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: S4O-03234

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the payment of the state pension in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-03185

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 7 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to increased recourse to foodbanks.

First of all, we recognise that there is a problem. The Trussell Trust reports that there is a fivefold increase in people who use foodbanks, compared with the previous year and we know from the report that we published in December 2013 that benefit changes and delays are a major cause of this increase.

It is simply unacceptable that so many people should have to rely on emergency food provision in our rich country.

The Scottish Government announced £1 million for an emergency food action plan to help combat food poverty. This includes £500,000 for a new Emergency Food Aid Grant Fund.

We will, as a government, continue to help the most vulnerable where we can but it is only with the full powers of independence that we can build a fairer welfare system and properly tackle complex issues such as food poverty.

Question reference: S4O-02969

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what specialist Police Scotland facilities are based in Fife.

Question reference: S4O-02916

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand childcare provision.

Question reference: S4O-02866

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of childcare provision in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-19026

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 17 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what review it has carried out of trafficking legislation in Scotland.

The Scottish Government keeps human trafficking legislation under regular review in dialogue with key stakeholders, in particular police and prosecutors. Trafficking is an international and cross border crime and a partnership approach is the most effective way to tackle it. In December 2013, the UK Government published a Draft Modern Slavery Bill and we are working with them to explore the potential for that Bill to cover Scottish interests. We have encouraged relevant Scottish organisations to consider and comment on the Bill. In addition, we have brought forward provisions for a human trafficking statutory aggravation, which are contained in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S4O-02668

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the CashBack for Communities programme in Fife.

Question reference: S4O-02513

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on common agricultural policy funding to be made available to Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-17398

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether jobs on so-called zero-hours contracts are eligible for support from regional selective assistance.

Only permanent positions part time (15-30 hours per week – 0.5 full time equivalent) or full time (30 hours or more per week) are eligible for regional selective assistance funding. The minimum conditions period for jobs created under aid for job creation rules are three years for small and medium-sized enterprises and five years for large businesses. These have to be certified by an independent accountant. Zero-hours contracts and/or seasonal contracts terminated before the qualifying period are not eligible for this assistance.

Question reference: S4W-17472

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what PFI contracts to build schools were approved in Fife between 1999 and 2007, what the capital cost was for each and how much will be paid over the lifetime of the contracts.