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-11948

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any regulation changes being proposed by the Isle of Man Government that would have a detrimental effect on Scotland's scallop fishing industry.

We are informed that based on a scientific stock assessment of the king scallop stock within the Isle of Man territorial sea, a total allowable catch for the season commencing 1 November 2017 is going to be introduced of 3,203 tonnes.

All vessels operating in the fishery will be limited to catching 1,050 kilograms per day from the Isle of Man territorial sea.

Both of these measures will restrict the quantity of king scallops that all vessels are able to landing during the season.

The Scottish Government advocate a catch limitation on a weekly basis, rather than a limitation per day, as this would take greater account of the range of vessels prosecuting the fishery (for example, those vessels travelling greater distances or larger vessels with higher running costs).

The Scottish Government continues to make representations to the Isle of Man Government for an allocation based on a weekly basis.

Question reference: S5W-12082

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to put in place a derogation to delay the spreading deadline on nitrate vulnerable zone land.

Question reference: S5W-11951

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the retention of cottage hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S5W-11952

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of cottage hospitals in the transitional period from acute hospital to home.

Community (Cottage) Hospitals deliver valuable services in many local communities. They can be an important part of providing people with the care and support they need closer to home and also help to reduce unnecessary admissions to acute hospitals. In addition, they can act as step down facilities allowing earlier discharge from acute hospitals and be part of a community hub of local services.

Question reference: S5O-01398

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with UK ministers regarding the Borderlands Growth Deal, which has been announced by the UK Government.

Question reference: S5W-11561

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much money was set aside for the new NVZ (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones), Stranraer Lowlands, to enable farmers to apply for a slurry storage grant.

The 2016 slurry storage application round was restricted to applicants within the areas newly designated as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) on 1 January 2016, including the Stranraer Lowlands. No funding was specifically set aside for the 2016 slurry storage application round, but sufficient funds were certainly available to provide up to £30,000 worth of slurry storage capacity, plus any ancillary equipment required for each eligible applicant that required it.

Question reference: S5W-11560

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding for the new NVZ (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones), Stranraer Lowlands, was (a) spent and (b) returned.

SRDP contracts with a total value of £162,260 were issued for slurry storage in the newly designated Stranraer Lowlands Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. One offer of contract worth £35,250 was not accepted by the applicant. The recent poor weather appears to have hampered the completion of the other slurry stores. Claims in respect of these contracts are therefore still to be submitted. Payments will be made once the claims are received.

Question reference: S5O-01345

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Dumfries and Galloway Council and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5O-01323

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding equity and equality of service across its area.

Question reference: S5W-11254

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what agreements it has in place with the Isle of Man Government regarding fisheries, including shared fishing stocks, and what recent discussions there have been regarding (a) scallop fishing and (b) the rights of Scotland's scallop fleet.

The Scottish Government maintains regular contact with the Isle of Man and other UK administrations, in relation to the management of the king and queen scallop fisheries in Isle of Man and UK waters. There is a formal Fisheries Management Agreement in place with the Isle of Man, that sets out access arrangements for UK fishing vessels to the Isle of Man’s territorial sea, and the process by which the Isle of Man consults with the UK administrations prior to introducing any new management measures.

The Scottish Government is also currently working with the other UK administrations and the Isle of Man on improving the management of the UK’s queen scallop fishery. A working group, made up of government officials and fishing industry representatives, was formed in 2015 and has met several times to develop management proposals. This process led to a public consultation last year on new conservation measures, which was supported by all the administrations.