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: S4W-13446

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it was first informed of the Crofting Commission’s position that there is no provision in the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 for the commission to issue a decrofting direction to an owner-occupier crofter who is residing in their owner-occupied croft.

The Crofting Commission first intimated to Scottish Government officials that it had become aware of potential difficulties on 16 January 2013, but it had not yet received legal advice on the issue.

The Scottish Government was first informed of the Crofting Commission’s position that there was no provision in the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 to issue a decrofting direction to an owner-occupier crofter residing in their croft on 8 February 2013, when it confirmed receipt of its legal advice to that effect.

Question reference: S4O-01961

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities last met hub North Scotland Ltd and what matters were discussed.

Question reference: S4W-13448

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it agreed to allow the suspension of decrofting applications by the Crofting Commission in respect of owner-occupier crofters residing in their owner-occupied croft.

Question reference: S4W-13445

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it recognises the term "owners of vacant crofts" in respect of owner-occupier crofters, following the passing of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Question reference: S4W-13447

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it took prior to the publication of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill 2009 in respect of the ability of the Crofting Commission to issue a decrofting direction to an owner-occupier crofter who is residing in their owner-occupied croft.

Question reference: S4W-13449

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial consequences to crofters and other parties of the decision by the Crofting Commission to suspend decrofting applications in respect of owner-occupier crofters residing in their owner-occupied croft.

The decision by the Crofting Commission to suspend decrofting applications in respect of owner-occupier crofters is a legal matter based on legal advice the Commission had received, rather than one of financial consequence. The Scottish Government was not involved in the decision to suspend decrofting applications and was therefore unable to assess the financial consequences for crofters in advance of the decision.

Since becoming aware of this issue, the Scottish Government has acted promptly to seek information from key stakeholders on the potential extent of those owner-occupier crofters and is currently considering options to remedy the actual and potential difficulties faced by owner-occupier crofters and will keep the Parliament informed of any actions required.

Question reference: S4W-13471

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it will have considered the findings of the Review of NHS Pharmaceutical Care of Patients in the Community in Scotland and when (a) the review and (b) a strategy for pharmacy and medicines will be published.

The Scottish Government continues to consider Dr Wilson’s report on the Review of NHS Pharmaceutical Care of Patients in the Community in Scotland alongside other national policy initiatives which will inform the future of NHS pharmaceutical care in Scotland.

Significantly, the planned strategy for pharmacy and medicines will align with the aims of the Bill to integrate adult health and social care which we plan to introduce before the summer recess this year. It is our intention that the publication of Dr Wilson’s Report and our strategy for the future of pharmacy and medicines in Scotland will synchronise with the introduction of this Bill.

Question reference: S4W-13450

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it issued an electronic copy of a document to the mailboxes of four parliamentary committees at 10.43pm on 27 February 2013 and whether it considers that this is consistent with the good practice guidance on announcements set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

We took the view that Economic and Competition Regulation in an Independent Scotland was a discussion paper dealing with the prospect of more powers following independence. We therefore followed the practice consistent with publication of a discussion paper, rather than that used prior to a policy announcement. The Government acknowledges the comments made by the Presiding Officer on this issue and is taking account of these points.

Question reference: S4W-13451

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the group established to report on how best to implement the Leveson proposals, as announced by the First Minister on 29 November 2012 (Official Report, c.14119), is expected to report and what discussions the group has had on this matter with the UK Government.

<>The report of the expert group established to consider the findings and recommendations made in the Part 1 of the Report of the Leveson Inquiry on An Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press in respect of press regulation has published on 15 March 2013 its report, which is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/leveson.

I met the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Advocate General on Monday 4 March to discuss the Leveson proposals and it is intended that there should be a further meeting between representatives of the UK Government and party leaders in the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S4W-12957

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the European Food Safety Authority regarding the effects of three neonicotinoid pesticides on bees and the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy’s recent call for swift and decisive action, whether it remains the Scottish Government's position that neonicotinoid pesticides do not pose a significant risk to insect pollinators and what representations it will make to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to the vote on the proposed pesticide measures.

The Scottish Government’s position is based on the scientific advice it receives from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP), its own scientists in SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture), and through other sources such as the European Food Safety Authority.

This scientific advice has highlighted there are concerns and gaps in the knowledge about the effects of neonicotinoids on pollinators. It is also important to take into account the potential risks at levels of exposure to neonicotinoids which are realistically likely to occur in the field.

The ACP has been asked urgently to produce new advice taking account of the latest scientific data. As part of this process, the ACP has commissioned independent reviews of key research findings. ACP’s advice following their reviews will then inform the Scottish Government’s view on any action.