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-14818

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of what impact exiting the EU might have on the rural economy.

This Government established the National Council of Rural Advisers in Summer 2017. One the Council’s first tasks was to consider the potential implications for rural Scotland of the UK leaving the EU. Their analysis (published in late November 2017) makes clear the fundamental and significant role played by EU membership in the environmental, social and economic well-being of rural Scotland.It also makes clear the scale of the challenge and the enormity of the threat posed by Brexit to Scotland’s rural economy.

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/11/6792

To assist the NCRA in their work we have published a paper on understanding the rural economy, which sets out core information including on GVA, employment and businesses in rural Scotland.

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/02/3310

Through the Strategic Research Programme we funded Scotland’s Rural College to produce a report into farm level profitability for four Scottish farm types (dairy, beef, sheep and crops) under three potential post-Brexit trade scenarios. The report was published in February 2018.

https://www.sruc.ac.uk/downloads/file/3606/assessing_the_impacts_of_alternative_post-brexit_trade_and_agricultural_support_policy_scenarios_on_scottish_farming_systems

Along with Defra, NI Daera and WG we funded the FAPRI Brexit report, which outlines the impact of a range of Brexit scenarios on the agriculture sector. https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/publications/FAPRI-UK%20Brexit%20Report%20-%20FINAL%20Clean.pdf

We have also commissioned a consortium including SRUC and UHI to research Seasonal Workers in Agriculture on a year-long project which will report by
‎ 31 March. The James Hutton Institute is carrying out demographic work including projections of the numbers of migrants needed to support the economy and society of remote and sparsely populated Scotland which will be also published by
‎ 31 March.

We are currently considering the further analytical requirements to help us to better understanding the impacts of brexit on our remote and rural areas and as we seek to collaborate and improve our evidence in the months ahead.

A number of other papers have been published by the Scottish Government following the EU referendum on the impacts on Scotland of the UK leaving the EU, including:

The dedicated Europe section on the Scottish Government website also contains a number of relevant including the First Minister’s letter to EU citizens in Scotland and minutes of Standing Council meetings.

Question reference: S5O-01719

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-01665

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the R100 superfast broadband programme will have on rural areas.

Question reference: S5O-01583

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received from the UK Government regarding the immigration status post-Brexit of NHS dentists in Scotland who are EU nationals.

The dental workforce in Scotland has benefited enormously from the skills and experience of staff from across the European Union.

The Scottish Government has repeatedly called for assurances that EU nationals would have their rights protected in the place that they choose to call home. While we welcome the fact that finally there has been some movement to guarantee the rights of EU and UK citizens, it is intolerable that it has taken this long. We will be studying the details of the phase one agreement but recognise there is still more work to do in phase two of the negotiations.

We continue to argue that the UK as a whole, and Scotland, should remain in the single market and continue to benefit from the free movement of persons, enabling businesses and sectors across Scotland, including the NHS, to recruit and retain the staff that they need. As the recent Scottish Government response to Migration Advisory Committee highlights, EU citizens make an overwhelmingly positive contribution to Scotland’s economy and society.

Question reference: S5O-01540

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been on the NHS workforce in Scotland of concerns regarding immigration policy following Brexit.

Scotland’s health workforce benefits enormously from the contribution made by staff from across the European Union. The Scottish Government has been absolutely clear about the need to safeguard our NHS, and we have consistently signalled our desire to retain membership of the Single Market, including the free movement of people.

I have met with NHS staff from the EU, who have told me directly of colleagues who are leaving the service. The Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association have also issued clear warnings that some EU staff are choosing to leave.

EU citizens rightly remain anxious. We continue to press the UK Government to safeguard citizens’ rights in full. The Scottish Government will do all it can to protect our NHS and the interests of EU nationals working in our public services.

Question reference: S5O-01456

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the future of EU nationals currently working in Scotland post-Brexit.

Question reference: S5O-01415

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme.

Question reference: S5O-01364

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the re-determination and appeals process in the new Scottish social security system will differ from the current UK system.

Our approach is different in several important, and fundamental, respects.

Our key priority is to treat people with dignity and respect and that in part means getting the decision right first time and quickly correcting any errors if they do occur.

When someone does want to challenge a decision, they will be able to request a “re-determination”. It means that another decision maker in the agency will put aside the original decision and make a new decision, including taking any new evidence into account. This is fundamentally different from the current DWP system which only looks at whether the original decision was right or not.

In addition, unlike the current DWP system, we will publish clear procedures and timescales. If they are not met, the person will be able to escalate their dispute directly to a tribunal.

The Social Security (Scotland) Bill also ensures that short-term assistance can be paid at the previous rate until the re-determination and appeal process is complete.

Question reference: S5W-11176

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on Scottish salmon exports if the sector is subject to World Trade Organization rules and tariffs after the UK leaves the EU.

The Scottish Government has commissioned independent research to look at the potential impacts of alternative EU exit scenarios on sea food and aquaculture exports and imports. The research, which will report later in the year, is expected to show the impacts of leaving the European Single Market, customs union and the EU’s trade agreements with countries and regions around the world. Stakeholders are currently and will remain engaged in the development of this research.

Question reference: S5W-11177

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding whether the level of funding for Marine Scotland Science that is provided by the EU will be maintained after the UK leaves the EU.

In addition to the vital contribution made to marine industries and coastal communities, European funding will account for around £30m of expenditure by Marine Scotland in relation to science, data collection and compliance costs between 2014 and 2020. The lack of clarity from the UK Government over future funding arrangements, however, threatens the long term sustainability of many stocks which has been hard won over many years.

I have written to UK Ministers on a number of occasions, most recently this week, to seek urgent clarity over their intentions regarding future funding arrangements. Scottish Government officials have also repeatedly sought such clarity in their engagements with counterparts in the UK Government, including assurances that Scotland will receive its fair share of funding in the future so that Marine Scotland can continue to provide the necessary scientific services to ensure a thriving and sustainable fishing industry and meet our international obligations.

It is highly frustrating and disappointing that no such clarity or assurance have been provided and that Scottish Government continues to be excluded from whatever thinking is taken forward in this area by the UK Government. I will be meeting with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 September when I will raise my concerns at this lack of meaningful engagement.