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-21238

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recently-published research in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, which suggests a connection between increasing levels of childhood vaccination and (a) type 1 diabetes and (b) autism.

The paper in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine is authored by a private individual who has no wider organisational affiliation. The paper reviews a selection of previous publications, many of which are by the same author. The paper does not publish any new findings and does not present any new evidence.

The alleged associations between vaccination and autism and type 1 diabetes have been extensively researched through population studies, and there is no evidence linking vaccination to increases in type 1 diabetes or autism. The World Health Organisation’s Global Advisory Committee on vaccine safety supports this view.

Question reference: S4W-21057

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence has been used to support the vaccination of primary school children with the nasally ingested Fluenz drug.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that the live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine Fluenz should be the vaccine of choice for the childhood flu immunisation programme. Arrangements are in place to offer alternative authorised vaccines for the small number of children who are unable to receive the Fluenz vaccine.

The new childhood vaccination programme was introduced in October 2013, and will be rolled out over the next few years on a phased basis, offering protection to those aged 2-17. Advice from Health Protection Scotland was that maximal public health benefit was anticipated through introducing the programme in the youngest age groups initially and progressively rolling the programme out to older children over coming seasons. The rationale for this choice reflects the maximal risk from influenza and its complications arising in the youngest children. It additionally takes into account the maximal anticipated impact on lowering transmission of influenza in the community by vaccination of the youngest children and as a consequence indirectly protecting other unvaccinated children and adults.

Vaccination is voluntary, and it is always our aim to ensure that people are able to make informed choices about whether or not to accept the offer of vaccination for themselves or those for whom they make decisions. The Scottish Government will raise awareness of the childhood flu vaccination programme to inform and educate parents, children, healthcare professionals and others about the programme.

Question reference: S4W-21082

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on bulk purchasing flu vaccines in the last five years and how much it has saved by entering into joint-procurement contracts with the rest of the UK.

A new childhood influenza vaccination programme was introduced in October 2013, which is being rolled out over the next few years on a phased basis, offering protection to those aged 2-17 years. The new nasal vaccine being used for the childhood programme is purchased centrally by Public Health England under a UK contract for all four countries including Scotland. The contract price is confidential.

The Scottish Government spend on the new immunisation programmes in 2013-14 was around £10 million (this includes vaccine and central costs such as surveillance, lab costs etc.). This will rise to around £16 million in 2014-15. This incorporates costs of the rotavirus, shingles and childhood flu programmes.

Seasonal flu vaccines are purchased in Scotland by community pharmacies on behalf of individual GP practices and this has been the case for many years, including the last five years.

However, this winter, the Scottish Government will be purchasing centrally all injectable flu vaccines required for children. Those vaccines are for the small number of children for whom the live attenuated vaccine is not suitable. Community pharmacies will still purchase adult flu vaccines on behalf of GP practices. The Scottish Government also buys a small contingency stock of vaccines centrally each year. The cost of this is around £150,000.

Question reference: S4O-03225

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 14 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, which suggests that there were statistically significantly lower levels of numerical attainment at both P4 and P7 in 2013 compared with 2011.

I refer the member to my earlier answer to Iain Gray. We announced a range of measures to ensure a clear focus on numeracy across Scotland’s schools.

In addition to the extra £1 million funding over three years committed to the local authority numeracy hubs programme, Education Scotland are building a range of further activities and resources into the support they provide to local authorities, teachers and schools on numeracy. This includes further professional learning resources for teachers based on the survey findings.

We are also incorporating a specific numeracy strand into our ground-breaking work on Pathfinder schools and building a specific focus on numeracy into the forthcoming Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development review of Curriculum for Excellence.

Question reference: S4O-03205

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications of independence are for the oil and gas industry.

Unlike successive UK Governments, an independent Scotland will provide industry with the necessary fiscal and regulatory stability and predictability for it to innovate and thrive in a globally competitive environment. With independence, Scotland would have the opportunity to put in place a regulatory and fiscal framework which supports and incentivises exploration and production and provides long term stability and certainty for the industry. More than half the value of North Sea oil remains, up to 24 billion barrels with a potential wholesale value of up to £1.5 trillion. We must not let Westminster continue to squander the remainder of this hugely valuable resource.

Question reference: S4W-20480

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the overall megawatt capacity for (a) onshore and (b) offshore windfarms has been in each year since 2003.

	Onshore Windfarms Consented Capacity (MW)	Onshore Windfarms Consented Cumulative Capacity (MW)	Offshore Windfarms Consented Capacity (MW)	Offshore Windfarms Consented Cumulative Capacity (MW)
2003	No records held	No records held	216	216
2004	No records held	No records held	-	216
2005	No records held	No records held	-	216
2006	No records held	No records held	-	216
2007	213	213	-	216
2008	1316.5	1529.5	-	216
2009	384.3	1913.8	-	216
2010	459.3	2373.1	-	216
2011	412.5	2785.6	6	222
2012	744.6	3530.2	-	222
2013	394.2	3924.4	7	229
2014	174	4098.4	1866	2095

Question reference: S4W-20798

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-17346 and S4W-20321 by John Swinney on 10 October 2013 and 1 April 2014 respectively, who the “range of stakeholders” are that it has met regarding the postal service in an independent Scotland; on what dates the meetings took place, and whether it will produce the (a) agendas and (b) minutes of these.

Scottish Government officials held informal initial discussions with representatives from the Communication Workers Union on 28 August 2013, the National Federation of Subpostmasters on 7 October 2013 and 7 March 2014, and Post Office Ltd on 17 March 2014. Discussions focussed on current issues around post and post offices and the relevant content of the Scottish Government's White Paper ‘Scotland's Future’. No minutes were agreed.

Question reference: S4O-03149

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to new research that shows there to be “no good evidence” that the Tamiflu vaccine reduces flu-related hospital admissions or the complications of influenza.

Question reference: S4W-20459

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 22 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what planning guidelines it will use to regulate new house building on flood plains.

Question reference: S4O-03129

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to farmers adversely affected by severe flooding.