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: S4W-28528

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on passenger safety of absorbing the British Transport Police into Police Scotland and whether it will publish that assessment.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28527 on 25 November 2015.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Options for how the British Transport Police functions should be integrated into Police Scotland will be assessed against a range of objectives including maintaining and enhancing passenger safety.

Question reference: S4W-28529

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the savings or costs of absorbing the British Transport Police into Police Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-27742

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23258 by Shona Robison on 27 November 2014, how many people were (a) treated and (b) refused treatment by the national transcatheter aortic valve implantation service in 2014-15, broken down by NHS board.

The information requested is provided in the following table:

Table 1: National Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Service 2014-15

NHS board	Patients not suitable or who do not wish to undergo TAVI	TAVI
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	17	25
Lanarkshire	8	Less than 5
Ayrshire and Arran	Less than 5	7
Dumfries and Galloway	0	0
Lothian	15	21
Tayside	Less than 5	10
Fife	Less than 5	7
Forth Valley	Less than 5	Less than 5
Borders	0	Less than 5
Grampian	Less than 5	6
Highlands	Less than 5	Less than 5
Islands	0	Less than 5

Source: National TAVI Service, October 2015

Note: Numbers less than five have been withheld to maintain patient confidentiality.

The national TAVI service provides treatment for all suitable patients in Scotland. Patients referred to the service may not have TAVI for the following reasons:

The patient does not wish to undergo TAVI following referral to the service;

The patient may be considered suitable for surgery as an alternative;

The patient has significant co-morbidities which prejudice the successful outcome of TAVI e.g. severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, extreme frailty, cancer; or,

The patient does not have severe aortic stenosis.

Question reference: S4O-04686

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of compulsory redundancies there have been in colleges.

I have made clear to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and colleges the government’s opposition to compulsory redundancies and I have urged them to do everything possible to avoid them.

Notwithstanding our policy, I am aware the SFC wrote to you recently confirming 23 redundancies at North Highland College and seven at Fife College between 2011-12 to 2013-14. Subsequently, I have been advised that North Highland College plans another five. Given our position on compulsory redundancies, I have written to the college to express my extreme disappointment.

Question reference: S4W-27677

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for finalising the sectoral marine plans and their habitats regulations appraisal under the National Marine Plan.

Question reference: S4W-27673

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether the conclusions of the National Marine Plan Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) is dependent on a completed sectoral marine plan and its own associated HRA.

The National Marine Plan sets a framework for sustainable development and use of the marine environment. The Habitats Regulation Appraisal of the National Marine Plan has been undertaken following the guidance on HRA produced by Scottish Natural Heritage, and has indicated that the objectives and policies of the plan are general in nature, in that they do not direct project level development and/or use to a specific location. Therefore it is not possible to identify where development and/or use may be located or where effects may occur or which Natura sites may be affected. In accordance with the guidance, such policies are considered not likely to have a significant effect on a European site. Policies which refer to the sectoral plan process are included in the National Marine Plan HRA. Sectoral plans set more detailed policies relating to specific sectors and these are subject to their own HRA process. Any specific proposal for development would also be subject to licensing and consenting processes including HRA.

Question reference: S4W-27674

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for delay in the consultation on 14 marine special protection areas; what impact this will have on the UK meeting its requirement under the OSPAR Convention to establish an ecologically coherent and well-managed network of marine protected areas across the North-east Atlantic by 2016, and when the consultation will take place.

Pre-consultation discussions have taken place with a broad range of stakeholders. This has resulted in some scientific issues being identified. Marine Scotland is now working with Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to resolve these issues. Once that process is completed the timing of the public consultation will be determined. There is currently no impact on our commitment to deliver a well-managed marine protected area network in Scotland’s seas by the end of 2016.

Question reference: S4W-27076

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence it has considered in relation to the regulation of GM technology.

GM technology is regulated at EU level where all GM applications submitted for approval are scientifically assessed before they can be approved. The European Commission recognise that there are additional factors which can have an impact on decisions to cultivate GM crops. That is why the Commission proposed the amendments to the GM Directive which now allow countries to restrict or ban the cultivation of EU approved GM crops on their territories. The Scottish Government takes a precautionary approach to GM. It also takes into account the wider context including the preventative and democratic principles. We recognise that growing GM crops could threaten the brand that underpins Scotland's reputation for producing high quality and natural foods and damage Scotland's image as a land of food and drink. That is why, in line with our longstanding, I recently announced that we planned to make use of the new EU rules and opt-out of growing the one GM crop that is currently approved by the EU and six others in the pipeline for approval.

Question reference: S4W-27075

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 7 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it will appoint a Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to drawing on the very best science advice and expertise. The post of Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland was advertised externally over the period 13 March to 10 April 2015 but following a full recruitment process we are disappointed we were not able to appoint anyone to the role. Consideration is being given to the next steps in the recruitment process. Interim arrangements are in place and the Scottish Government continues to draw upon a range of science advice and expertise across all policy areas including the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Scientist Health, the Chief Scientific Adviser Rural Affairs, Food and Environment, and the Chief Veterinary Officer.

Question reference: S4F-02920

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2015

To ask the First Minister what scientific evidence the Scottish Government used as the basis for its recent announcement on GM technology.