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-19504

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 20 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Education Scotland inspections should take account of the quality of teaching facilities and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Education Scotland Inspectors take account of the quality of teaching facilities during school inspections. No formal evaluation of accommodation is made using a quality indicator, but in cases where pupils' safety might be at risk, or where poor facilities are having a negative impact on pupils' learning experiences, this will be highlighted and discussed with the school and its local authority. Such issues may be highlighted in the letter to parents after the inspection, or in the detailed record of inspection findings.

Question reference: S4F-01890

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2014

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with Glasgow 2014 officials regarding the financial administration of the Commonwealth Games.

Question reference: S4O-02912

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the SQA regarding the Post Results Service.

Question reference: S4W-18576

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many officials were involved in the development of the white paper on Scottish independence.

Question reference: S4W-18577

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) members of the Yes Scotland campaign and (b) SNP party officials met officials involved in the development of the white paper on Scottish independence during its development.

Scotland’s Future is a Scottish Government publication developed and drafted by civil servants under the direction of ministers. A meeting between special advisers, SNP officials and government officials leading work on the white paper took place on 12 August 2013 to ensure that the respective roles of government and party in publicity relating to the paper were understood by all concerned and that a clear and appropriate division was maintained between governmental and campaigning activity.

Question reference: S4W-18578

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it took to prevent the politicisation of officials during the development of the white paper on Scottish independence.

<>Officials developed Scotland’s Future as part of their normal duties in support of Scottish Ministers in line with the Civil Service Code. This code of conduct, and guidance for civil servants on political activity, is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directorates/Services-Groups/HR/HR/policies-guidance/conduct.

Specific elections guidance and referendum advice for civil servants has also been produced. This is available at

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Elections/guidance/ElectionsGuidanceCS.

Question reference: S4W-19219

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 31 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland on the closure of police stations.

The police in Scotland operate independently of ministers and any decisions on the future of police stations would be an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.

The Scottish Government support the overarching aim of visible policing and the deployment of police resources in the most effective way to keep communities safe, principles which I know the chief constable shares.

The recent review of public counter provision undertaken by Police Scotland is not about closing police stations. Operational policing continues to be delivered from stations. For the majority of stations, there will be little or no change to opening hours, in fact, some stations could even see their opening hours extended.

Question reference: S4W-19220

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 29 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of police stations needed to provide effective policing.

Question reference: S4W-19226

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 29 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many calls the national confidential reporting system for police employees has received each year.

Question reference: S4F-01859

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2014

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with local authorities regarding the provision of primary school places.