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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1909 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-33223

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding packages are available to businesses that use birds of prey and are involved in what is considered a globally-significant conservation project.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any globally-significant conservation projects for birds of prey in Scotland. There is no requirement on the Scottish Government to compensate bird keepers for the measures that apply under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ). Most of these mandatory measures are considered as best practice biosecurity measures, which should be implemented regardless of an AIPZ. The Scottish Government continues to promote and encourage sound biosecurity practices.

Question reference: S5W-33222

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Scotland being declared an Avian Flu Prevention Zone, what funding is available to businesses that are affected by both COVID-19 and avian flu restrictions, potentially leaving them with no revenue stream.

There is no requirement on the Scottish Government to compensate bird keepers for the measures that apply under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ). Most of these mandatory measures are considered as best practice biosecurity measures, which should be implemented regardless of an AIPZ. The Scottish Government continues to promote and encourage sound biosecurity practices. The Strategic Framework sets out the Scottish Government's package of business support measures from 2 November for businesses impacted by protective measures to suppress coronavirus. The Strategic Framework Business Fund offers grant support of up to £3,000 for businesses required to close by law, and grants of up to £2,100 for those businesses that remain open, but are required by law to modify their operations. The eligibility of a business depends on where the premises are located and the level of restrictions in place at any point in time. The schedules of The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 contain the measures that apply to businesses for each level, and information is also published on the Scottish Government website ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-strategic-framework-business-fund/pages/eligibility/) .

Question reference: S5O-04773

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis the constitution secretary stated that an independence referendum would take place in 2021.

Question reference: S5W-32437

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when regulations will be published regarding exemptions from low-emission zones under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

Question reference: S5O-04720

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how its planning policy supports the delivery of new housing developments.

Question reference: S5T-02463

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being given to hospitality businesses that cannot operate due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Question reference: S5W-31626

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce details of the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme, including the vaccinations to be provided at GP surgeries.

Responsibility for delivering the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities with support from GP practices. The administration of vaccinations provided in General Practices will depend on each Health Board’s individual delivery model.

The Flu Vaccination programme for those who are entitled to a free seasonal flu vaccine will begin on 1 October as planned.

Question reference: S5W-31700

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £5.3 million it has spent on COVID-19-related campaigns across all media channels has been allocated to expenditure on (a) Facebook, (b) Instagram, (c) Newsquest, (d) local newspapers, (e) national newspapers, (f) (i) online, (ii) television and (iii) radio advertising and (g) other media sources.

Please note that the £5.3 million figure has subsequently been corrected to £5.8 million.

a - Facebook	£246,543	Note - Facebook & Instagram spend is recorded together rather than by site
b - Instagram	£246,543
c - Newsquest	£40,174	Spend in The Herald, Herald on Sunday, Glasgow Times, The National & National on Sunday. Please note additional spend in Newsquest has been made through Mediaforce packages but we do not know the breakdown of costs to individual publications, for that reason we have not included those costs.
d - Local / Regional Newspapers	£780,377
e - National Newspapers	£259,071
f1 - Online	£1,199,301	Note - this includes the spend on Facebook and Instagram
f2 - Television	£1,963,246
f3 - Radio	£747,703
g - Others	£662,034	Spend in Broadcast Media (e.g STV Player, Sky Adsmart)
g - Others	£4,384	Spend in Magazines

Question reference: S5O-04613

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place in schools to reinforce the message that pupils need to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Question reference: S5O-04601

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to businesses that have been impacted the most by COVID-19 restrictions.