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-02811

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will spend the £68.8 million allocated by the UK Government to increase access to broadband.

We have only recently been advised of Scotland’s share of UK Government funding for broadband, and have only just received the data model and methodology used by the UK Government to make its regional allocations. Until we have fully examined the UK Government’s data model and methodology to understand how the funding decisions have been reached and the likely costs of next generation broadband roll-out across Scotland, we will be unable to determine how the Scottish share will be invested across Scotland. Broadly speaking, however, it will be used for the provision of next generation broadband in those areas where the market alone is not expected to deliver.

We will set out the main components of our strategic national broadband plan before the end of the year and produce a detailed roll-out plan with funding proposals by the end of March 2012.

Question reference: S4W-02814

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition of next generation broadband is.

There is currently no fixed definition of what constitutes next generation broadband. The UK Government has defined next generation broadband as being at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps), while the European Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe has set a target speed of 30 Mbps.

The Scottish Government does not want to limit its ambition by defining next generation broadband as a particular speed. We believe that, as next generation broadband is rolled-out across Scotland, it must be scaleable and sustainable and be capable of upgrades to faster and faster speeds as future technology solutions evolve and develop. In addition, other key indicators such as coverage, price and choice must also be considered.

Question reference: S4W-02813

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with telecommunications companies regarding rolling out next generation broadband.

As part of our ongoing programme of industry engagement, the Scottish Government has regular meetings with telecommunications companies to discuss rolling-out next generation broadband. This includes meetings of the Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials with individual companies and wider sessions involving a number of companies. For example, we held an Industry workshop on 24 August 2011 to discuss rolling out next generation broadband which was attended by eight telecommunications companies.

Question reference: S4W-02825

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that enterprise zones provide sustainable growth.

Question reference: S4W-02824

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that enterprise zones do not cause the displacement of employment.

Question reference: S4W-02832

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used in designating enterprise zones.

The Scottish Government is currently developing plans for the introduction of a number of Enterprise Areas in Scotland so as to maximise their economic impact. The criteria that we will use to identify specific sites will balance a number of considerations. These include the potential to attract significant investment in Scotland’s key sectors and the scope for impact on the areas of Scotland where we need to improve economic performance and address issues of disadvantage and deprivation.

Question reference: S4W-02823

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what areas it is considering for the creation of enterprise zones.

Question reference: S4O-00218

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to discuss the European bathing water directive.

Question reference: S4W-02304

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any ministerial visits planned to general medical practices within North Ayrshire.

Question reference: S4W-02300

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01210 by Michael Matheson on 21 July 2011, whether it will (a) clarify what it means by "and beyond" and (b) list the activities which will address health inequality and social deprivation that are being carried out beyond Glasgow.