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: S4O-01957

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve road and rail journey times from Dumfries to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-12944

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban beak trimming in poultry in line with UK plans to do so by 2016 and whether it has considered the impact of such a decision on the welfare of birds in relation to injurious pecking and feather loss and the consequences for egg producers.

The Scottish Government has not committed to a ban on beak trimming by 2016. We understand that Defra have committed to review the evidence on beak trimming and to look at the feasibility of introducing a ban in England in 2016.

The Scottish Government’s long term goal is to ban routine beak trimming; however, it is important that this is not at the cost of bird welfare. A ban should not be enforced until the industry has the information and ability to comply without compromising hen welfare.

We are monitoring current investigations of possible alternative methods for the control of injurious feather pecking, including Scottish Government funded research and work being undertaken by Defra. We will also consider any advice offered by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee before coming to a decision on whether and when to ban beak trimming.

Question reference: S4O-01873

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth supports investment in large-scale public art projects as a means of generating jobs and boosting economic growth.

Question reference: S4W-12943

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the impact of the Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations 2010 on the poultry industry and, if so, what can be done to mitigate any such impact.

Question reference: S4O-01842

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding college education for people with learning disabilities.

Question reference: S4O-01746

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making the Scots Pine Scotland's national tree.

Question reference: S4O-01667

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when Creative Scotland will appoint a new chief executive.

Question reference: S4O-01636

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what benefits it considers single-bed hospital wards will bring to patient care and wellbeing.

The provision of single room patient accommodation will bring a number of improvements to patient care and well being, including better infection control, reduced length of stay, reduction in the incidence of medical errors, improved patient satisfaction, and flexibility in the use of accommodation as well as improved privacy and dignity.

In addition, single room provision will give NHS boards more flexibility to manage its accommodation and help to avoid the need to shuffle patients to keep multi-bedded rooms single sex.

Question reference: S4O-01548

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Ofcom regarding the rebranding of commercial radio stations in Scotland and the level of Scotland-specific content that they broadcast.

Question reference: S4O-01519

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to explore the role of liquid air energy storage in developing Scotland's low-carbon economy.