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: S4W-26246

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 1 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is adequately resourced and equipped to determine permit applications and oversee underground coal gasification projects.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is funded by a combination of grant in aid received from the Scottish Government and charging income recovered from regulated activities. The Scottish Government regularly monitors SEPA’s performance against its corporate plan targets and assesses resource needs to implement environmental legislation and other objectives as part of this dialogue.

Question reference: S4W-26060

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to NHS wheelchair users who experience malfunctioning equipment during weekend hours.

The role of the Scottish Government is to provide policies and frameworks to support NHS boards in the provision of healthcare services. It is for NHS boards to develop and deliver services based on the needs of their resident populations. This includes the delivery of wheelchair services in Scotland which is co-ordinated by five centres. These centres carry out specialist assessment and provision of wheelchairs in their designated areas. In addition wheelchair centres provide on going maintenance, servicing and repairs as part of a weekday service.

The Wheelchair & Seating Services Quality Improvement Framework suggests that 75% of urgent repairs should be completed within one day and 90% of routine repairs completed within five days. We expect that all urgent repairs are carried out as quickly as possible. In addition all users of powered wheelchairs are provided with a backup manual wheelchair in the event of a breakdown or malfunction.

Question reference: S4O-04479

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve care services for adults with cerebral palsy.

Question reference: S4W-25798

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the neighbour notification system for large scale windfarms.

We have no current plans for review or amendment of the neighbour notification for planning applications, including those for large wind farms. Following changes made in 2009 and more recently in 2013, we consider the current system of neighbour notification is proportionate and fit for purpose, and strikes the appropriate balance between public engagement and efficient processing.

Work has recently been undertaken on producing ‘Good practice guidance on public engagement for sub-20MW wind farms’. This is an outcome of public petition PE1469 which requested increases to the current neighbour notification distances for wind turbines. The draft good practice guidance was subject to public consultation between October and December 2014. The final guidance will be published soon.

Question reference: S4O-04403

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 3 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it will take account of agricultural interests before it reaches a decision on the reintroduction of wild beaver.

I am very aware of the need to take account of agricultural and other land management interests before coming to a decision on the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland. I have recently visited farms on Tayside to see for myself the impact beavers can have in productive farming areas. I have also had discussions with National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) and other land management organisations on the reintroduction of beavers and the NFUS, Scottish Land and Estates and Confederation of Forest Industries have been involved in the Tayside Beaver Study Group. Further consideration of the effects of beaver activities on agriculture will be addressed in the socio-economic reports which Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned, and which will be published shortly.

Question reference: S4W-25553

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 26 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average scheduled journey time on ScotRail services between (i) Edinburgh and Perth, (ii) Perth and Edinburgh, (iii) Perth and Inverness, (iv) Inverness and Perth, (v) Edinburgh and Inverness, (vi) Inverness and Edinburgh, (vii) Glasgow and Inverness and (viii) Inverness and Glasgow (A) was in 2007 and (B) is in 2015.

Detailed as follows, information from May 2007 and May 2015 timetables, the assessment portrays all the ScotRail services that operate on weekdays and Sundays. Other operator services are not included in the assessment.

(i) and (ii) Edinburgh and Perth

Origin	Destination	Year	(a) Longest (minutes)	(b) Shortest (minutes)	(c) Average (minutes)
Edinburgh	Perth	(A) 2007	85	77	80
Edinburgh	Perth	(B) 2015	78	71	74
Perth	Edinburgh	(A) 2007	88	77	80
Perth	Edinburgh	(B) 2015	83	73	77

(iii) and (iv) Perth and Inverness

Origin	Destination	Year	(a) Longest (minutes)	(b) Shortest (minutes)	(c) Average (minutes)
Perth	Inverness	(A) 2007	146	122	134
Perth	Inverness	(B) 2015	137	119	128
Inverness	Perth	(A) 2007	142	118	131
Inverness	Perth	(B) 2015	139	118	128

(v) and (vi) Edinburgh and Inverness

Origin	Destination	Year	(a) Longest (minutes)	(b) Shortest (minutes)	(c) Average (minutes)
Edinburgh	Inverness	(A) 2007	224	202	214
Edinburgh	Inverness	(B) 2015	215	195	204
Inverness	Edinburgh	(A) 2007	222	196	208
Inverness	Edinburgh	(B) 2015	223	194	206

(vii) and (viii) Glasgow and Inverness

Origin	Destination	Year	(a) Longest (minutes)	(b) Shortest (minutes)	(c) Average (minutes)
Glasgow	Inverness	(A) 2007	205	190	199
Glasgow	Inverness	(B) 2015	198	187	194
Inverness	Glasgow	(A) 2007	207	200	204
Inverness	Glasgow	(B) 2015	208	193	200

Question reference: S4O-04364

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether full fiscal autonomy remains its policy.

Question reference: S4O-04320

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of young disabled people in further education.

The most recent statistics from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) show that colleges are delivering more for young disabled students. In 2013-14, 22% of all learning hours delivered to students aged 16 to 24 were to students with a disclosed disability or requiring additional learning support; a two percentage point increase on the 2006-07 proportion.

The SFC has made improving access for disabled people a national priority. To support this, it will invest a record £100 million across the sector in 2015-16 to ensure colleges are resourced to meet the needs of this group.

Additionally, the SFC is working with the Equality Challenge Unit, Enable Scotland, College Development Network and other partners to continuously improve access and outcomes for these learners.

Question reference: S4W-25428

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 7 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce an age restriction of 18 on e-cigarettes.

Question reference: S4O-04275

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on reducing journey times on the Highland mainline between Inverness and Edinburgh.