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-27552

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 3 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to (a) perinatal and (b) infant mental health in each of the last five years, broken down by how the funding was spent.

Perinatal and Infant Mental Health is a key commitment for the Scottish Government. The Managed Clinical Network for Perinatal Mental Health was established in 2017 and this was then followed by establishment of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board in 2019.

The First Minister announced £50 million of funding to improve perinatal and infant mental health services in March 2019.

The cost of the Managed Clinical Network for Perinatal Mental Health was £173,188 in 2017-18 and £175,785 in 2018-19.

In terms of allocations from the programme budget, £700,000 has been spent so far in 2019-20. This includes the following:

£150,000 for Mother Baby Units staffing
£225,000 for third sector expansion and development
£150,000 on NHS Education Scotland workforce and trainee development
£80,000 on pathfinder areas in Infant Mental Health
£80,000 on expanding Perinatal Mental Health provision in the North of Scotland

NHS Boards will draw funding for mental health services, including for perinatal and infant mental health services, from the overall health and social care funds allocated to them by the Scottish Government. Local budget decisions are expected to reflect the national mental health priority and for NHS Boards to work with their partners to ensure the delivery of person centred, safe and effective mental health services which meet the assessed needs of their populations.

Question reference: S5O-04121

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when electronic signage will be installed along the A9, north of Inverness.

Question reference: S5W-27227

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 4 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether dedicated, non-executive Whistleblowing Champions have been appointed to all NHS boards.

The Whistleblowing Champion appointments round has now concluded and I am pleased with the level of interest we have had in these posts. I have stressed the importance of these roles and have been clear from the outset that the right people with the right skills should be appointed.

This was a substantial exercise, and I am grateful for Rosemary Agnew, the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman’s involvement as the independent panel member. 139 applications were received and we have been able to appoint dedicated Whistleblowing Champions to 19 of the 22 Boards, including all the territorial Boards. The successful candidates will start in their positions from early February, and appropriate training and support will be provided.

A further appointments round will take place shortly for the 3 remaining Boards. For those 3 Boards, the incumbent Whistleblowing Champions will temporarily continue in their roles. This will ensure that NHS staff in all Boards feel able to raise concerns and are confident that they will be supported when they do.

Work has now commenced on identifying candidates for the 3 remaining national Boards. It is anticipated that the process to appoint Whistleblowing Champions to these Boards will conclude before the summer recess.

Question reference: S5O-04066

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when the last review of local government was carried out.

Question reference: S5O-04006

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what access and communication provisions will be made in the new Justice Centre in Inverness for people from remote rural communities.

Question reference: S5W-26768

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish Professor Werritty’s report on grouse moor management.

The report to the Scottish Government by the Grouse Moor Management Review Group is being published today on the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot/groups/grouse-moor-management-group/

I would like to thank Professor Werritty and the other members for undertaking this important review and for their extensive work over the last two years.

The report was commissioned by the Scottish Government in response to a report from Scottish Natural Heritage which showed that around one-third of tagged golden eagles had disappeared on or around driven grouse moors. As well as the issue of raptor persecution, the review was asked to look at grouse moor management practices including muirburn, the use of medicated grit and mountain hare culls and also to examine regulatory options including possible licensing of grouse shooting businesses.

As committed in our Programme for Government, we will publish a full response to the report in due course. It is important that we give careful consideration to the recommendations, alongside other evidence, before issuing a response. This will include looking at the option of a licensing scheme and – if required – implementing that earlier than the five-year timeframe suggested by the review group.

An important part of this process will involve meeting key stakeholders to discuss the findings of the review.

Question reference: S5O-03874

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports exports of renewable energy technology.

Question reference: S5W-26409

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the disposal of waste and rubbish from salmon farms.

Question reference: S5W-26410

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what penalties are in place for salmon farms that do not dispose of waste and rubbish in accordance with the rules that apply.

Question reference: S5W-26411

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to tackle the illegal disposal of waste and rubbish from salmon farms.

SEPA will continue to use its routine monitoring activity to check waste handling practices at salmon farms, in addition SEPA will respond to notifications alleging the illegal disposal of waste and investigate any cases where waste management does not comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended). Where any illegal waste handling is discovered SEPA will take appropriate action to ensure that this is addressed by the operator, where necessary this will include taking appropriate enforcement action.