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: S5O-01214

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Principles for Just Trade deals established by the Trade Justice Scotland Coalition.

The Principles for Just Trade state that trade should be democratic, work in the public interest and do good.

This is consistent with the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy.

The UK Government and the European Commission that trade agreements must not adversely affect the delivery of public services, or lower standards or limit the Government’s right to regulate in the public interest.

Since the vote to leave the EU, the UK Government’s approach to withdrawal has seemed to reject the principles of devolution, and the sharing of decision making across these islands. We will continue to challenge this approach and to promote the best possible outcome for Scotland.

We will seek to represent Scotland’s interests internationally and to ensure that these interests are met in future discussions.

Question reference: S5W-10864

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made with the consultation for the Good Food Nation Bill.

Question reference: S5W-10809

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to eliminate marine pollution from nurdles.

The Scottish Government published the Marine Litter Strategy in 2014 with over 40 actions to reduce the amount of litter entering our seas, including plastic pellets or 'nurdles'. The Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group is meeting 7 September 2017 and the subject of nurdles has been added to the agenda at the request of one of the members Fidra. Fidra runs The Great Nurdle Hunt and promotes Operation Clean Sweep, an international programme designed by the plastics industry to prevent the loss of material by those who make, ship and use nurdles. Marine Scotland chairs the Steering Group and it will work with the group to agree actions to promote this programme with relevant organisations in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-10810

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action Scottish Water is taking to reduce marine pollution from plastic clothing fibres.

Question reference: S5W-10689

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the development of a vision for the country's uplands will be linked to any guidance it produces regarding the establishment of regional land use partnerships.

Question reference: S5W-10693

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the development proposal at Coul Links being partly within the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area, what its position is on whether this is counter to Article 4 of the EU birds directive, which states that “In respect of the protection areas referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats or any disturbances affecting the birds, in so far as these would be significant having regard to the objectives of this Article.”

Article 7 of the EU Habitats Directive makes provision for the application of Article 6 (2), (3) and (4) of that Directive with the effect of superseding the requirements of Article 4(4) of the EU Birds Directive for Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 make the necessary provisions for the protection of European Sites.

In relation to any proposed development at Coul Links, it would be the responsibility of the Highland Council, on receipt of a planning application, to consider all significant environmental effects likely to arise from a proposed development prior to making a decision whether to grant planning consent and whether any conditions would be attached. Scottish Planning Policy (available at www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/06/5823/7) describes the circumstances where proposed development might affect SPAs.

Question reference: S5W-10688

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to commission the development of a vision for the country's uplands as recommended by Scottish Natural Heritage in the report, Scoping a Strategic Vision for the Uplands, and when this will be carried out.

The Scottish Government commissioned Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to scope the potential to develop a strategic vision for the uplands, which was a proposal in The Land Use Strategy 2016-2021. SNH submitted its report, Scoping a Strategic Vision for the Uplands, to the Scottish Government earlier this year and the report was published in July 2017. We are considering the content of the report and its recommendations and will respond in due course.

Question reference: S5W-10692

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Foveran Links being declassified as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) because of the damage caused to it by the golf course development within it, what its response is to concerns that a similar proposed development in the Loch Fleet SSSI could lead to the loss of another protected site.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has yet to denotify any part of the Foveran Links Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). SNH will undertake a review of the impact of the golf course on the scientific interest of the SSSI as part of its periodic consideration of impacts of developments on SSSIs across Scotland. Only after this review will consideration be given to whether any action to denotify part or all of the SSSI is required.

In relation to the Loch Fleet SSSI, it would be the responsibility of the Highland Council, on receipt of a planning application, to consider all significant environmental effects likely to arise from a proposed development prior to making a decision whether to grant planning consent and whether any conditions would be attached. Scottish Planning Policy (available at www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/06/5823/7) describes the circumstances where proposed development might affect SSSIs.

Question reference: S5W-10690

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on establishing the limited life expert group that it committed to in the document, Getting the best from our land, A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016 - 2021, and whether it will report by the end of 2017.

Land Use Strategy Policy 7 encourages the further development of the regional land use partnership approach. It also recognises that further work is required to clarify a range of issues relating to regional partnerships and proposes that a limited life expert group be established to provide advice. We are considering possible approaches to securing expert advice on a number of issues related to any next steps for the regional land use partnership approach.

Question reference: S5W-10738

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance there is regarding air pollution arising from ash lagoons.

Ash lagoons on industrial sites such as Longannet are authorised through the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012. The license for Longannet set conditions requiring the operator to minimise the emission of dust to the atmosphere and to provide dust suppression water spraying equipment. The site specific measures for doing so are detailed in their management plan. This plan has been updated since the dust events of April/May 2017.

General guidance on Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and landfill regulation are available on SEPA’s website. https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/landfill/#two