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-02263

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the implications for wildlife in Scotland, what its response is to the joint study by the Mammal Society and Natural England, which states that almost one-in-five mammal species in Britain is at risk of extinction.

Question reference: S5W-16441

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 29 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether improved bowel cancer screening techniques in NHS Ayrshire and Arran are leading to longer waiting times for colonoscopies following positive screening results.

NHS Boards are responsible for planning and delivering bowel screening services to meet the needs of their local population.

The new FIT bowel screening test was introduced in November last year. It is a much more user friendly test and as a result the bowel screening programme is seeing an increase in participation. Since its introduction all NHS Boards are seeing an increase in demand for colonoscopies. This increase was identified as part of implementation and all NHS Boards were made aware of the projected increase in advance of introduction of the new test to allow for local planning.

The time from bowel screening test result to date colonoscopy performed is a key performance indicator for the National Bowel Screening Programme and is monitored closely.

Latest published cancer waiting times data for Ayrshire & Arran shows that in Q4 (Oct-Dec) 2017, 13 patients were treated for colorectal cancer following USC referral from the bowel screening programme, all of whom were treated within 62 days.

Question reference: S5O-02145

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term financial position of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Question reference: S5W-16194

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its comment in the Programme for Government that "improving the education and life chances of children and young people is the defining mission of this Government", what its response is to South Ayrshire Council's reported plan to introduce fees for instrumental tuition for children and young people; whether it considers that this decision is in breach of the (a) curriculum for excellence implementation plan and (b) Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) guidelines, and what impact it considers that this decision will have on children and young people's ability to access and benefit from instrumental tuition.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of the expressive arts which provide children and young people with opportunities to be creative and imaginative and to experience inspiration and enjoyment, contributing greatly to children and young people’s mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing. Expressive arts is one of the eight curriculum areas under Curriculum for Excellence.

The specific level of spending on schools is determined by local authorities. Councils have a legal responsibility for providing an adequate and efficient education, suitable to the needs of every child, in accordance with the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child. Within this settlement, sufficient resource should be made available to schools for supplies and equipment, with specific levels of funding for schools determined by individual councils. This covers class music lessons, including when any instrument is taught on a whole class basis, regardless of who is teaching the class. By contrast, an education authority may charge fees for the provision of an extra-curricular activity that it is not obliged to provide as an entitlement.

Question reference: S5O-01763

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Scottish exports to international markets.

Scotland’s international exports (excluding oil and gas) increased by £460 million to £29.8 billion in 2016. Whilst it is encouraging to see international exports continue to increase the Scottish Government recognises that more must be done to improve Scotland’s export performance and is committed to enabling more businesses to export.

We have established a Trade Board, we are taking forward the First Minister's Four Point Plan, including, continuing to enhance SDI's presence in Europe and establishing new international hubs in Berlin and Paris in addition to those in London and Dublin. We have recently appointed four Trade Envoys to champion Scottish interests at home and abroad. We are providing up to £400K to the Scottish Chambers of Commerce for five local/regional Export Partnership pilots across Scotland to support SMEs. The Enterprise and Skills review has committed to developing an enhanced and more focused international presence which will improve Scotland’s international visibility and promote opportunities for Scottish businesses.

Question reference: S5W-13457

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how the forthcoming combined alcohol and drugs treatment strategy will provide targeted prevention, intervention and treatment for women, in light of the 169% increase in drug-related deaths in the last decade among women, which was recorded in the report, Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2016.

The Scottish Government’s refreshed Substance Misuse Treatment Strategy will recognise the need to develop appropriate high quality, person centred service responses to meet the specific needs of those most at risk from substance use who we know face wide ranging and complex social and medical issues.

Recognising that there has been an increase in the number of female drug related deaths in recent years, we have commissioned work that is currently being undertaken to examine this rise, the potential reasons behind it, and consider what actions can be taken. The findings will inform the Substance Misuse Treatment Strategy as well as future work.

Question reference: S5O-01600

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding establishing schemes that aim to attract more seasonal skilled labour across all sectors, such as the former Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.

Question reference: S5W-12959

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the consultation on the introduction of compulsory video recording of slaughter at abattoirs, as set out in its programme for government.

Question reference: S5O-01555

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Minister for Local Government and Housing has had with councils regarding the sustainability of services.

Question reference: S5W-12764

Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the illegal release of beavers could have on flood mitigation measures in the River (a) Tay and (b) Earn catchment area.

The presence of beavers is not thought likely to have a significant impact on flood mitigation measures in the River Tay and Earn catchment areas. In the event that beaver activity such as burrowing or damming threatens flood mitigation measures, there are a number of management actions that can be taken. Detailed guidance on these is being developed by Scottish Natural Heritage, through a Scottish Beaver Forum which was established in May 2017.