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-20239

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Traffic Scotland website trafficscotland.org/carboncalculator does not include an option to calculate journeys undertaken by air.

The Traffic Scotland Carbon Calculator provides an indicative comparison of how much less carbon might be used for land based alternatives to the car for journeys between selected mainland Scottish towns, the aim being to demonstrate that there is a carbon benefit to using alternative forms of transport.

The carbon used when travelling by air is generally higher than by car. This, in addition to the fact there are very few direct intra-Scotland flights between the destinations available within the Carbon Calculator, means there would be limited value in including these on the website.

Question reference: S5W-20229

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18605 by Michael Matheson on 12 September 2018, what options are open to address a situation where a port does not keep its own governance under review.

Ports are required by the Port Maritime Safety Code to keep their powers under review. The guidance in Modern Trust Ports for Scotland also encourages ports of all ownership structures to do the same. In the case of a trust port, this will include their constitution and governance.

Ultimately, if anyone felt that a port authority was not operating appropriately within its powers it would be for them to consider action through the courts.

Question reference: S5W-20230

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18605 by Michael Matheson on 12 September 2018, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that "the Scottish Government has no jurisdiction over the management or operation of Scottish ports", for what reason it plans to include ports in the Scottish Maritime Strategy, and whether it considers that this is indicative of a legislative gap.

The majority of ports across Scotland make a significant contribution to the economy at a local, regional and often national level. The Scottish Maritime Strategy will demonstrate our support for all aspects of the maritime economy, while exploring opportunities to enable the sector to continue to grow and contribute to our economy. It is essential that ports are included within this given the key role they play.

There are currently no plans to change the legislative framework covering ports.

Question reference: S5O-02682

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of power of attorney in health cases.

Question reference: S5O-02664

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5W-19717

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for establishing the effectiveness of the protection given to priority marine features.

Priority Marine Features are given general protection by the National Marine Plan, and Public Authorities are obligated to comply with these policies. Priority Marine Features are also protected features in some Marine Protected Areas, and there are specific duties on all public authorities to avoid placing these at significant risk through their decision making. The condition of Priority Marine Features is assessed through the Scottish Government monitoring strategy, and therefore the effectiveness of protection can be established once sufficient data has been collected.

Question reference: S5T-01337

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the mechanical harvesting of kelp by dredging.

Question reference: S5W-19756

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19115 by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding the discussions it has had with the committee regarding the role of public transport in helping it meet its climate change targets, and on what dates these discussions took place.

As set out in the answer to S5W-19115, the Scottish Government engages fully with the UK Committee on Climate Change to support its independent advisory role. Scottish Government officials engage with the Committee secretariat to ensure it has access to the best available Scottish information and evidence when preparing its advice. In the case of transport, officials met with the Committee secretariat in March 2017 to discuss respective technical approaches to modelling emissions from this sector. While officials provide analytical support to the secretariat, the Committee’s published advice reflects its independent views. As such, engagements between officials and the secretariat do not extend to discussion of the relative roles that policies, or groups of policies, should play in meeting targets . The Committee’s views on such matters are set out in its statutory annual progress reports, to which the Scottish Government formally responds.

Question reference: S5W-19706

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that patients in Scotland will have the same access to medicinal cannabis as those in the rest of the UK.

Regulation for the control of drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is currently the responsibility of the UK Government. The regulatory changes which came into force on 1 November 2018 to reschedule Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal Use in Humans apply in England, Wales and Scotland.

Moving cannabis-based products for medicinal use from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulation 2001 means those cannabis-based products can be prescribed where there is an unmet clinical need. Guidance was issued to professionals in Scotland via a letter from the Chief Medical Officer (SGHD/SMO(2018) 15) on 31 October.

Question reference: S5W-19609

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on re-examining the conditions under which non-UK residents can legally possess firearms in Scotland.