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-15484

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Scottish Canals' reported assessment that an additional £70 million is required to invest in canal systems.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Scottish Canals to discuss the opportunities and the challenges around maintaining the historic canal assets.

Transport Scotland is working closely with Scottish Canals to understand the financial implications of the asset management plan which has been developed to prioritise the use of the resources available to them for maintenance and replacement on the canal network.

Question reference: S5W-15486

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide on when the Bonnybridge and Twecher bridge lifts will be repaired.

Question reference: S5W-15483

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported calls from boating organisations, what consideration it will give to the appointment of a non-executive director with boating experience to the board of Scottish Canals.

Question reference: S5W-15552

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out at Waverley Station to accommodate the operation of longer trains on the Edinburgh-Falkirk-Glasgow service.

Platform 12 extension works at Edinburgh Waverley were successfully completed to enable introduction of longer electric trains on the Edinburgh-Falkirk High-Glasgow service from December 2017. The crossover between platforms 10 and 11 was successfully installed during the Christmas period.

The introduction of 8-car services with a fastest journey time of 42 minutes are expected to commence from December 2018.

Question reference: S5W-14601

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the Scottish Ambulance Service provides sufficient emergency transport for people with mobility issues, and that crews receive adequate training to provide this.

The Scottish Ambulance Service is committed to ensuring the safe and effective emergency transfer of all patients, including those with mobility issues.

All ambulance service accident and emergency staff including Paramedics, Technicians and Patient Transport Staff are trained to carry out risk assessments when moving and handling patients. This includes dealing with patients with injuries, illness, disabilities and general age related mobility problems.

In addition, the Service has a range of equipment and vehicles which assist in the capability to ensure the safe transfer of patients with mobility issues.

Question reference: S5W-14318

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00908 by Humza Yousaf on 30 January 2018 (Official Report, c. 10), whether a timeline has been set for ScotRail to resolve the stop-skipping issue, and by what date the review of ScotRail's recovery measures will be (a) completed and (b) published.

Question reference: S5O-01797

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the forestry sector.

Question reference: S5W-13300

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12721 by Maree Todd on 14 November 2017, whether the opening hours of citizens advice bureaux will be alternated to take account of the kinship care contract, and whether each will hire dedicated staff to provide this service.

The opening hours of Citizen Advice Bureaux’s across Scotland vary. However, the National Kinship Care Advice Service helpline is available 9am to 5pm and callers out with these times can leave a message for a call back within 24 hours. Most enquires to the helpline are received during working hours, however, Citizen Advice Scotland will monitor the out of hours enquiries and if there is sufficient demand they will consider altering the availability period.

Citizen Advice Scotland already have an infrastructure of 2500 highly skilled advisors and volunteers across Scotland who are able to provide advice and information on matters relating to kinship care. For more complex enquiries, second tier support provided by four specialist Regional Officers based in Aberdeen, Airdrie, Penicuik and Dumfries have all seen their hours increase to ensure capacity to deliver an enhanced service. In addition to this, a National Co-ordinator role has been created to oversee the National Kinship Care Advice Service.

Question reference: S5W-13397

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12952 by Shona Robison on 23 November 2017, when it last met (a) Bield Housing and Care and (b) the key stakeholders, and whether it will provide an update on the plans that are in place for the residents.

Scottish Government officials last met with Bield Housing and Care on 14 November and have since been in regular contact with their Chief Executive. I am due to meet with Bield Housing and Care on 17January 2018.

My officials have also been engaging with stakeholders, including the Care Inspectorate and Integration Authorities, with regards to local arrangements that are being putting in place for residents. Such engagement will continue to ensure that these plans will enable continuity of services for residents at a local level with no compromise in the quality of care.

Question reference: S5W-13389

Asked by: Alison Harris, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on under16s (a) purchasing and (b) consuming caffeinated energy drinks.