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-15124

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the independent assessor to review the transport infrastructure needs for the South Scotland region will be appointed, and when that work will commence.

Question reference: S5W-15030

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to installing average speed cameras on the A77 between the Holmston and Whitletts roundabouts, in light of a recent fatal car crash and reports of regular car racing on this section of road.

Safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. Site selection requirements are set out in the programme handbook which is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/4798/scottish-safety-camera-programme-handbook2.pdf

Transport Scotland have held discussions with key stakeholders following reports of anti-social driver behaviour on the A77 between Holmston and Whitletts roundabouts. In response, Police Scotland have directed resource into this area to encourage improved driver behaviour and speed limit compliance.

Question reference: S5W-14951

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to repair the A77/M77, in light of the potential damage or accidents that could occur as a result of a reported increase in the number of large potholes.

Winter 2017-2018 has seen a return to more standard Scottish winter conditions, following previous milder winters. Consequently, the recent prolonged period of difficult winter weather conditions, with a recurring pattern of snow, rain, freeze and thaw, has been such that significant deterioration has occurred widely throughout the network

A considerable programme of work is being delivered to improve the condition of the road surface on the A77/M77. This includes ongoing safety inspections and patching of isolated potholes, alongside the delivery of larger resurfacing schemes. An additional £500,000 (over and above the existing investment programme) has been secured and is being used to deliver major resurfacing schemes on the route. These schemes are programmed to be delivered during March at Doonholm Road, Kennedys Pass and Straids Pass. Further resurfacing schemes have also been accelerated for delivery during the same period at Kilphin to Auchairne, Kirkoswald, South of Holmston Roundabout and Auchencrosh.

Connect, the DBFO company which maintains the M77 between junctions 5 and 8, undertook emergency repairs on 26 January and further patch repairs overnight on 29 January and 30 January. Connect will also be undertaking a further programme of carriageway resurfacing in April when 28,000 square metres of surfacing will be replaced.

Question reference: S5O-01863

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gives to the provision of teaching life skills as part of the school curriculum.

Question reference: S5W-14417

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing a target for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning, in light of it reportedly being shown to reduce the risk of repeat fractures in people at risk of osteoporosis.

Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is not covered by the Scottish Government's six week waiting time standard for 8 key diagnostic tests. We have however made clear to Boards that they should try to ensure patients are seen if possible within six week or as quickly thereafter. For any patient requiring repeat scans this would always be based on the frequency determined by their clinician.

Question reference: S5W-14416

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the introduction of a national standard for fracture liaison services.

The Scottish Government’s National Falls lead is about to start work with a wide range of stakeholders on the development of a Falls and Fracture Prevention Consensus Statement and Commitment. The value of and evidence for Fracture Liaison Services will be taken in to consideration in the development of the statement, along with other evidence-based approaches to falls and fracture prevention.

Question reference: S5W-14559

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer question S5W-13642 by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018, in light of the minister's comment that "in the past 5 years, Transport Scotland has been consulted on 4 separate planning applications potentially affecting the Bellfield Interchange and did not object to any of these", whether the minister has been made aware of the East Ayrshire Local Development Plan, which was published on 30 November 2016, in which the reporter commented that "Transport Scotland is not able to support the Local Development Plan spatial strategy at this time".

East Ayrshire Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) process considered land use changes and identified potential medium to longer term impacts on the A77 Bellfield junction. Transport Scotland made representations to the Proposed LDP noting that development impacts and potential requirements for supporting mitigation had not been fully considered.

Following the LDP review process the Reporter directed changes to the LDP which now includes actions for East Ayrshire Council to progress studies on the impact of future development allocations over the coming years. Transport Scotland will work with East Ayrshire Council on the studies which they take forward and I look forward to seeing this work progress.

Question reference: S5W-13747

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13460 by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2018, whether the proposed study will include an economic impact assessment regarding (a) the economic activity generated by the ports at Cairnryan and (b) how communities along the A77 and A75 corridors and relevant rail routes are influenced by the current road infrastructure.

The South West Scotland Transport Study will be undertaken in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance. In doing so it will include an evidenced based assessment of problems, opportunities, issues and constraints in the area including the relationship between the trunk road and rail network and the communities along the routes. The study will investigate the role that the ports at Cairnryan have in the economy of the region and in Scotland both now and in the future. Further details on Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance can be found here(https://www.transport.gov.scot/our-approach/industry-guidance/scottish-transport-analysis-guide-scot-tag/#). A copy of the brief issued for the south west study is available here (https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/41383/latis-lot-2-sw-scotland-transport-study-itt-as-issued.pdf ).

Question reference: S5W-13462

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport's inquiry into the legal right of still born babies to be eligible for the Crown Office to instigate an inquiry into an unexplained death where appropriate.

The Scottish Government and COPFS continue to discuss the complexities of the law in this area.

The investigation of deaths in Scotland is undertaken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of the Lord Advocate, as head of the system of investigation and deaths in Scotland, a function which the Lord Advocate exercises independently of any other person.

The circumstances in which a Fatal Accident Inquiry may be held are prescribed by the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016. Under that Act, the circumstances surrounding a stillbirth cannot be the subject of a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

COPFS guidance requires the death of a child which is a sudden, unexpected and unexplained perinatal death to the be reported to the procurator fiscal. COPFS keeps its guidance on reporting of deaths under review. Any revisals to COPFS guidance will be a matter for the Lord Advocate.

COPFS may investigate the circumstances of a stillbirth in appropriate circumstances. Scottish Government has been advised that COPFS is considering whether its guidance should clarify the circumstances in which a stillbirth should be reported to COPFS.

That consideration is taking place alongside the work which is currently being undertaken by Scottish Government with a view to bringing consistency to the investigation of stillbirths within NHSScotland.

Question reference: S5W-13642

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of applications to develop the sites serviced by the interchange being objected to by Transport Scotland on the grounds that the infrastructure was insufficient to support these developments, and reported concerns that traffic queuing down the access ramp onto the main trunk road being potentially dangerous, whether it will upgrade the Bellfield Interchange over the A77 at Kilmarnock, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to upgrade the A77 Bellfield Interchange. In the past 5 years, Transport Scotland has been consulted on 4 separate planning applications potentially affecting the Bellfield Interchange and did not object to any of these.

Transport Scotland seeks to support development proposals which can be demonstrated to have limited impact at Bellfield Interchange or otherwise be able to mitigate their impacts on junction performance.

Like many regions served by the trunk road network, this area has seen an increase in local business, industrial and residential developments over the years which has helped to grow Scotland’s economy. However, this growth brings extra pressure on surrounding infrastructure. Transport Scotland continues to work with the local planning authority in examining the authority’s aims through their Development Plans and specific planning applications, in accordance with Scottish Planning Policy.

Scottish Planning Policy, in relation to Development Management, dictates that, where existing infrastructure does not have the capacity to accommodate a development without adverse impacts on safety or unacceptable impacts on operational performance, further investment is likely to be required and the cost of the mitigation measures required to ensure the continued safe and effective operation of the network will have to be met by the developer.

In respect to longer term development planning, the East Ayrshire Local Development Plan was adopted on 3 April 2017 and includes actions for the Planning Authority (East Ayrshire Council) to progress studies to understand the impact of development on Bellfield Interchange over the coming years. This work will be progressed through consultation with Transport Scotland and other relevant stakeholders.

Vehicle activated signs were installed in September 2017 to warn trunk road users of impending traffic queues and this location will continue to be monitored following the introduction of the vehicle activated signs.