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: S5O-01660

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to promote cold water island tourism in 2018.

This year, the Scottish Government and our partners will continue to promote sustainable growth, right across Scotland, in the marine and coastal tourism sectors as we build towards the 2020 Themed Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters.

We have recently published our first estimates of the value of marine tourism in Scotland and, in 2015, marine recreation and tourism contributed around £485 million in GVA to the Scottish economy and employed 29,500 workers.

We will also work with Scotland’s islands, building on their proud traditions and vibrant cultures to maximise their contribution to the visitor economy, promoting their numerous festivals and events and their uniqueness as places to live, work, study and visit.

Question reference: S5T-00849

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent reported concerns regarding City Region Deals.

Question reference: S5O-01590

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by how much PFI/PPP payments will increase in 2018-19, given such payments and index-linked bonds include charges that increase with inflation.

Question reference: S5F-01787

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2017

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is tackling knife crime.

Question reference: S5O-01539

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering reducing its financial support for the Scottish Sports Association.

Question reference: S5O-01506

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Pupil Equity Fund is having on educational attainment in North Ayrshire.

Schools in North Ayrshire have received almost £4.4m of Pupil Equity Funding in 2017-18 to be spent at the discretion of Headteachers.

Locally, we expect schools and authorities to make the best use of data they have and to incorporate details for evaluating the impact of Pupil Equity Funding into their existing planning and reporting processes.

Nationally, we are currently consulting on the criteria that we will use to measure progress towards closing the gap and will confirm our approach within the 2018 National Improvement Plan, which will be published in December.

Question reference: S5O-01392

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to grow the economy of North Ayrshire.

Question reference: S5O-01299

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the number of Higher exam passes in North Ayrshire in 2017 compared with 2016.

The Scottish Government does not hold the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) 2017 data set. As a national awarding body SQA only publishes data at a national level. Data is, however, provided annually to local authorities relating to the schools in their region, and I would encourage you to contact North Ayrshire Council for the information you require.

Since the start of the Scottish Attainment Challenge in 2015, North Ayrshire has been allocated over £14.8m in funding. £4.8m of this year's funding is being provided through the Challenge Authority programme to implement an authority wide improvement plan. Schools in North Ayrshire have also received a further £4.3m of Pupil Equity Funding this year to be spent at the discretion of Headteachers.

Question reference: S5W-11059

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment by the Minister for Public Health and Sport on 28 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 80), that, subject to the business case being approved in April, implementation of the accredited endometriosis unit in the west of Scotland would follow "without further delay", whether it will provide an update on the progress that has been made.

I met with representatives from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss progress and next steps. The board have confirmed that they will recruit initially a locum obstetrics & gynaecology consultant with a special interest in advanced laparoscopic surgery and endometriosis treatment prior to the appointment of a substantive post as an important first step in the process for developing pathways for the endometriosis specialist service.

Question reference: S5W-11038

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on people being given homeopathic treatments who may suffer harm by not being given non-homeopathic medicine that has a proven efficacy.

The prescribing of any medicines/treatments, including Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) such as homeopathy, is a clinical decision taken in consultation with patients based on clinicians’ competencies and awareness of the medicines/treatments concerned. This includes evidence based advice and guidance.

The Scottish Government expects any treatment to be appropriate, person-centred, safe and effective and that clinical and care professionals review the effectiveness of any treatment with their patients.