inform any decision regarding the speed limit. It is expected that this information will be available later this year, at which point it will be evaluated. At present it is too early to say exactly when a recommendation will be made as to whether this limit may change. Road safety will, however, remain of paramount importance in any decision that is made regarding the speed limit at this location.

Question reference: S5O-01524

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that sport is funded to enable access for all.

Question reference: S5W-12625

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adoption of medicines and treatments for ultra rare diseases, given that Scottish Medicines Consortium requirements for trial numbers and outcomes may be difficult to meet in these cases.

Question reference: S5O-01484

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the economic importance of the port of Cairnryan to the south west and nationally.

Question reference: S5W-12258

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the findings in the Bliss Scotland Baby Report 2017 that six-out-of-eight neonatal units did not have enough nurses in post, two-thirds did not have enough medical staff and 10-out-of 11 found it "challenging" to ensure that their nurses received sufficient training, what action it has taken and progress has been made with the (a) staffing and (b) resourcing of the units.

The Scottish Government welcomed the publication of the report by Bliss Scotland in January this year. Bliss played a vital part in our national maternity and neonatal review and are represented on the ‘Best Start’ Implementation Programme Board.

The Programme Board will be examining neonatal workforce and education as part of their programme of work to take forward the package of recommendations. This modelling work will align with a national and regional workforce planning system across the NHS in Scotland which we have committed to introducing.

Health Boards must, of course, ensure that their neonatal units are appropriately and safely staffed. We have committed to enshrine safe staffing in law, placing the existing nursing and midwifery workload and workforce planning tools on a statutory footing.

Question reference: S5O-01453

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what value cycle tourism has to the economy.

Question reference: S5W-11823

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03761 by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2016, regarding the 50mph speed limit between Bogend Toll and the Dutch House Roundabout on the A77, what stage the Ministerial review of objections has reached, and when a final decision regarding the revocation of the 50mph speed limit is expected.

In accordance with the Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1987 it is now for Ministers to undertake a review of the objections received in respect of this draft Order. This review of objections is underway and further information has been commissioned to assist in this process. Once this is received and reviewed Ministers will make their recommendation.

This review will take time so that all views can be properly considered. In the meantime the 50 mph speed limit will remain in place and we will continue to monitor safety on the A77.

Question reference: S5W-11818

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to support Action for ME's work in developing treatment pathways across the country, and what its response is to reports that funding for this work is to end.

Question reference: S5W-11817

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with ME have access to adequate services, treatment and advice.