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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5F-01288

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 May 2017

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the Scottish Retail Consortium report indicating that the shop vacancy rate rose in the period from January to April 2017.

Question reference: S5O-00869

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what reassurances it can give that, and by what date, all outstanding 2015 pillar two common agricultural policy payments will be completed in full.

Question reference: S5O-00814

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young disabled people are not subject to discrimination.

The Scottish Government is committed to equality for disabled children and young people in Scotland, and to ensuring that all children can achieve their potential. Disabled children and young people are a group facing significant inequality and significantly worse life chances compared to their non-disabled peers. A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, our delivery plan contains a number of actions that will help young disabled people.

The Scottish Government is developing a framework to support disabled children, young people and their families, so they get the right support, at the right time and in the right way from birth to adulthood.

Question reference: S5W-07240

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in the light of recent reports that the number of still births at NHS Forth Valley has risen above the national average during the first half of 2016.

NHS Forth Valley has taken action locally to internally review all of their cases of stillbirth. The Board has also commissioned an independent external review to look into their 2016 stillbirths.

The Scottish Government supports the action that NHS Forth Valley is taking to understand and learn from this unexpected rise in the number of stillbirths locally, and expects them to act on the findings of the reviews. The Board has agreed to share the outcomes of both internal and external reviews, when complete, with the expert Scottish Government Stillbirth Group, to ensure that learning is shared across Scotland to improve outcomes and help drive down stillbirth rates.

Question reference: S5O-00774

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place to assist people who have had a stroke with their recovery and in becoming as independent as possible.

Question reference: S5O-00731

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it takes, especially during inclement weather, to ensure that the Garden Lobby floor is as safe as is possible for staff and visitors.

Question reference: S5O-00666

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of the figures suggesting that 95% of pupils identified as having additional support needs are in mainstream schools.

Question reference: S5O-00548

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported real-terms reduction in revenue allocations for local authorities in the draft budget will have on the provision of services.

Question reference: S5W-05678

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to recent figures released under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which show that 22 bladed weapons have been recovered from prisoners by staff at Perth prison since April 2016.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The figures highlighted under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request reflect the continued vigilance of staff in detecting improvised weapons in HMP Perth.

The safety and well-being of prisoners and staff is and will continue to be a key concern for the Scottish Prison Service. In order to ensure prisons are safe for all, SPS will continue to invest in staff training and technology to aid staff in their duties.

All establishments will continue to undertake robust searching of prisoners and areas which supports the identification and recovery of illicit or unauthorised articles, including weapons. Any individual found in possession of such weapons will be reported to Police Scotland and prison managers will put in place an appropriate management plan for the individuals involved.

Question reference: S5W-05505

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that the UK's decision to leave the EU will not result in the erosion or weakening of existing legal protection of bats in Scotland.

All bat species in Scotland are given protection under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 as a European Protected Species.

The Scottish Government remains determined to protect and conserve bats in Scotland. Our membership of the European Union has driven up environmental standards and the Scottish Government is not prepared to see these benefits lost as a result of the UK Government's decision to leave the EU.