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-23097

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many trees have been planted under the initiative that it launched in 2010 to plant 100 million trees by 2015, broken down by (a) species and (b) acreage.

In 2010 Scottish Ministers pledged to plant 100 million trees by 2015 as part of the Climate Group’s States and Regions Alliance Billion Trees initiative. This Scottish figure of 100 million trees was based on achieving 50,000 hectares of woodland creation over that period at an average stocking of 2,000 trees per hectare.

On this basis, planting over the period 2010-14, to date, equates to 66 million trees – 9,300ha of conifers (18.6 million trees) and 23,700ha of broadleaves (47.4 million trees).

I note that planting in Scotland, over the period 2010-14, constituted 65% (33,000 hectares) within a total of 50,900 hectares (101.8 million trees) planted across the UK.

Question reference: S4W-23074

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been rejected by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last five years, broken down by the reason for rejection.

Year	Number of authorisations rejected	Reason for rejection
2010-11	4	No evidence of damage (4)
2011-12	2	No evidence of damage (2)
2012-13	3	No evidence of damage (1); general authorisation applied (1); covered by section 7 control agreement/negotiation (1)
2013-14	9	Deer welfare (1); no evidence of damage (1); could have taken other reasonable means (2); general authorisation applied (5)
2014-15	3	Deer welfare (1); other reasonable means (1); covered by section 7 control agreement/negotiation (1)

Note: A further 99 applications were voluntarily withdrawn over the five year period following discussion between the applicant and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Question reference: S4W-23076

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been approved by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last five years but with restrictions set on the number of deer that could be culled, broken down by the reason for setting a restriction.

Two authorisations have been issued which have specified limits on the number of deer to be taken, both in 2014-15. One limited the number of female deer plus calves to be taken with an agreement having been reached between the applicant and owners of neighbouring properties. The second authorisation limited the number of adult male deer to be taken following ongoing discussions within the deer management group about the sustainable harvest of stags and the potential socio-economic impacts of repeated close season culling.

Question reference: S4W-22799

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions have been made to set aside land for the future dualling of the Highland Main Line railway in accordance with the A9 dualling programme.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review formed a multi-modal appraisal of the Perth to Inverness corridor and concluded that both road and rail interventions should be brought forward. The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness and upgrade the Highland Main Line are programmed to be completed by 2025 and will significantly reduce the journey times between Perth and Inverness. Transport Scotland officials are working closely together to ensure that the optimum solution is found for both projects.

Question reference: S4W-22673

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) decision-making process and (b) timescale is for an application for a windfarm in a national scenic area.

Wind farm proposals of up to and including 50 megawatts will require an application for planning permission.

The exact planning application process, and the time it takes, will depend on the specific nature and location of the proposal. Planning authorities must consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) where they intend granting permission for certain types of development within national scenic areas. Where an authority wishes to grant consent contrary to the advice of SNH, they must notify the application to Scottish Ministers who will consider whether the application should be called in for their determination.

Where a decision is not issued within the prescribed period, or an extended period agreed by the applicant and planning authority, the applicant can appeal to Scottish Ministers or seek local review as appropriate. The prescribed periods are two months for local development and four months for major development.

Proposals over 50 megawatts require consent from Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Scottish Government has an aspirational nine month target for determining applications under section 36, where these do not require a public inquiry or information additional to the original application.

Question reference: S4W-22599

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 8 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the result of the referendum, whether there is a timetable for the privatisation of NHS services.

Question reference: S4F-02325

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to tackle overcrowding and understaffing in accident and emergency departments.

Question reference: S4W-22600

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 3 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it plans to prevent riders of motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 50cc from using the Forth Road Bridge once the Queensferry Crossing is open if they have only a compulsory basic training certificate.

Vehicles permitted to utilise the Forth Road Bridge once the Queensferry Crossing opens were considered during the passage of the Forth Crossing Bill and is set out in the Policy Memorandum.

The Queensferry Crossing and existing Forth Road Bridge will be maintained and operated as part of a managed crossing strategy to ensure the existing Forth Road Bridge infrastructure is retained and continues to provide public benefit.

As the Queensferry Crossing is to be a motorway, the policy for the Forth Road Bridge set out in the Policy Memorandum, in particular paragraph 26, supporting the Forth Crossing Bill was that it would become a dedicated public transport corridor for buses and taxis, together with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles less than 50cc, that class of motorcycle not being permitted on motorways. Other motorcycles are permitted on motorways. In setting the policy, it was considered that to make particular exception for other motorcycles and vehicles displaying a learner driver plate would open the Forth Road Bridge to wider use, not in keeping with its proposed designation as a public transport corridor. No objections to the Forth crossing Bill were received in relation to the proposed policy regarding motorcycles and the Forth Crossing Bill was passed in full view of the policy set out in the Policy Memorandum.

Question reference: S4F-02290

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to capitalise on the legacy of the Ryder Cup.

Question reference: S4W-22448

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 18 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what plans the NHS has to introduce the anti-pneumonia drug, Solithromycin.

There is no marketing authorisation in the UK for solithromycin.

It is a decision for a manufacturer whether to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority or to the European Medicines Agency for a marketing authorisation providing evidence of safety, quality and efficacy. If a marketing authorisation is granted the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) would consider a submission from the company for this medicine.

In addition, subject to marketing authorisation, SMC’s Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group may consider solithromycin within its framework for making the best use of antimicrobials in the management of infection.