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-21116

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the Norwegian Government prior to the First Minister's speech, Scotland's Place in Europe on 28 April 2014 regarding the potential for Scotland to deny fishing fleets access to Scottish waters if an independent Scotland failed to negotiate membership of the EU.

Question reference: S4W-21576

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Glasgow City Council, (b) the UK Government and (c) the European Commission on lowering nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, in light of the legal action by the European Commission in relation to air quality targets.

The Scottish Government contributed to the UK Government’s response to the European Commission’s Article 258 letter of formal notice on infraction proceedings. This response, which is still being considered by the European Commission, outlined the various actions being undertaken across the UK to ensure compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limit values as soon as possible. We have not to date had any direct discussions with the commission on this issue.

The Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with Glasgow City Council on the potential infraction case. We continue to work closely with all local authorities and other partners to further reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide and other air pollutants.

Once the ‘missing link’ of the M8 between Baillieston and Newhouse, to the east of Glasgow, is completed, modelling indicates that compliance with the directive will be achieved. Transport Scotland estimate that this work will be completed in 2017-18.

Question reference: S4O-03408

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Funding Council and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4W-21575

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 10 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish its response to the responsible dog ownership consultation.

The consultation ‘Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures’ closed on 31 March 2014 with in excess of 2,000 responses received. The responses will be independently analysed and thoroughly considered and it is expected that an analysis report will be published during summer 2014. The views offered in response to the consultation will inform decisions by the Scottish Government about next steps in relation to measures to promote responsible dog ownership.

Question reference: S4F-02133

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recommendations in the Land Reform Review Group's final report, The Land of Scotland and the Common Good.

Question reference: S4W-21112

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the statement by the First Minister in his speech, Scotland's Place in Europe, on 28 April 2014 that the result of an independent Scotland failing to negotiate membership of the EU would see "the fishing fleets of 12 countries being denied any access to Scottish waters and as a consequence, their access to Norwegian waters, which is also dependent on Scottish access" represents Scottish Government policy.

A scenario whereby the vessels of 12 non-Scottish nations would lose access to fishing opportunities in Scotland’s waters – the fourth largest and among the richest in the core waters of the EU – cannot be seriously entertained.

The First Minister made clear that we propose a practical common sense approach to EU membership, which means that there is no detriment – none whatsoever – to any other member of the European Union as a result of Scotland’s continuing membership. The First Minister did not put forward an alternative scenario but referred to the fact that the alternative of denying foreign vessels access to fishing opportunities in Scottish waters was both absurd and has no basis in EU law.

Question reference: S4O-03245

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many sports clubs in Fife have received tickets for the Commonwealth Games.

As part of the Scottish Government’s legacy ticket initiative, Sportscotland will be distributing at least 1,000 tickets to key individuals who have made a significant contribution to sports clubs.

It is not yet possible to say how many of these tickets will be allocated to individuals in Fife because the nomination process is currently still open and will close on Friday 23 May 2014.

I will be happy to provide information on the clubs that have benefitted from the Scottish Government ticket initiative once the tickets have been allocated to successful nominees in June 2014.

Question reference: S4W-20654

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it plans to take in response to the illegal killing of birds of prey in addition to its consultation on the powers of the Scottish SPCA.

The Scottish Government takes the view that the detection and prosecution of offenders is the best response to the illegal killing of birds of prey. To that end we will continue to work with Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to build and strengthen the enforcement effort in this area of the law. We will also work with other members of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime to raise awareness of the serious consequences of wildlife crime and the damaging effects on Scotland’s reputation, environment and economy.

We aim to work with government and law enforcement partners to explore further options to detect and remove from the environment the dangerous poisons used to kill native wildlife. Officials are exploring options to build on an existing private sector chargeable pesticides disposal scheme (‘Project RCD’).

Additional measures to protect raptors were announced in July 2013:

Scottish Natural Heritage to restrict the use of general licences where they judge raptor persecution has taken place (there is now an enabling paragraph in the new General Licence for 2014).

A review of penalties for wildlife crime offences, which will report before the end of 2014.

A commitment from the Lord Advocate to encourage the full range of investigative techniques by the police against raptor crime.

The Scottish Government will continue to seek the full implementation and effectiveness of these measures.

Question reference: S4W-20656

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 7 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and (b) Minister for Environment and Climate Change has had with the Chief Constable regarding resources and training for wildlife crime officers.

There have been no discussions between the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Chief Constable regarding resources and training for wildlife crime officers.

The resources deployed and the training of wildlife crime officers are matters solely for the Chief Constable. It is not appropriate for Scottish Ministers to seek to intervene on operational policing matters.

I can advise however that since Police Scotland came into being on 1 April 2013, there have been significant changes to the structure and training for wildlife crime officers.

The strategic lead for wildlife crime which sits in the Specialist Crime Division is held by the Assistant Chief Constable. A Detective Chief Superintendent holds the portfolio lead and the post provides essential direction and governance around strategic issues relating to Wildlife Crime prevention and investigation.

A full time national Wildlife Crime Coordinator at Detective Sergeant level provides engagement with national issues relating to coordination, policy, performance and training, and supports the Detective Chief Superintendent.

In each of the 14 territorial divisions there are wildlife crime liaison officers who are supported by a Superintendent (or above). Wildlife crime officer posts can be either full or part-time and deal with crime prevention and investigation when required for operational policing issues.

It is important to highlight that the investigation of wildlife crime is not the exclusive preserve of dedicated staff, and a variety of investigative and intelligence resources and tactics are brought to bear on such matters, from local and national policing.

Question reference: S4W-20655

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 6 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change's comment in his letter to the chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates dated 26 February 2014 that "despite all our efforts, there remains an element of sporting managers and owners who continue to flout the law and defy public opinion", whether it will conduct a review of the licensing and other arrangements for regulating game bird shooting in other countries, with a view to implementing stronger management and regulation.

The Scottish Government announced a package of measures in July 2013. These were a review of the penalties for wildlife crime, a restriction on the use of general licences and encouragement for the police to use the full range of investigative techniques at their disposal to deal with wildlife crime. We also introduced the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act in 2012. The Scottish Government remains of the view that the measures have the capacity to help prevent, deter and detect wildlife crime. However, the measures must be given time to be fully implemented and for them to have an effect.

Nevertheless, we have been clear that if it becomes apparent that further measures are required we will take whatever action we consider necessary, including examining whether stronger management and regulation of game bird shooting is appropriate.