Chamber and committees

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: S4O-05646

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Funding Council's announcement that the reduction to the higher education budget will prevent expansion of the widening access scheme.

Question reference: S4O-05604

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a satisfactory level of support for older people in north Angus with dementia.

Question reference: S4O-05572

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in assisting farm businesses that have been affected by the recent winter flooding.

Having recently visited flooded farms, I’ve seen first-hand the devastation that flooding can cause.

The Scottish Government has made £16 million of funding available to help flood hit communities across Scotland.

This includes grants of £1,500 to households and businesses that have been flooded and £3,000 to businesses that can demonstrate that their ability to trade has been severely affected. Farmers affected by flooding are able to apply for these grants.

Specifically for farm businesses, grant support of up to £20,000 is available through the £1 million Agricultural Floodbank Repair Grant Scheme.

This grant scheme opened for applications on 1 February 2016 and applications can be submitted until 29 February 2016. To date, 117 applications have been received.

I would encourage all farmers with man-made floodbanks that have been damaged by the recent flooding to apply for the scheme.

Question reference: S4T-01262

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the recent flooding.

Question reference: S4O-05201

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in flood defences for areas deemed to be at risk.

Question reference: S4O-04870

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of reported evidence of injury to working dogs, it will revoke the ban on tail docking in breeds that have traditionally been docked for their own protection and safety.

Question reference: S4T-01161

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has determined the number of homes that are immediately available to house refugees in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-27409

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on regulating (a) professional dog walking, (b) dog minding and (c) other associated services to ensure that those providing these services are suitable.

Professional dog walking, dog minding and other associated services are not currently governed explicitly by animal welfare legislation, although we are aware of some local authorities that have introduced bylaws in their area to regulate some of these activities. The welfare of dogs subject to these services is, however, protected by the general requirements of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

The possible need for further regulation of such businesses to protect animal welfare will be considered as part of an ongoing review of pet welfare.

Question reference: S4W-27424

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 22 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage the (a) construction and (b) development of private rental properties in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) Glasgow and (iii) Aberdeen.

Following on from its support for the industry-led Building the Rented Sector Study in 2013, the Scottish Government is funding the new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Champion, appointed by Homes for Scotland. The Champion works with the house building industry and investors in order to boost the supply of homes for private rent across Scotland. With industry partners the PRS Working Party and PRS Champion are currently considering opportunities for private rental investment in Scotland and what actions could encourage the development of properties.

Question reference: S4W-27425

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 18 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of the Landlord Registration Scheme.

Private landlords make a significant contribution to meeting housing need in Scotland. Private landlord registration is a key tool to raise standards of accommodation and management in the private rented sector. Since its introduction, there have been over 259,509 applications for registration (of which 252,463 have been approved) from private landlords which contain details of over 350,000 let properties. This information provides local authorities with data to inform their local housing strategies.

The Landlord registration system has provided local authorities with the regulatory tools to improve standards in the private rented sector; it provides assurance to tenants and enhances the position of good landlords.