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-26412

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update its international strategy and, if so, when, and whether it will consult on the update.

Following the launch of Scotland’s Economic Strategy, which included internationalisation as one of its key priorities, Scotland’s International Framework was published on 25 March 2015.

The framework is accompanied, for the first time, by a ministerial International Policy Statement and supported by a digital platform of related material. The policy statement will be updated as our priorities and the environment in which we operate evolve, whilst the framework is intended to provide a longer term direction for our internationalisation activity.

The framework and policy statement were developed in close collaboration across the Scottish Government, its agencies, the wider public sector as well as stakeholders in Scottish society and adopt a partnership approach to delivery.

Scotland’s International Framework and the International Policy Statement are available online at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/strategy

Question reference: S4W-26063

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 22 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for a consultation on unconventional gas and fracking.

Question reference: S4O-04511

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address food poverty in Mid Scotland and Fife.

Question reference: S4T-01054

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the range of powers of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

Question reference: S4O-04441

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Fife and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4O-04379

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the economy of Levenmouth in Fife.

Question reference: S4O-04346

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking under the Fair Work, Skills and Training portfolio to support the Fife economy.

Question reference: S4W-25238

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it and (b) its relevant bodies have spent on the upkeep and conservation of Rowallan Castle during its time in public ownership.

Rowallan has not been in public ownership, it has been maintained by the state under a guardianship agreement with successive owners since 1950. Guardianship of an ancient monument arises where the owner of the monument places it under the control and management of the Scottish Ministers. This is done by means of a guardianship deed. Guardianship is regulated by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the guardianship deed. Guardianship confers powers and duties on ministers in respect of the monument, including placing a duty on ministers to maintain a monument. It does not alter the ownership of a monument.

Between 1950 and 2007 around £1 million or on average around £17,544 per year was spent on upkeep and conservation. In the period 2008-15 Historic Scotland spent £77,663 to meet upkeep and conservation costs.

Question reference: S4W-25236

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it will rescind guardianship of Rowallan Castle.

The legal and administrative arrangements to secure transitional and ongoing arrangements for preservation of the monument are being finalised. I wrote to the Education and Culture Committee on 28 February 2015 to inform them of this case. These arrangements will include a legally binding agreement including conservation and maintenance along with public access requirements. As soon as these arrangements are completed guardianship of Rowallan Old Castle will be rescinded.

Question reference: S4W-25263

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the police sickness absence rate has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) division and (b) rank.