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-03820

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a specific warning system for coastal flooding at Stonehaven and the coast north and south of Stonehaven.

All flood warning schemes planned as part of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) Flood Warning Strategy 2012-2016, have been prioritised and targeted where the benefits of investment are greatest. While the current strategy does not include a specific flood warning scheme for the Stonehaven coastline, it did provide for a flood warning scheme for the River Carron.

A new improved coastal flood warning scheme for Stonehaven and Southern Aberdeenshire will be considered by SEPA in 2015 as part of an overarching strategy to continue to expand its flood warning service. Any new scheme will be assessed on a risk-based approach, taking into consideration both technical and financial aspects.

In the meantime, I would strongly recommend that all concerned residents register with Floodline to receive free notification of regional flood alerts.

Question reference: S4O-03828

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact on Scotland is of the recent fall in crude oil prices.

Question reference: S4O-03731

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the regional allocation of funding by Creative Scotland to support cultural events.

Question reference: S4T-00839

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its state of readiness is for dealing with bird flu, in light of the recent outbreak in Yorkshire, and what priority it now gives this disease.

Question reference: S4O-03707

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Medicines Consortium decision not to make the drugs Kadcyla and Perjeta available for breast cancer patients, in light of these being available in England under the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Question reference: S4F-02352

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2014

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on the economy of the recent fall in crude oil prices.

Question reference: S4O-03568

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has made to deal with any ebola outbreak.

Question reference: S4O-03503

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the British Veterinary Association.

Question reference: S4O-03476

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth will take to ensure that sufficient funding is directed to the Help to Buy scheme so that it can meet demand.

Help to Buy (Scotland) is intended to help people to buy new homes, to support industry by stimulating demand and to support sustainable economic growth. Given public enthusiasm for the scheme, it has clearly stimulated demand as intended.

Scottish Ministers have announced £275 million to support applications to Help to Buy (Scotland) up to March 2016, including an additional £50 million this year in recognition of exceptional demand. £100 million is available in 2015-16 to support purchases under the scheme.

Question reference: S4O-03383

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the number of missed bin collections over the last two years is evidence of the failure of its concordat with local government.