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-02111

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5T-01066

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail, in light of the company reportedly receiving record fines for its performance in the last financial year.

Question reference: S5W-15947

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much match funding was made available through the 2017-18 round of Pillar 2 common agricultural policy payments and what proportion was taken up, broken down by Pillar 2 scheme.

The Scottish Government has made available £75.5 million for Pillar 2 payments, broken up by scheme as follows:

SRDP	2017-18
£m	Total
	£m

Less Favoured Area Support Scheme	12.3
Forestry Legacy (RPID)	0.8
Agri Environment Measures	21.2
Business Development	12.8
Leader/Small Business	4.4
Technical Assistance	0.4
Broadband	3.4
Forestry - SRDP	20.2

GRAND TOTAL SPEND	75.5

The final figures for the proportion taken up will be available once the annual accounts process has been completed.

Question reference: S5W-15950

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact each year on the (a) rural economy and (b) agricultural sector of the reported problems with the IT system that it introduced to process common agricultural policy basic payments.

In 2017 I increased the national loan schemes value to 90% of farmers and crofters CAP payment. The 2017 loan payments were made earlier and quicker than ever before. In fact the 2017 National Basic Payment Scheme paid more than 13,000 farmers and crofters over £308m before the EU CAP BPS payment window even opened.

So by allowing farmers and crofters access to financial support earlier than under normal scheme payment conditions can only have a beneficial impact.

Question reference: S5W-15951

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement a loan scheme for the 2018-19 round of common agricultural policy basic payments.

Question reference: S5W-15957

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent NHS boards from having to rely on charitable donations to purchase equipment.

To support our twin approach of investment and reform, the 2018-19 budget increases the health resource budget by more than £400 million, taking it to a record high of over £13.1 billion and providing additional investment in frontline NHS Boards of 3.7%. In addition, in 2018-19, NHS Boards will receive capital allocations of £142 million in total for maintaining the NHS estate and replacing and upgrading medical and other associated equipment, along with a further £209 million held centrally to support infrastructure investment across the sector.

NHS Boards are expected to make the best use of these resources and equipment is part of that consideration.

With regard to charitable funds, it is not uncommon for endowment funds to receive donations specifically for the purchase of equipment. In all cases, NHS Scotland endowment funds operate within legal frameworks and trustees are expected to comply fully with the requirements of the legislation, and to adhere to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator’s (OSCR) good practice guidance.

Question reference: S5W-15953

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government on which dates since 2007 it has announced a revised target completion date for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), and what the reason was for each revision.

The delivery programme has been set by Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL), the contractor for the project, who is responsible for resourcing and managing it.

In 2012, in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), the Former First Minister stated “We anticipate that this long-awaited project will be underway in 2014 and complete by the spring of 2018.”

On 22 March this year, in a statement to Parliament, I announced a revised target completion date for AWPR of late Autumn 2018:

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11435&i=103907

The delivery of a major infrastructure project of this scale and complexity, within a 4-year period given the range of external factors which have impacted upon it, will be a significant achievement bringing substantial benefits to the north east of Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-15955

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of NHS boards being dependent on charitable donations to help meet funding commitments.

Question reference: S5W-15946

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact of the reported delay in the rollout of ScotRail's planned (a) new and (b) refurbished rolling stock to (i) the rail network and (ii) passengers.

ScotRail has put in place many measures such as maximising availability of existing fleets, rearranging maintenance as well as offering discounted rail fares on the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Airdrie/ Bathgate line to ensure that they maintain service provision and communicate these alternative plans to passengers allowing them to make informed choices. Refurbished rolling stock continues to be returned to service on schedule and both the HST and class 320/4 trains will be phased into service from this summer onwards.

Question reference: S5W-16078

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the enzyme, PETase, might help reduce plastic pollution, whether it will (a) carry out an assessment of its effectiveness and (b) provide support for (i) additional research and (ii) establishing a safe procedure for its use.

We are aware of the recent media reports indicating that researchers at Portsmouth University have succeeded in improving a naturally occurring enzyme which can digest polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It will be important to understand the full material lifecycle impacts of such approaches and while this is an interesting development given the urgency of tackling plastic pollution I feel it is important that we continue to take action now to address the causes of plastic pollution.

Current action includes introducing a Deposit Return Scheme, improving recycling and encouraging industry to improve the recyclability of products (e.g. via product design). We will continue to support innovation through our Circular Economy Investment Fund which supports projects led by Scottish SMEs. Zero Waste Scotland is open to discussing potential applications of this and other innovative technologies with companies looking to deploy them within Scotland.