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-02392

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent call by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for global action to be taken to halt the loss of and restore damaged peatlands, what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland’s peatlands are (a) protected and (b) restored.

The Scottish Government, along with Scottish Natural Heritage, published Scotland's National Peatland Plan in August 2015. The Peatland Plan establishes a framework in which the Scottish Government, along with SNH, are leading the way forward in the management, protection, and restoration of Scotland’s peatlands, and as a consequence, protects its biodiversity and ecosystems. The Peatland Plan established a National Peatland Group which involves partners such as the IUCN Peatland Inquiry to support its delivery and along with a Monitoring and Research Group ensuring an evidence base and helping future actions.

In addition to the protection afforded by the suite of Natural sites and SSSIs, specific actions in the Plan include Scottish Planning policy which provides protection for peatlands as well as the work funded by the Scottish Government, through its Strategic Research Programme and Centres of Expertise, to deliver multi-disciplinary research to improve our knowledge of peatlands. This knowledge is then used to develop new tools and approaches to support sustainable management and help achieve restoration targets. Funding to support peatland restoration and management is available through the Scottish Rural Development programme and SNH has supported more than 100 projects through its Peatland Action initiative.

Question reference: S5W-02631

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in order to preserve access to the US market for fish and fish products, whether it will introduce legislation that prohibits the intentional killing of marine mammals in all of Scotland's fisheries.

Question reference: S5W-02362

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Scottish salmon farming industry is compliant with new regulations adopted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prohibiting imports from fisheries where marine animals are intentionally harmed.

Question reference: S5W-02309

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00029 by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 May 2016, when it will make a decision on the status of the European beaver.

Question reference: S5W-02310

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to devise a framework to support the management of European beavers in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-02307

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since February 2016 with the Scottish SPCA regarding extending its powers to tackle wildlife crime.

Question reference: S5W-02306

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00030 by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 May 2016, on what date it will announce its decision regarding extending the powers of the Scottish SPCA to tackle wildlife crime.

Question reference: S5O-00152

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to detect, prevent and prosecute dog fighting offences.

Question reference: S5W-02311

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 14 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to strengthen the development of grassroots tennis in Scotland since the Davis Cup was won by Great Britain in 2015.

Through sport Scotland, we have invested £3.3 million in tennis facilities over the last five years, which has generated a total investment of approximately £11 million in match funding across Scotland and has delivered over 100 indoor tennis courts.

Membership of Tennis Scotland has increased by more than 42% since 2009-10 with strong growth in both adult and junior membership predicted and a target of 57,000 by October 2017. The number of people playing tennis within the Disability Tennis Network has seen a 35% increase – from 275 to 372 players.

Question reference: S5W-02308

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on preventing plastic microbeads from entering the marine environment.

Scotland’s Marine Litter Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s policy to reduce and prevent litter entering the sea, including plastic microbeads. The strategy includes over 40 actions such as raising public awareness, encouraging companies to produce alternatives to plastic microbeads, as well as undertaking research to address gaps in knowledge.

The Scottish Government are also supportive of the recent announcement by the UK Government to ban microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. This is consistent with Scotland’s Marine Litter Strategy and we will work with the UK Government in developing these proposals.