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: S5W-00568

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28403 by Derek Mackay on 24 November 2015, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making on achieving grade separation for the Sheriffhall roundabout.

Question reference: S5W-00213

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision by North Yorkshire Council to approve testing for shale gas, whether it will provide an update on its position on fracking.

The Scottish Government has put in place a moratorium to ensure that no unconventional oil and gas exploration can take place in Scotland. A comprehensive programme of research is already underway to investigate the potential health, environmental and economic impacts of this industry. This will be followed by a full public consultation so that any decision is based on both the evidence and public consultation.

Question reference: S5O-00005

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to help reduce waiting times at GP surgeries.

Question reference: S4O-05660

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in reducing the education attainment gap.

Question reference: S4O-05571

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact that leaving the EU could have on Scotland’s fishing and farming communities.

Question reference: S4O-05526

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when work will start on the schools that are receiving funding from the recently announced £230 million investment under the Scotland's Schools for the Future programme.

Question reference: S4O-05250

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 13 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent YouGov survey suggesting that 42% of people in Scotland are unaware of the risk factors of being overweight.

I am pleased that the survey quoted indicated that nearly 60% of the population are aware of the risk of cancer associated with being overweight. Our own data from the Scottish Health Survey – Knowledge, attitudes and motivations to health (2013) had awareness at 34%. This I think clearly shows awareness among the wider population of the risk of being overweight and the link to cancer is growing. We need to continue to raise this issue so that more of the population are aware that the risk of being overweight brings with it an increased risk of cancer.

Question reference: S4O-05212

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact of the drink driving laws, introduced in December 2014.

The Scottish Government lowered the drink driving limit to help change driver behaviour, improve road safety and reduce the number of deaths on our roads.

Following the change in the limit, it is encouraging that 12.5% fewer drivers were detected by Police Scotland as being over the limit between December 2014 and August 2015 compared with the equivalent period December 2013 to August 2014. This represents a fall from 4,208 offences to 3,682 offences.

Unfortunately, it is concerning that there is still a minority who risk the safety of themselves and other road users by getting behind the wheel after drinking. That is why Police Scotland's festive anti-drink drive enforcement campaign is so important to help send the strong message that if you have a drink, don't drive. The results of this year's campaign will be published in the next few weeks.

Question reference: S4O-05178

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the gender pay gap in Scotland is 7.3%, compared with 9.4% in the UK.

Question reference: S4O-04917

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its finances of not devolving the Crown Estate's share in Fort Kinnaird retail park.