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-18677

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on complainers of the postponement of trials, particularly in cases of domestic violence and stalking.

It is a Scottish Government priority to find ways to reduce the trauma and improve the experience of victims within the criminal justice system. We recognise the devastating impact that both domestic abuse and stalking can have, and are committed to working with justice and third sector partners to ensure that these offences are dealt with effectively and appropriately, and ensuring that victims are supported through the criminal justice process.

For example, to reduce the trauma caused to victims of domestic abuse, associated with long waiting times for trials, additional funding of £2.4 million per year from justice budgets (2015-18) was made available to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. This funding has now been mainstreamed to keep waiting times down.

Question reference: S5W-18678

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) ensures that the reasons given by accused people for the postponement of trials are legitimate.

The decision to postpone a trial is a matter for the Court. It is for the Court to assess and decide whether or not the reasons put forward by any party, including an accused person or their legal representative, are legitimate and justify the postponement of the trial.

As part of the Court’s decision making process, the Court may require the requesting party to provide further detail of evidence for the reasons for the request.

Question reference: S5W-18383

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 14 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the effectiveness of monies given by (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise to Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and other companies involved in the arms industry in bringing about diversification from arms industry work, and what factors it uses.

Question reference: S5W-18438

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many trains were (a) cancelled or (b) delayed by the Highland Chieftain breakdown on the single track at Kingussie on 13 August 2018, and how long (i) the delay was in minutes and (ii) it took to get all the passengers on their way in light of reports that the following ScotRail trains were already at capacity.

Due to breakdown of the Highland Chieftain on 13 August 2018, a total of 6 ScotRail trains were cancelled, with 3 of these being full cancellations and 3 part cancellation. A total of 31 ScotRail trains were delayed, amounting to 388 total delay minutes.

Passengers that were on-board the Highland Chieftain service alighted at Kingussie and were accommodated on ScotRail services with no welfare issues reported.

Question reference: S5W-18258

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has made for the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Question reference: S5W-17577

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government who the members are of the newly announced Salmon Interactions Workstream working group, and how they were selected.

A new Salmon Interactions Workstream to provide expert advice on mitigating pressures on wild salmon was launched by the Scottish Government in June 2018.

As part of the workstream, a working group has been established to examine, as an initial task, the interactions between farmed and wild salmon, and make recommendations on how any associated impacts can be minimised. John Goodlad has agreed to chair the working group and the following organisations have been asked to provide appropriate representatives to sit on the group:

Marine Scotland

Fisheries Management Scotland

Scottish Salmon Producer's Organisation

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Scottish Natural Heritage

Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS)

Scottish Environment Link

The Group is scheduled to hold their inaugural meeting on 31 October 2018. Details of the considerations by the group, including remit, agendas, and agreed actions from meetings will be published on the Scottish Government website.

The working group will also be able to invite other organisations and/or individuals to contribute to delivery of the remit as appropriate.

Question reference: S5W-18605

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18251 by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018, for what reason it has no plans to review port management as part of the process.

Question reference: S5W-18199

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the weather that has been experienced in 2018, what plans it has to add to the initial membership of the agricultural weather advisory panel.

Question reference: S5W-18259

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations Police Scotland has made for the possibility of the UK exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

As a responsible government, we must prepare for all exit possibilities in order to mitigate where possible the negative impact of leaving the EU on the Scottish economy, businesses, public services and individuals. Preparations are well under way but we are constrained by a lack of clarity on the direction of negotiations with the EU, by uncertainty about the possible outcome of that and by the fact that many critical issues that will affect Scotland’s interests are reserved and the responsibility of the UK Government.

In the case of Police Scotland, the service is undertaking work to prepare for exiting the EU, including in circumstances where there is no withdrawal agreement. In doing so, Police Scotland is engaging with key partners in policing, security, justice, local authorities, and government across Scotland, the UK and the EU. This will enable Police Scotland to be as prepared as possible for the risks and long-term impact of exiting the EU.

Question reference: S5O-02334

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

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to environmental protection concerns regarding proposals to mechanically harvest kelp by dredging.