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-02956

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it believes urban air quality will reach the specified Scottish and European standards.

The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Transport Scotland and other partners to ensure that the Scottish air quality objectives are reached as soon as possible. Air quality assessment shows that 14 local authorities have still to secure full compliance with the objectives. All these authorities have declared Air Quality Management Areas and have action plans either in place or in development to address the issues identified. These plans contain a wide range of measures to tackle poor air quality and the Scottish Government is providing practical and financial assistance to help local authorities in their implementation.

Air quality monitoring and modelling suggests that European standards will be reached throughout Scotland by 2015, with the exception of one road stretch. This is the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to the east of Glasgow. The road is due to be upgraded to motorway by 2017-18 and it is expected that compliance will then be secured here also.

Question reference: S4W-19750

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Linda Fabiani on 27 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its policy is on the purchase of fairly traded products.

It is SPCB policy that its procurement is undertaken in a responsible manner. Our Responsible Purchasing Strategy has been in place for over six years and was developed around 4 broad themes, one of which relates to ethical and social issues which covers fairly traded goods. We seek to integrate relevant responsible purchasing considerations throughout our procurement and this includes giving consideration to fairly traded goods as an option, if such goods are available and affordable. We continue to work with our catering provider, to offer a wide range of fairly traded products. All tea, coffee and sugar sachets served at the Scottish Parliament and orange juice for hospitality functions are fairly traded and we have a comprehensive range of confectionery items. Each year in February and March we acknowledge Fair Trade fortnight and use the two weeks to highlight the fairly traded products we sell.

Question reference: S4O-02966

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports local authorities with a high proportion of tenement housing to improve recycling in those areas.

Question reference: S4W-19748

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) NHS boards and (b) non-departmental public bodies have purchasing policies that refer to fairly traded products and what they require.

The Scottish Government does not hold centrally details of purchasing policies of other contracting authorities.

The Scottish Government has, though, issued guidance on fair and ethical trading through a Scottish Procurement Policy Note (SPPN) in 2005. The Scottish Procurement Policy Handbook requires every contracting authority to take appropriate action in response to policy developments disseminated via SPPNs.

Question reference: S4O-02906

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Edinburgh College and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4O-02881

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how an independent Scotland would increase inward investment in the film and television sectors.

Question reference: S4O-02844

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how it would use policy levers in an independent Scotland to increase life expectancy.

Question reference: S4O-02827

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Funding Council is taking to implement section 15 of the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013.

Question reference: S4W-19024

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 15 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it or (b) the NHS is aware of residents of Scotland seeking private organ transplants abroad and, if so, in which countries and on what scale.

Question reference: S4W-19106

Asked by: Marco Biagi, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what decision-making process NHS Lothian carried out prior to agreeing funding from its Strategic Mental Health Interventions Fund for 2013 to 2016.

No information is held centrally on the decision making process relating to NHS Lothian’s Mental Health Strategic Programme Budget.

While the Scottish Government sets the national direction of mental health policy, for example through the Mental Health Strategy: 2012-15, the management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities, are the responsibility of relevant local agencies.