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-05634

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is considering to reverse the reported decline in the pub sector.

The Scottish Government published its research findings on 6 December and I intend to meet with relevant interests to discuss these findings and how we can work together to create a more successful pub sector, reflecting the particular make-up of the sector in Scotland.

More widely, as you will be aware, the Scottish Government has commissioned a review of Scottish rates under Ken Barclay, and we are encouraging all stakeholders including those in the sales trade to engage with the review to ensure that their views are taken into account.

Question reference: S5O-00509

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support hotel businesses.

Question reference: S5W-05036

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the review of the number, structure and regulation of NHS boards.

This Government is committed to reviewing the number, structure and regulation of both territorial and special health boards and their relationships with local councils. The detail of this work has yet to be finalised but will form part of our broader transformational change delivery plan that will be set out for Parliament before the end of this year.

I want our NHS Board structure to support the new, integrated, health and social care landscape and better support the provision of excellent hospital and specialist care for Scotland’s population. That means a structure that will lead NHSScotland forward while ensuring the focus is on patients rather than on structures and bureaucracy and which maximises the opportunities for a ‘Once for Scotland’ where that creates efficiencies and reduces duplication.

Question reference: S5W-05037

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00314 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 November 2016, what responsibilities lie with landowners in the absence of a species control order.

Question reference: S5O-00463

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is constitutional stability.

Question reference: S5W-04971

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 7 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide specific policy advice for planning authorities to assist in considering planning applications for crematoria.

Following the report of an Independent Panel earlier this year, we will publish a consultation paper on potential changes to the planning system in Scotland in the next few weeks. Following that consultation we will bring forward proposed changes to the planning system, including a Planning Bill. This will be supported by updated planning policy in due course, and planning policy on crematoria will be considered in the next iteration of Scottish Planning Policy.

Question reference: S5W-04793

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it will provide for road improvements.

The funding for Road Improvements referred to in the budget document covers strategic road safety and Traffic Scotland (including maintenance of Intelligent Transport Systems infrastructure) and is expected to be maintained at the current annual level of £16 million in the next financial year subject to Parliamentary approval. However we also anticipate funding on-going and committed further improvements including completion of the Forth Replacement Crossing, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the M8/73/74 motorway improvements as well as progressing dualling of the A9 and A96, the A737 Dalry Bypass, Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen and the A90 Laurencekirk junction, which in total are currently projected to be in the order of £470 million in 2017-18.

This is in addition to the funding we plan to allocate for routine and winter maintenance of £85 million, Network Strengthening of £42 million and structural repairs of £28 million for 2017-18.

Question reference: S5W-04797

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to raise awareness of the new ratable values that will be introduced in April 2017.

Question reference: S5W-04792

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability of Scotland's transmission network.

The Scottish Government does not have formal responsibility for electricity networks which is reserved to the UK Government and overseen by the independent regulator Ofgem.

However, Scottish Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Scottish transmission network operators Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission and Scottish Power Transmission, the GB system operator National Grid, and Ofgem to review current and future plans for network upgrades.

In addition the Scottish Government works closely with the electricity industry, UK Government and local emergency responders to ensure that: all available resources are effectively deployed in response to electricity failures; lessons are learned from any incidents which occur; and where proportionate, mitigation put in place to avoid further impacts or improve response.

Question reference: S5T-00231

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect children involved in football from sexual abuse.