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-00611

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the Scottish transport appraisal guidance (STAG) process in light of the claim in issue 68 of the Far North Express of it being biased against small rural schemes.

Question reference: S5W-00610

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding the reason for the potential benefits of a loop at Kinbrace not being mentioned in the Scotland Route Study.

<>Network Rail have closed their consultation on the Scotland Route Study, and are expected to publish their final version in July 2016. The Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with Network Rail regarding the inclusion or otherwise of a loop at Kinbrace. If Kinbrace is identified as requiring a loop in the future, and has a sufficient business case, the fact that there is no specific reference in the Scotland Route Study does not preclude it being considered as part of any future investment programme.

Question reference: S5W-00544

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government who will receive the receipts from the sale of the Scotland's Rural College facility at Drummondhill.

Question reference: S5W-00538

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that its non-departmental public bodies follow best practice in respect of industrial relations.

<>Scottish Government guidance outlines that non-departmental public bodies are expected to ensure compliance with any statutory requirement in the body’s founding legislation and in employment law, and to conform to best practice employment standards for the public sector. This includes in respect of industrial relations. Such issues form part of the sponsorship arrangements that are in place with non-departmental public bodies.

Question reference: S5W-00482

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) recent assessment it has made and (b) future assessment it plans of potential risks to the marine wildlife in the Moray Firth.

Question reference: S5W-00605

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00290 by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 June 2016, by what date the ban will be introduced.

Question reference: S5W-00412

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to ensure interconnectivity of public transport timetables with lifeline island ferry services.

Under the current public service contract with Scottish Ministers, CalMac have an obligation to achieve integrated timetables, facilitate integrated services, participate in marketing initiatives and promote linkages between ferry services and other modes of public transport in the Clyde and Hebrides. As part of that Transport Scotland officials regularly meet with CalMac to discuss operational matters in connection to the services they provide.

In developing ferry timetables, CalMac work with local stakeholders and operators of various transport modes to ensure that the best possible connectivity is achieved across the entire Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network. The integration of ferry services to other modes of public transport is regularly reviewed and, where possible, improved.

In the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, due to commence 1 October 2016, there is a strong focus on integrated transport. The Scottish Government will ensure that CalMac does everything possible to provide an integrated transport system. The introduction of smart and integrated ticketing systems, as part of that new contract, will further improve connectivity between ferry services and other forms of public transport.

Serco Northlink Ferries also have regular engagement with bus and rail operators regarding connectivity for services to the Northern Isles.

Question reference: S5T-00012

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of concerns about the threat to individuals' privacy arising from the surveillance activities of the Scottish Recording Centre.

Question reference: S5W-00290

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to its consultation, Should the use of wild animals in travelling circuses be banned in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-00285

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment of risk to the marine wildlife, including orcas, it has made of the proposed ship-to-ship transfer in the Moray Firth.