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: S5W-04116

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the UK solar power market of the proposed rise in business rates in 2017 for organisations investing in rooftop solar power for their own consumption.

Question reference: S5W-04115

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how many phone boxes have been removed in rural areas where there is poor mobile phone coverage.

Question reference: S5W-03899

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what mental health training is available to (a) police officers, (b) prison officers, (c) criminal justice social workers and (d) third sector workers regarding their work with women offenders.

A range of training on mental health, including suicide prevention training, is coordinated by NHS Health Scotland, and is available to a variety of groups including police officers, prison officers, criminal justice social workers and third sector workers regarding their work with women offenders. This includes Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Skills-based Training on Risk Management (STORM) and safeTALK. Further information is available at http://www.smhfa.com/about/index.aspx and http://www.chooselife.net/Training/index.aspx

Question reference: S5W-04112

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that every town and village has free wireless internet by 2020, as proposed by the European Commission.

The Scottish Government welcomes the European Commission's commitment to extend free access to Wi-Fi connectivity in public spaces, and the associated 120M WiFi4EU scheme. We exploring how Scotland’s potential benefits can be maximised.

The Scottish Government’s Public Wireless Programme, established in 2015, has already delivered improved Wi-Fi coverage in Scotland. The Programme provided just under £1M of grants in 2015-16 enabling local authorities to extend, or introduce, free Wi-Fi services across a range of buildings used by the public such as libraries, community centres and sports facilities. In tandem, the Programme has created best practice guidance in collaboration with public organisations to ensure wireless broadband projects are developed sustainably and genuinely match local needs.

Question reference: S5W-04114

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with BT regarding the removal of phone boxes in rural areas, and what assessment it has made of the safety implications for people in areas with poor mobile phone coverage.

The removal of public phone boxes is a reserved issue for which the Scottish Government has no direct role or influence, and which is governed by Ofcom's regulations on BT.

BT has indicated to the Scottish Government that it is currently consulting on the removal of 1525 boxes in Scotland but has confirmed that it won’t proceed with the proposed removal if no mobile signal can be detected near the box.

Question reference: S5W-04109

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to work with community groups and charities to encourage people affected by (a) forced marriage and (b) domestic abuse to seek help and advice.

The Scottish Government works collaboratively with a range of third sector and community based organisations who provide support and advice to people affected by domestic abuse and or forced marriage. Along with our partners in the Scottish Government facilitated forced marriage network, we have developed and distributed a range of printed and web based information and awareness raising materials which include information and contact details for a range of support organisations. All materials are available in English and in community languages. This ensures that those affected are aware of and understand the protection available and are able to access advice and support as required.

The Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage helpline, over £350K for 2016-2017, which is available 24 hours a day to anyone affected by forced marriage or domestic abuse. In October 2016, the Scottish Government announced an extra £665K to expand advice and support services for victims of gender based violence, through the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre.

Question reference: S5W-03897

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 8 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a review of the provision and resourcing of services for women with borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder as recommended in the final report of the Commission on Women Offenders.

Question reference: S5W-03681

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03141 by Fergus Ewing on 5 October 2016, whether it will publish all of its correspondence with the UK Government regarding the proposed broadband universal service obligation.

Question reference: S5W-03986

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the funding allocated to the Scottish Police Authority includes adequate infrastructure investment and maintenance for the infrastructure and maintenance needs of Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-03985

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported 43.3% real-terms reduction in capital spending in the Scottish Police Authority budget has had on the infrastructure maintenance funding of the Police Scotland estate.