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-01418

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the future of Portobello High School.

Question reference: S4W-09897

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the law on common good.

The Scottish Government concluded a wide-ranging exploratory consultation on ideas for the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill on 26 September 2012. Questions were included in the consultation to explore whether the current rules applying to common good assets were potentially acting as a barrier to their effective use by local authorities and local communities. The responses to the consultation are currently being considered. The responses and input from a cross-sector Reference Group, jointly chaired by COSLA, will help inform those proposals taken forward in a draft bill. The Scottish Government will consult on the draft Bill next year.

Question reference: S4W-10043

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the link between mental health and debt problems and what action it takes regarding this.

The Scottish Government’s new Mental Health Strategy, published in August 2012, recognises there is evidence of a link between debt and mental health problems, and research shows that suicide risk is raised for virtually all mental health problems and substance abuse. We know that some of those who experience debt will also exhibit signs of stress and anxiety.

The Scottish Government has funded Samaritans to undertake joint work with Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland to produce two e-learning modules to develop the service which clients with mental health problems receive from the Citizens Advice Bureau. They are designed to train bureau staff on mental health awareness and suicide awareness. The first module will help staff and volunteers recognise suicidal intent, and provide first level support to their clients. The second module is for use by line managers and supervisors to support staff, after they have handled a distressing contact.

The new Mental Health Strategy sets out a range of key commitments to 2015 which demonstrates our desire to increase the pace of change and deliver further improvement across the full spectrum of mental health improvement, prevention, care, services and recovery.

Question reference: S4W-09810

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09381 by Angela Constance on 18 September 2012, whether all S4, S5 and S6 pupils will be able to access careers guidance support on a one-to-one basis.

Careers guidance provided to pupils in S4 to S6 is based on an assessment of need. For some pupils that will involve a programme of one-to-one coaching sessions. Others, who are more able to manage their career plans independently, will be offered services through other channels suited to their individual needs or preferences, such as online through My World of Work and by telephone.

However, all pupils will still be able to seek one-to-one support from a careers professional in school if requested.

Question reference: S4W-10046

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 17 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government which ministers have visited schools in the City of Edinburgh since 2011, broken down by (a) school and (b) reason.

Question reference: S4W-09823

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Mary Scanlon on 1 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it expects any Private Bills to be introduced in 2012-13.

Officials are currently aware of three prospective Private Bills that are likely to be introduced before the end of the current Parliamentary year. The actual number introduced in this period may, of course, differ from this as it is possible that not all three prospective Bills will be proceeded with or the timetable for some may slip. In addition, other prospective promoters may also come forward before the end of the period.

Question reference: S4W-09592

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many fixed penalty notices have been issued under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, broken down by type of violation.

Question reference: S4W-09519

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 26 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many houses have been brought back into use since the introduction of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership.

Question reference: S4W-09593

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions there have been under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 for proxy purchase of tobacco in each local authority area; how many resulted in fines, and how much.

Question reference: S4W-09518

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 26 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fund the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership beyond March 2013.