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-03778

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 15 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive where the risk assessment of the Airwaves communication system used by UK police officers and by Scottish police officers deployed elsewhere in the UK is available and whether it contains control measures aimed at preventing an overload that could require officers to switch off their radios.

Airwave delivers mission critical voice and data communications to Scotland's police, fire and ambulance services as well as the wider resilience community. The system offers high levels of resilience and enhanced levels of interoperability contributing to a Safer, Stronger Scotland.

The National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) provides guidance on operational procedures for police officers deployed out of their normal sphere of operations. Organisational structures exist on national, regional and local levels to put into practice these procedures. Ultimately the responsibility for applying this practice into operations lies with each chief constable. Further information, that may bear more detailed relevance to the question posed, can be obtained from NPIA and relevant chief constable(s).

Question reference: S4O-00346

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits to the Highland economy will arise as a result of the recent announcement regarding the Nigg service yard.

Question reference: S4F-00226

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 October 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2011

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle knife crime.

Question reference: S4W-02911

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact would be on adventure tourism in Scotland of the proposed closure of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority; what its position is on the proposals to close the authority, and whether it has received any representations on this issue.

You are aware that the UK Government plan to repeal the Activity Centres (Young Persons’ Safety) Act 1995 and abolish the Adventure Activities Licensing regime replacing it with a proposed code of practice. You will also be aware that the current licensing regime covers only four defined adventure activities (trekking, water sports, caving and climbing) for young persons who are aged less than 18 years old.

I have been in correspondence with the UK Government on this important issue and have also met with key Scottish representative groups to ensure I am fully informed of their views. The UK Government, via the Health and Safety Executive, have consulted on their proposal – this closed on 21 September and the responses are now being evaluated from a Scottish perspective so I can determine the best option for Scottish providers and users.

In determining the best option for Scotland I am considering all available options, however, I believe it is premature to give a final position for Scotland at this stage – as the code of practice has not yet been developed and the responses to the consultation are still being evaluated.

As this is the Year of Active this Scottish Government is more committed than ever in encouraging more people, young and old, to take part in activities and outdoor pursuits so we would not support any policy which would counter those ambitions or have an adverse effect on the adventure tourism industry.

Question reference: S4W-01001

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 21 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when the responses to the consultation on the reform of police service reform will be published.

The responses to the consultations, A Consultation on the Future of Policing in Scotland, and A Consultation on the Future of Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland, and the consultation analysis reports, Research Support for a Consultation on the Future of Policing in Scotland and Research Support for a Consultation on the Future of Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland, will be published on 21 June 2011 and made available on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/policereform and www.scotland.gov.uk/firereform.