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: S6W-03030

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the overprovision regime in the short-term let licensing legislation is ultra vires in terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

Question reference: S6W-03022

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Local Government and Housing on 8 November 2017 in relation to the antisocial behaviour powers available to local authorities, whether it expects local authorities to enforce the Antisocial Behaviour Notices (Houses Used for Holiday Purposes) (Scotland) Order 2011 regarding antisocial behaviour complaints in connection with short-term let accommodation.

Question reference: S6W-03023

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on 8 January 2020 in relation to the plans for the short-term let licensing regime, whether ensuring the safety of occupants was the rationale for introducing the policy, and whether that continues to be the case.

On 8 January 2020, Mr Stewart, the then Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, emphasised the importance of the safety of visitors, hosts, neighbours and local residents in his statement to the Scottish Parliament. This was the rationale for introducing the policy and that remains the case. It has also always been the intention to give local authorities further powers under the licensing scheme to tackle other issues arising from short-term lets.

Our licensing scheme proposals deliver national consistency on safety standards, and autonomy for local authorities to add further conditions in response to local needs and concerns.

Question reference: S6W-03069

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with (a) the chief constable and (b) Police Scotland regarding what action can be taken to address the concerns reportedly expressed by the chief constable that non-emergency calls to the force were abandoned 40% of the time due to delays in answering calls.

Police Scotland have advised that this has been an exceptionally busy period for the service and particularly for the Contact, Command and Control Division, with an unprecedented call levels to both the 101 non-emergency number and 999 call lines. The COVID pandemic has and continues to place unprecedented pressures on our emergency services. Across Scotland all organisations have had to manage increased leaves of covid-related absence while maintaining service levels.

While delivery of the police 101 service is a matter for Police Scotland, I have sought assurances around its operation and the Chief Constable has outlined a number of improvements, including updated options for callers and system changes to better prioritise calls have been outlined as part of these discussions. Callers to the 101 service are advised if their call is related to an emergency to dial 999. The latest figures show that 999 calls are answered on average within 7 seconds.

Question reference: S6W-03182

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the observations included in an open letter to crofting commissioners from Donald MacKinnon, on behalf of the Board of the Scottish Crofting Federation, dated 14 September 2021.

It is for the crofting Commission to respond to the matters addressed to it in the letter from the Scottish Crofting Federation. However, the Scottish Government will also consider the broader issues relating to crofting policy. We are already committed to addressing neglect and absenteeism, and developing crofting to create more active crofts. We have a strong track record of supporting new entrants and this will remain a priority. We will continue to work with the Crofting Commission and others to ensure that key actions within the Crofting Development Plan are progressed.

Question reference: S6W-03021

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the effectiveness of the Antisocial Behaviour Notices (Houses Used for Holiday Purposes) (Scotland) Order 2011.

Question reference: S6W-03183

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not included a crofting reform bill in the Programme for Government 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-02988

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported ferry cancellations, what action it is taking to ensure that fresh produce ferry freight is able to be moved effectively.

The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) and Northern Isles ferry Service (NIFS) operators will always try to ensure that fresh produce freight is moved quickly and effectively. At times of disruption and cancellation they seek to prioritise or move freight hauliers onto alternative sailings or on other routes where possible.

Where feasible on networks, additional or alternative sailings can provide extra capacity on disrupted routes and vessels are often redeployed from around the network to maximise overall resilience. Consideration of appropriate responses to cancellations and disruption on other ferry routes, such as the Irish Sea crossings, are a matter for the operators of these services.

Question reference: S6W-03058

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the regulations related to the parental viewing of children’s sports in schools.

Our priority is keeping children, young people and school staff safe. The COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s issues keeps the mitigations in schools and ELC settings under constant review. It considered the issue of parental attendance at school sporting events at its meeting on 21 September. Scottish Ministers are considering the sub-group's advice on this and other issues, and will announce the outcome as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6O-00207

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to recruit GPs in the Borders.