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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1255 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-05745

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what factors were considered prior to the decision to allow Wick Airport to be used for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US.

The UK Government owns the nuclear materials currently stored at Dounreay and is responsible for any movements of that material. Any transfers to the United States are covered by an agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the European Atomic Energy Community and the United States of America. This agreement rules out the military use of any material transferred under its terms. The Highlands and Islands Airports Limited board are responsible for operational decisions, and for the safe operation of Wick Airport.

Question reference: S5W-05754

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the runway at Wick Airport is unsuitable for use by C-17 US Aircraft, whether Highlands and Islands Airports Limited has discussed its license to operate with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Question reference: S5W-05748

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any risk assessments associated with the use of Wick Airport for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US.

Question reference: S5W-05756

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 and other (a) health and safety and (b) aviation legislation applies to Wick Airport being used for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US.

Question reference: S5W-05744

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government who was consulted regarding the use of Wick Airport for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US.

Question reference: S5W-05752

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received that the highly enriched uranium transported from Dounreay to the US will not be used to arm nuclear warheads.

Question reference: S5W-05741

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to stop Wick Airport being used for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US pending an independent assessment of the safety of such activity.

Question reference: S5W-05747

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the person or organisation that has responsibility for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US.

Question reference: S5W-05746

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government who has responsibility for the transportation of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to the US.

Question reference: S5W-05917

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when a Scottish Minister last met the UK Visas and Immigration and what was discussed.

I met the UK Minister of State for Immigration, Mr Robert Goodwill, on 7 December 2016 to discuss immigration issues. We discussed the potential impact of exiting the EU, post study work visas, the Tier 4 student visa pilot, and the upcoming UK Government consultation on the UK points based system.

I raised the concerns relayed to me by a number of EU nationals in Scotland, and again asked for the UK Government to allay their fears, and to guarantee their rights to live and work in the UK post-Brexit. I also highlighted Scotland’s differential demographic needs and reiterated the very strong cross party and cross sector support for the return of a post study work route for Scotland.