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: S4O-01865

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Scotland Excel and what matters were discussed.

Question reference: S4W-12961

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what offences will be subject to fixed penalty notices under the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill.

The provisions in the Bill are designed to widen the scope of offences for which the existing fixed penalty notice system can be used, to include all marine and freshwater fisheries related offences which fall within the responsibility of Marine Scotland. The Scottish Government have published a briefing note which provides some examples of the types of offences where fixed penalties might be applicable, this can be accessed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish/bill/fpn

Question reference: S4W-12958

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which powers in the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill cannot be exercised under existing legislation.

Question reference: S4W-12959

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether Marine Scotland can take samples from any fish farm in Scottish waters for any purpose in connection with its regulatory and other duties.

Question reference: S4W-12960

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what scientific data requirements Marine Scotland takes samples from fish farms.

The majority of samples taken by Marine Scotland from Scottish fish farms have been for the purpose of discharging Scottish Ministers regulatory functions, these being to investigate the cause of mortalities occurring on Scottish fish farms; to investigate the suspicion or presence of a listed or emerging disease on Scottish fish farms; to collect samples to demonstrate the freedom from certain fish or shellfish diseases and demonstrating the United Kingdom’s high health status with regard to trade. Marine Scotland scientists may collect samples and data for the purpose of carrying out general research with the consent of Scottish fish farms, which would involve the voluntary provision by participating farms of material or data for analysis. The scope of the data or samples would be dependent upon the project concerned.

Question reference: S4W-12962

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines “technical nature” as used by the Deputy Director of Performance, Aquaculture and Recreational Fisheries to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee in relation to the provisions in the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill on 28 November 2012 (Official Report, c. 1397).

The term "technical nature" in the context of that evidence session recognised that the enabling powers being sought would in turn lead to the development of very detailed and complex pieces of secondary legislation which would likely require further amendment in due course to take account of technological advances and the like. The Scottish Government believes that, in these circumstances, setting out enabling powers rather than detailed technical provisions on the face of the Bill, is the appropriate approach.

Question reference: S4W-12991

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants prepared Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution.

Question reference: S4W-12992

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government at what time on 5 February 2013 Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution was provided to the Referendum (Scotland) Bill Committee clerks.

Question reference: S4W-12990

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when work began on Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution.

Question reference: S4W-12993

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it provided copies of Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution to The Sun and BBC Scotland before providing it to the Parliament.