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-01284

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that no changes are made to the SCQF qualifying criteria for applications by colleges in the Highlands and Islands for European funding under the Developing Scotland's Workforce programme.

The programme guidance and qualifying criteria for applications to secure funding as part of the European Social Fund Operational Programme 2014 to 2020 were published on the Scottish Government website on 8 January 2015

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/support/17404/EuropeanStructuralFunds/ProgrammeDocumentation/europeanstructuralfundsoperationalprogrammes2014-2

No changes have been made to the criteria since they were published and there are no plans to revisit the criteria at this time.

Question reference: S5W-01283

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take urgent steps to secure the continuation of SCQF Level 5 and 6 courses funded under the Developing Scotland's Workforce programme.

Question reference: S5W-00955

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that the Crofting Commission operates in a transparent and accountable manner.

A framework document, April 2016 to March 2018, has been established and agreed with the Crofting Commission. This defines key roles, responsibilities and accountabilities which underpin the relationship between the Crofting Commission and the Scottish Government. Amongst other things the framework document highlights the need to demonstrate high standards of corporate governance, including openness and transparency in its decision making. The framework document can be found at: http://www.crofting.scotland.gov.uk/userfiles/file/Act_and_Policy/Framework-Document-April-2016-March-2018.pdf

Question reference: S5W-00953

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been advised by the Crofting Commission of the recent resignation of one of its commissioners and, if so, what reasons was given for the resignation.

Question reference: S5W-00954

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, what its position of the comments by the Minister of State for Scotland, Lord Kirkhill, in the House of Lords on 6 April 1976 regarding the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill that "there would seem to be nothing [in the bill] to prevent a voluntary arrangement being made whereby any crofter’s share would be diverted to the grazings committee" and that "[the bill would] not prevent a landlord...agreeing with shareholders in a common grazing that the money should be paid to the common grazing fund" and whether it has advised the Crofting Commission of the decisions of the (a) Scottish and (b) UK Parliament on such matters.

The Scottish Government is aware of these comments, which were made supplementary to a debate on an amendment. That amendment was not supported on the grounds that it would take what was a matter for the will of individual crofters out of their hands. The amendment was not voted on and was withdrawn.

The Scottish Government also notes that in the debate the Minister of State for Scotland, Lord Kirkhill, was of the view, separately from the statutory provisions on apportionment of shares in a common grazing forming part of land that is resumed, that individual crofters might agree voluntary arrangements regarding their share being mandated to the grazing committee and that this would be a matter for the individual crofters and subject to being acceptable to all parties concerned.

Question reference: S5W-00976

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps is taking to address the reported public concerns regarding the governance of the Crofting Commission.

Question reference: S5W-00975

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by the Chief of Executive of the Scottish Crofting Federation on 25 May 2016 that the Crofting Commission was not delivering "the express will of the Parliament".

Question reference: S5W-01311

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 July 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will start tendering for the next town centre Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Services contract, which is due to begin in June 2017.

The contract notice for the town centre Gourock to Dunoon Ferry Services was submitted to Public Contracts Scotland today for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This is the first formal step in taking forward a competition for the next Gourock to Dunoon Ferry Services contract. The Contract Notice invites potential operators to provide evidence of their suitability to tender for the public service contract to operate these services for a period of up to twelve years, effective from 30 June 2017.

Question reference: S5W-00789

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when the decision of the reporter for the proposed windfarms at Glenbarr in Kintyre will be published.

The final decision on the proposed windfarms at Glenbarr in Kintyre (Section 36 Creggan Wind Farm application and the Blary Hill Wind Farm planning appeal) will be made by Scottish Ministers, who will consider the reporters’ reports of findings and recommendations. The reporters aim to complete their reports for submission to Scottish Ministers during July. The reporters’ reports will be published alongside the Scottish Ministers determinations on these windfarms.

Question reference: S5W-00794

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what procedure will apply for a member of the public to object to the inclusion of a body or company on the proposed register of letting agents.

Part 4 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 does not set out a procedure for public objections to the inclusion of a body or company in the register of letting agents. However, it does require Scottish Ministers to have regard to all the circumstances of the case when deciding if an applicant is a fit and proper person to be admitted to the register. We are therefore working with a variety of stakeholders to see what administrative procedures can be put in place to deal with matters raised by members of the public.