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: S5O-02594

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of pupils learning a musical instrument fell by over 1,000 between 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Question reference: S5W-19154

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the social care workforce is properly resourced so that people with neurological conditions can be cared for in their own home or other alternative care settings to hospital.

Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care that meets their needs and respects their rights and preferences for support and how it is delivered. Over the past decade a significant amount of work and investment has gone into supporting older people and people with disabilities including those with neurological conditions to live well in their own homes for longer. We are continuing this with more than £550 million additional investment this year in integrating health and social care.

In 2018-19, Councils will receive overall funding of £10.7 billion providing real terms increases in both revenue and capital funding this year. The settlement includes an additional £66 million to local government to support implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act, maintain payment of the real Living Wage, and increase payments for free personal and nursing care.

We are committed to making life better for people living with neurological conditions and will shortly publish Scotland’s first ever National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions, for public consultation. The plan will set out how we aim to improve the care, treatment and support available to people living with neurological conditions, and their carers.

Question reference: S5W-19153

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent Sue Ryder report that suggests that providing proactive and planned care to a person with MND could lead to savings of between 30-50% annually.

During 2018 we have engaged extensively with the neurological community to develop Scotland’s first ever National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions, which will be published in draft form for consultation shortly. The plan sets out our vision that everyone with a neurological condition will be able to access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms. We will consider the Sue Ryder report, as part of that consultation process.

Question reference: S5O-02449

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local communities where nearby rivers have been polluted by waste overflows from detritus flushed down toilets

Question reference: S5O-02355

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-02311

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how its investment in the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal will help deliver inclusive economic growth across the region and benefit residents in Midlothian and Musselburgh.

Question reference: S5O-02233

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 14 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information the UK Government shares with it regarding the possible outcomes of a so-called hard Brexit, and what input it has into the scenario planning.

Many reports show that a hard Brexit would be disastrous for the Scottish economy but the UK Government has not shared with us its assessment of the impact of such an outcome. Indeed throughout the Brexit process the UK Government has failed to involve the devolved governments in any meaningful way. The UK Government needs to be much more open about the risks and adverse consequences that are contained in its internal impact assessments of the consequences of Brexit.

We have made our views clear repeatedly to the UK Government that if Brexit is to happen then the least damaging solution is for Scotland and the UK to remain within the Single Market and Customs Union

Question reference: S5O-02150

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on farming of Brexit.

Question reference: S5O-02038

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Newbattle High School Digital Centre of Excellence.

Question reference: S5O-01773

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of Brexit on Scotland's finances, in light of the recent analysis by the UK Government, which reportedly suggests that, regardless of the terms of departure, Brexit will have a negative impact across all sectors.

The Scottish Government published Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment on 15 January 2018 which assesses the implications for Scotland’s economy if the UK exits the European Union. The analysis in this document indicates that a hard Brexit could lead to a loss of up to 8.5% of GDP (or £12.7bn in 2016 terms) in Scotland by 2030 – equivalent to £2,300 per individual.

Such an adverse shock to our economic performance would reduce tax revenues, and in turn the funding available for public services. For example separate analysis published in August 2016 and based on UK wide research provides an illustrative estimate that resources for public spending could be up to £3.7 billion a year lower under a “hard Brexit”.

Outside of the EU, continued membership of the European Single Market and Customs Union is the least worst option for Scotland and the rest of the UK. As we move into the crucial second phase of the negotiations, it is time for the UK Government to start putting jobs and living standards first.