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-06511

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to promote Perth across the world now that it has city status.

Perth is currently widely promoted across Scotland's key markets under the Perthshire brand. Now it has regained city status, VisitScotland’s promotional material will highlight Perth as a city. Perth will also take its place in the cities section of VisitScotland's consumer website following its re-launch at the end of this month. In addition to other ongoing marketing activity, VisitScotland will also continue to work closely with the Perthshire Area Tourism Partnership on developing a tourism strategy and action plan for the area.

Question reference: S4W-06450

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers a broadband speed of 512 Kbps adequate for (a) business and (b) household purposes.

The Scottish Government recognises that world-class digital infrastructure is essential for Scotland’s future economic growth. That is why the Scottish Government, in Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan, has clearly set out its commitment to ensuring the availability of world-class digital access in Scotland by 2020. The action plan has also set an interim milestone of ensuring the availability of broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises by 2015. We will also put in place measures to ensure an uplift in service can be delivered to the remaining 10-15% for whom delivery of broadband at this speed will not be possible.

Question reference: S4W-06447

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will upgrade the (a) Trochry and (b) Amulree exchange to full platform ADSL in 2012.

Question reference: S4W-06449

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 16 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make Highland Perthshire a priority for broadband investment.

Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan makes clear the Scottish Government’s 2015 connectivity targets – broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises. We will also put in place measures to ensure an uplift in service can be delivered to the remaining 10-15% for whom delivery of broadband at this speed will not be possible.

The Scottish Government is clear that all areas in Scotland where the market will not deliver commercially represent our priorities for broadband investment. As we progress through delivery and implementation of our forthcoming procurement plan, we will be working closely with local authorities – including Perth and Kinross Council – to ensure that we fully understand local plans and priorities.

Question reference: S4W-06163

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 22 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the licence renewal process under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Question reference: S4W-06162

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 22 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce bureaucracy for businesses seeking to obtain a licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

NHSHealthScotland is conducting on behalf of the Scottish Government a wide ranging evaluation of the implementation and compliance with, Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

In addition, the Scottish Government has started work to review the guidance issued to licensing boards under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, and to looking at other aspects of licensing legislation to see if changes are necessary.

We are committed to ensuring that the sale of alcohol is appropriately regulated.

Question reference: S4W-06108

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail about improving rail services in Fife, including providing (a) additional carriages on morning services and (b) a higher frequency of services.

(a) The current service frequency in Fife is specified in the Franchise Service Level Commitment and was significantly enhanced in December 2008.

(b) ScotRail is also obliged to allocate its available train fleet to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat within 10 minutes of boarding a train, and to minimise any forecast overcrowding.

Transport Scotland meets regularly with ScotRail and Network Rail on operational and timetabling issues. Following on from these discussions, ScotRail has recently consulted on alterations to morning peak services to provide an earlier arrival into Edinburgh from Fife stations. This consultation feedback will be used to inform future service provision.

ScotRail monitor the number of carriages required for service in advance of each timetable change and review this following any change. An assessment of passenger loadings on peak services is currently taking place to inform a longer term review of provision within Fife. Any proposed alterations will be delivered from within existing franchise budget, resources and infrastructure.

Question reference: S4W-06107

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make Fife rail services a priority for investment.

The Scottish Government is striving to provide a high quality passenger experience for travellers using the Fife rail services through the following investments:

Class 170 diesel trains used on Edinburgh via Fife to Dundee/Perth/Aberdeen routes are currently undergoing both internal and external refurbishment works to be completed by late 2013.

All automated audible public announcement equipment at 40 Fife stations will be renewed over the summer. This will increase the flexibility of staff to communicate locally to inform passengers during times of disruption.

Routes between Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee including Fife Circle are expected to be electrified in phase 3 of the electrification of the strategic rail network, as outlined in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2008.

Question reference: S4O-00817

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of Perth having city status would be for the local and national economy.

Question reference: S4F-00518

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2012

To ask the First Minister what action is being taken to prevent those not actively farming from being able to claim agricultural subsidies.