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: S4O-04501

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support and develop the use of Doric and Lallans Scots.

Question reference: S4O-04417

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the level of engagement undertaken by Network Rail with local constituents during the building of the Borders Railway.

Question reference: S4O-04343

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Marco Biagi on 20 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

The Commission on Local Tax Reform was established in February 2015 and has now met six times. The minutes of those meetings are openly published online at the commission's website.

The commission is taking evidence from a number of witnesses and has launched a call for written evidence and a short online survey, requesting responses by 22 June 2015. Submissions received so far are also available on the commission's website.

The commission remains on-course to report in autumn 2015.

Question reference: S4O-04251

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it has to support community-based sporting groups over the coming year.

Question reference: S4O-04195

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the Scottish economy would be of the UK leaving the EU.

Question reference: S4O-04152

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what help it can provide to encourage dog owners to pick up dog waste.

The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging responsible dog ownership and recognises that dog fouling is a concern for many residents in communities across Scotland and, as I am sure the member is aware, aside from being unsightly and an unpleasant hazard for pedestrians and those using sports pitches, dog waste can pose a serious health risk to the public and, in particular, is a risk for children.

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 gives local authorities the powers to deal with irresponsible dog owners, through the issuing by ‘authorised officers’ of fixed penalty notices to those owners who do not pick up their dog’s waste, and such powers are essential.

Looking beyond the power of the Act, I intend to approach Scotland’s local authorities in an effort to identify best practice in encouraging dog owners to pick up dog waste and look at opportunities to promote that best practice across all local

Question reference: S4O-04107

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what investment will be made in active travel using the Future Transport Fund.

Question reference: S4O-04049

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the CashBack for Communities scheme.

Question reference: S4O-03962

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the NHS is making toward meeting the demand for organ donations.

Question reference: S4W-23749

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 9 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on achieving grade separation for the Sheriffhall roundabout.

The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges sets outs a three stage design process for road schemes. The Stage 1 Assessment is now complete which narrowed an initial list of eight junction improvement options down to four. These are now being assessed as part of the Stage 2 Assessment to identify a preferred option. This is programmed to be complete by autumn 2015 at which time the preferred option would be made public.