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-15635

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent sheep worrying by dogs.

The Scottish Government fully supports all steps taken to protect sheep from out of control dogs. The consequences of sheep worrying can be devastating all year round and in particular in lambing season.

The 'sheep-wise' video produced by Quality Meat Scotland and the National Sheep Association is an excellent example of a current campaign which highlights the consequences to the public of failing to control their dogs when around other animals such as sheep.

The law on sheep-worrying is found in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. This legislation provides that if a dog worries livestock on any agricultural land, the owner of the dog, and, if it is in the charge of a person other than its owner, that person also, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. The definition of worrying livestock is if a dog attacks livestock, or chases livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce, or is at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.

Police Scotland is committed to applying the law robustly if dog owners don't keep their dogs under control, including investigating all incidents of livestock worrying and reporting cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal with a view to securing appropriate convictions. In addition, local authorities have powers to impose civil dog control notices if dogs are out of control and this includes on agricultural land.

The Scottish Government fully supports effective enforcement of the law in this area by justice agencies and local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-15371

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 16 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the (a) SFA, (b) Scottish Professional Football League, (c) PFA Scotland and (d) Scottish Junior Football Association regarding the mental health and wellbeing support available that is offered to footballers, and what its position is on the effectiveness of this support.

I am aware of the mental health challenges footballers can face, and the Scottish Government engages with the Scottish FA, SPFL, PFA Scotland and the Scottish Junior Football Association on this and a wide variety of issues.

A range of support is available through the organisations the member highlights, as well as others like Support in Sport and the Sports Chaplaincy Network. I know all these organisations take this issue – and the duty of care they have for players – extremely seriously.

Free mental health first aid training has been made available through the SPFL Trust to all SPFL clubs and this offers support to anyone in football, including players.

Other organisations in football are helping to raise awareness of the issue within football and the wider population, including the Chris Mitchell Foundation, the Kris Boyd Charity and the pilot Changing Room project being undertaken in partnership between Hibernian FC, the Scottish Association for Mental Health and the SPFL Trust.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with stakeholders in football to strengthen our joint work on mental health.

Question reference: S5W-15389

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 12 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making with its plans to improve licensing for cat breeding, dealing and selling.

Question reference: S5W-15391

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 12 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the welfare challenges associated with (a) cats bred with (i) dwarfism, such as the Munchkin cat and (ii) cartilage deformities, such as the Scottish Fold cat and (b) brachycephalic cats, such as extreme breeds of Persian cats.

Question reference: S5W-15392

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 12 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will report on the findings of its consultation regarding the registration and licensing of animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities.

The Scottish Government published the responses received to the consultation on the registration and licensing of animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities on 29 March 2018. These are publicly available at https://consult.gov.scot/animal-welfare/animal-sanctuaries-and-rehoming-activities/

The responses to the consultation are currently undergoing analysis and the completed analysis will be published in due course. In line with the Scottish Government's commitment in the Programme for Government 2017-18 legislation will be prepared for the consideration and approval of the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5O-01934

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to local authorities responsible for the maintenance of strategic park and ride facilities.

Question reference: S5O-01941

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a levy on vacant and derelict land.

Question reference: S5W-15240

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the rail enhancements and capital investment strategy.

Question reference: S5W-14465

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00925 by Fergus Ewing on 6 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), what consultation it has had with (a) animal welfare groups, (b) farmers' representatives and (c) other stakeholders regarding the impact on Scotland of a UK-wide ban on the export of live animals for slaughter.

Question reference: S5W-14467

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00925 by Fergus Ewing on 6 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), how many (a) sheep and lambs and (b) cattle and calves were exported for slaughter or fattening in (i) 2016 and (ii) 2017 to (A) the rest of the UK and (B) other countries, and how much these exports were worth.

The Scottish Government has identified the following data for movements of cattle and sheep. The data are from the Trade Control and Export System compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Information on movements within the UK are only available for movements to Northern Ireland.

Exports	Sheep and Lambs 2016	Sheep and Lambs 2017	Cattle and Calves 2016	Cattle and Calves 2017
To Northern Ireland for production	not available	0	not available	170
To Northern Ireland for Slaughter	not available	2,282	not available	5,397
To countries outside of UK for production	not available	997	not available	5,535
To countries outside of UK for Slaughter	not available	2,456 (to Republic of Ireland only)	not available	671(to Republic of Ireland only)

The Trade Control and Export System contains information that 2,708 weaned sheep, 47 weaned cattle and 3,250 un-weaned cattle were exported to countries outside of the UK in 2016. Information on whether this was for breeding, fattening or slaughter is not available.

Data on the value of these exports is not available.