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-00178

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what target time it has set for the police to issue air gun licences and whether Police Scotland is sufficiently resourced to deal with this matter efficiently and effectively.

Decisions about resourcing the firearms licensing system, including the licensing of air weapons, rest with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland. The Scottish Government has not set targets for the operation of the system. We have, however, worked closely with Police Scotland throughout the development of the new licensing regime and they have been clear that air weapon licensing will be deliverable.

Question reference: S5W-00181

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with First Milk regarding the sustainability of the creamery at Campbeltown.

The Scottish Government, working closely with Scottish Enterprise, Argyll and Bute Council and other agencies engage regularly with First Milk and receive updates from the company regarding Campbeltown creamery.

We recognise the importance of the creamery to the Kintyre dairy community and wider economic interests and will continue to maintain a close dialogue with all parties concerned to see a successful future for cheese-making in Kintyre.

Question reference: S5W-00182

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the grants that it provides to First Milk for the (a) continued operation of and (b) replacement of equipment at the creamery in Campbelton are conditional and, if so, what these conditions are.

Question reference: S5W-00058

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further regulate fishing for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.

Question reference: S5W-00056

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what permissions are required to fish for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.

Since 18 August 2014 specific authorisation has been required to fish for, carry or land razor fish in Scotland. This is given in the form of a separate razor fish licence, which is available on application and physical inspection of the vessel.

Electrofishing is prohibited under EU law and could only be licenced in Scotland were the relevant EU regulations repealed or if a specific derogation was applied and granted. Accordingly the Scottish Government has no power at present to licence commercial fishing with electricity.

Question reference: S5W-00118

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to give BT a role in delivering its commitment to provide 100% superfast broadband coverage across the country and, if so, what consideration it has given to the reported criticism of the company's performance in the rollout in Argyll and Bute and the service it provides to phone and broadband customers.

The Scottish Government is currently working with BT to deliver the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme, which will provide fibre broadband to at least 95% of premises in Scotland by the end of 2017.

Any new public investment to deliver the 100% superfast broadband commitment will be delivered via new open procurements. Until these contracts are awarded, it is not possible to determine what role, if any, BT might play in delivery.

The Scottish Government is aware of the reported criticisms of BT Openreach's quality of service and is encouraged that Ofcom has set out clear proposals for higher minimum standards and more severe penalties for non-compliance.

Question reference: S5W-00057

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many licences there are for fishing for razor clams in the Firth of Clyde.

Question reference: S5W-00066

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 27 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it will make to allow people who live on Islay to make blood donations.

Question reference: S5W-00067

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 27 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that mobile blood donation centres are used in the Argyll islands, if necessary by making special arrangements for transportation with Caledonian MacBrayne.

Question reference: S5W-00120

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of reports that communities in Argyll and Bute have not been fully advised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT regarding the timescale for the rollout of superfast broadband.

The Scottish Government is committed to being as transparent as possible in relation to the roll-out of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme. An indicative roll-out timescale for each local authority has been available since the start of the project, with the majority of deployment in Argyll and Bute scheduled for 2016.

Information regarding specific towns and villages is released every three months via the Digital Scotland website, with Highlands and Islands Enterprise raising further awareness via local media, stakeholder events and leaflet drops.

An interactive map is also available, which allows members of the public to check progress in their area, and where service has gone live.

The map can be accessed at: www.scotlandsuperfast.com/whereandwhen