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.

Question reference: S4O-00947

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in light of the UK Government's decision not to renew the contract for the Emergency Towing Vessel service in the Pentland Firth and other northern waters.

Question reference: S4O-00932

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on a loss of music and art tuition as a result of specialist teachers losing their posts due to local authority budget reductions.

Question reference: S4W-05594

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it can take to address the difficulties being faced by the Scottish whitefish fleet after being excluded from Faroese fishing grounds.

The recent talks in Reykjavik did not result in an EU/Faroes agreement for 2012, as a consequence of which there will be no access to Faroes waters by Scottish vessels again this year. That is regrettable in view of the interest of Scottish vessels in fishing these waters. I anticipate now that the European Commission will return quotas to member states which would otherwise have been transferred to the Faroes Home Government in return for access. In that event, I will reflect on how best to allocate those quotas to Scottish vessels, taking into account the interests of the Scottish fleets and associated onshore economic interests.

Question reference: S4O-00503

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2011
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve employment opportunities in small and micro businesses in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S4O-00422

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the development of allotments.

Question reference: S4O-00398

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the role of common grazings with regard to the future of crofting.

Question reference: S4O-00312

Asked by: Jean Urquhart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance and value of the organisation, Room 13, which is based at Caol Primary School in Lochaber.

Chamber and committees