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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-09519

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the Healthcare Improvement Scotland review of neonatal services at Crosshouse Hospital, and by what date the report will be (a) completed and (b) published.

The initial timescale for Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) independent review of Ayrshire Maternity Unit at University Hospital Crosshouse was from December 2016 until late Spring 2017 and the terms of reference of the review can be found at: http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/governance_and_assurance/programme_resources/ayrshire_maternity_unit_review.aspx

However in early 2017, the review was extended to include any members of the public who wished to share their experiences of Ayrshire Maternity Unit.

The review team undertook feedback sessions with families on 12 June 2017 and the final report is due to be completed and published on 27 June 2017.

Question reference: S5W-09547

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the parameters are of its investigation into the nutritional value of school meals, and when the results will be published.

All food and drink provided in schools must meet the strict nutritional standards set out in 'The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008'. Since our internationally-admired school meal regulations were introduced in 2008-2009, the scientific evidence and dietary advice has changed.

I have established a short-life expert working group to examine the scientific and technical detail of the latest evidence and advice regarding nutritional standards, and make recommendations about how school food provision can be further improved. This includes considering how children, especially primary pupils, can have as many of their ‘five a day’ as possible from food and drink served in school.

I expect the technical review group to report its findings with recommendations to me by the end of the year.

Question reference: S5W-09545

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on IT projects in each year since 2007, broken down by the percentage of spend that went to Scottish companies.

Question reference: S5W-09548

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the details are of its food procurement policy for the central Excel contract, and what steps it takes to ensure that produce is imported from countries that have legislation governing food production similar to that in Scotland.

The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act) requires public sector procurement to take account of economic, social and environmental considerations. The Act also requires that public bodies include, in published procurement strategies, statements on how procurements relating to food take account of health and wellbeing and animal welfare.

Individual public bodies are responsible for their own procurement activity. Public sector food contracts will generally require compliance with all relevant UK legislation; assurance standards; evidence of food safety and traceability, and that food meets the nutritional requirements of local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-09524

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much tax revenue it expects will be generated by the large business rates supplement in 2017-18, and how many commercial premises will be affected in the (a) East Ayrshire, (b) South Ayrshire and (c) South Lanarkshire local authority area.

It is estimated that the 2017-18 non-domestic rates income in respect of the large business supplement and the associated number of premises are, respectively by local authority area, £1.1 million and 277 premises for East Ayrshire, £1.8 million and 386 premises for South Ayrshire, and £15.1 million and 1,046 premises for South Lanarkshire. South Lanarkshire Council collects non-domestic rates at a national level in respect of certain electricity utilities under the statutory ‘designated assessor’ arrangements, which accounts for the majority of this £15.1 million estimate.

Question reference: S5W-09216

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 24 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of women attending an antenatal appointment in each of the last three years who had a recorded smoking status were smokers.

Question reference: S5W-09215

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 24 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of women attending an antenatal appointment in each of the last three years who had a recorded BMI were obese.

Question reference: S5O-01017

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 24 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when businesses will be able to access the Scottish Growth Scheme that it announced in September 2016.

Question reference: S5W-08923

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for making all outstanding payments to farmers; what action it is taking to address the reported concerns in the sector regarding problems in IT functionality impacting on the processing of these, and how it will ensure that a robust system will be put in place for future payments.

Question reference: S5O-00925

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that all pupils can participate in extra-curricular activities irrespective of background or personal circumstances.