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: S5W-02394

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government in response to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) UK Peatland Programme’s recent call for the UK to restore one million hectares of peatlands by 2020.

The Scottish Government liaises with all UK administrations on matters of common interest such as sharing knowledge and best practice around peatland protection and restoration. Through the National Peatland Plan Scotland has established a programme of action to protect, manage and restore our peatlands and through the Scottish Natural Heritage led Peatland Action the Scottish Government has been able to support of peatland restoration projects delivering around 10,000 hectares since 2012-13 as well as support to projects that enhance our capacity to undertake restoration, such as training and best practice guidance.

Question reference: S5W-02392

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent call by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for global action to be taken to halt the loss of and restore damaged peatlands, what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland’s peatlands are (a) protected and (b) restored.

The Scottish Government, along with Scottish Natural Heritage, published Scotland's National Peatland Plan in August 2015. The Peatland Plan establishes a framework in which the Scottish Government, along with SNH, are leading the way forward in the management, protection, and restoration of Scotland’s peatlands, and as a consequence, protects its biodiversity and ecosystems. The Peatland Plan established a National Peatland Group which involves partners such as the IUCN Peatland Inquiry to support its delivery and along with a Monitoring and Research Group ensuring an evidence base and helping future actions.

In addition to the protection afforded by the suite of Natural sites and SSSIs, specific actions in the Plan include Scottish Planning policy which provides protection for peatlands as well as the work funded by the Scottish Government, through its Strategic Research Programme and Centres of Expertise, to deliver multi-disciplinary research to improve our knowledge of peatlands. This knowledge is then used to develop new tools and approaches to support sustainable management and help achieve restoration targets. Funding to support peatland restoration and management is available through the Scottish Rural Development programme and SNH has supported more than 100 projects through its Peatland Action initiative.

Question reference: S5W-02395

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government to meet the UK target to phase out the use of peat in the horticultural sector by 2030, and what steps it is taking to address any historic consents regarding permission to extract peat beyond that year.

Scottish Government officials contributed to the work that led to the Sustainable Growing Media Task Force's 2012 report, ‘Towards Sustainable Growing Media’. In 2014 the level of peat sold for horticultural use was 24% lower than the 2011 baseline. At its August meeting Scotland’s National Peatland Group discussed the scope for further work to support phasing out the use of peat in horticulture and the group is considering what further actions it could support to address a global issue. Scottish planning policy confirms that planning authorities should use their development plans to protect areas of peatland and only allow commercial extraction in very limited circumstances; consents from historic consents are a matter for individual planning authorities.

Question reference: S5W-02362

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Scottish salmon farming industry is compliant with new regulations adopted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prohibiting imports from fisheries where marine animals are intentionally harmed.

Question reference: S5W-02309

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00029 by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 May 2016, when it will make a decision on the status of the European beaver.

Question reference: S5W-02310

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to devise a framework to support the management of European beavers in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-02307

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since February 2016 with the Scottish SPCA regarding extending its powers to tackle wildlife crime.

Question reference: S5W-02306

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00030 by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 May 2016, on what date it will announce its decision regarding extending the powers of the Scottish SPCA to tackle wildlife crime.

Question reference: S5W-02631

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in order to preserve access to the US market for fish and fish products, whether it will introduce legislation that prohibits the intentional killing of marine mammals in all of Scotland's fisheries.

Question reference: S5O-00152

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to detect, prevent and prosecute dog fighting offences.