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-20423

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for the content of electronic message boards over motorways.

Transport Scotland is responsible for the electronic gantries and variable message signs (VMS) that provide a range of information to drivers on Scotland’s motorways. Day-to-day operation of these gantries and VMS is the responsibility of the Traffic Scotland service which operates the trunk road Intelligent Transport System on behalf of Transport Scotland.

Based at the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre at South Queensferry, Traffic Scotland develops and displays the content of the VMS which play a vital role in promoting the safe and efficient operation of the road network by providing road users with information on current incidents and future events that may affect their journey, alongside safety and other relevant messages to allow them to make informed judgements on diversion, or alternative routes for travel. These messages are created from information gathered from stakeholders including Police Scotland, trunk road operating companies, bridge managers, the Met Office, and local authorities.

When the VMS are not being used to display active incident information, the signs can be used to present background messages. These background messages have been developed in consultation with a number of key stakeholders and are linked to known problems which affect the safe and efficient operation of the trunk road network. For example, safety messages are derived from accident statistics and our strategic road safety plan and messages encouraging the use of public transport are targeted at our most congested corridors.

Question reference: S5W-20370

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the European Commission’s proposal for a climate neutral EU by 2050, and what impact this will have on Scotland.

The Scottish Government welcomes the European Commission’s proposals for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy by 2050. We contributed to the consultation on this strategy, sharing our experience and urging the EU to maintain its leadership. We now look forward to the strategic long-term vision set out by the Commission being translated into legally binding emissions reduction targets and credible policies to deliver on these.

The EU has been a key player in international efforts to secure a global, legally-binding agreement to address climate change. Targets set by the European Commission have played a defining role in stimulating the huge growth in renewable energy in Scotland. This growth has seen significant inward investment flows into Scotland and been instrumental in the significant decarbonisation of our power sector.

The Climate Change Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament in May includes emissions reduction targets for 2020, 2030 and 2040 that are the most stretching statutory targets for these years of any country in the world. The targets in the Bill also mean that Scotland will be carbon neutral by 2050. The Scottish Government wants to go further and achieve net-zero emissions for all greenhouse gases as soon as possible. We’ll set a target date for this as soon as it can be done credibly and responsibly. The independent advice on targets we have requested from the UK Committee on Climate Change next Spring will consider whether even more can now be done in Scotland, including in light of the European Commission’s current proposals.

Question reference: S5W-20260

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its obligations under the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, by what date Community Justice Scotland will have appointed a full board.

Question reference: S5W-20169

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS treatment waiting times for prisoners are recorded separately by ISD Scotland, and how these times compare with those for other patients, broken down by (a) local delivery plan standard and (b) the psychological therapies HEAT access target.

Information Services Division publishes information in relation to waiting times for Local Delivery Plan Standards and HEAT standards. Data for the majority of standards are not routinely broken down by the community and prison, including the psychological therapies HEAT access target. Information is reported separately for the LDP standard on access to drug and alcohol treatment services. This information is available here: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Drugs-and-Alcohol-Misuse/Publications/2018-09-25/2018-09-25-DATWT-Report.pdf

Question reference: S5W-20018

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 28 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the 800 new mental health professionals set out in its 2017-27 mental health strategy will be allocated to (a) A&E departments, (b) GP practices, (c) police stations and (d) prisons.

We are currently working with the Chief Officers of Integration Authorities on the development of this commitment and who will make decisions on the allocation of the additional workers to these key settings in consultation with their partners.

As part of our discussions with the Chief Officers, we are also working on putting in place a reporting framework which will capture information on workforce allocation, location of workforce and details on the trajectory toward the 800 total by 2021-22. An update on this together with their projections can be provided in early 2019.

Question reference: S5O-02616

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 28 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Destination Orkney regarding plans to develop tourism in Orkney.

The Scottish Government has had no direct discussions with Destination Orkney. Our support for tourism businesses is delivered through VisitScotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.

I'd like to wish all the best to those attending Orkney’s first ever ‘Tourism Week’ this week and for Destination Orkney’s annual Tourism Summit tomorrow. VisitScotland’s Director of Industry & Destination Development will be speaking.

Question reference: S5W-19880

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many new special constables Police Scotland has (a) trained and (b) employed in each year since 2013-14.

Question reference: S5W-19840

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether a passenger vessel will be allocated to the Stromness-Scrabster route when MV Hamnavoe is on refit in 2019.

The MV Hamnavoe will be unavailable for five days in January whilst the vessel undergoes an essential period of dry dock. Using their best endeavours, the operator, Serco NorthLink Ferries, has searched the open market for a replacement passenger vessel. However due to the scarcity of available tonnage and the unique vessel and port configurations, a like for like replacement is not available. Consequently, a freight vessel will provide relief cover for freight traffic during this short period.

Question reference: S5W-19491

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Orkney islanders lost £350,000 through online and phone crime in 2018, what it is doing to tackle such activity, including what discussions it has with Police Scotland, and whether it will publish details of the discussions.

The Scottish Government work with a range of partners, including Police Scotland, to reduce the harm caused by criminals intent on exploiting vulnerable people for financial gain. There is a range of advice to help people improve their online and telephone safety and protect themselves from fraud and cybercrime, including from ‘vishing’ scams over the phone and ‘phishing’ scams through email. Some such resources are the Cyber Essentials Scheme, Take 5 to Stop Fraud, Cyber Aware, and Get Safe Online.

This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Police Scotland have confirmed that enforcement activity continues, and enquiries by local CID officers into the incidents in Orkney are being support by specialist Police Scotland Departments across the country.

The banking sector, in partnership with Police Scotland and Trading Standards, introduced the Banking Protocol in March 2018. This allows bank staff to alert police if they suspect a customer is being defrauded. Since its introduction, the Banking Protocol has prevented victims losing over £1.7 million to fraud.

I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of fraud or cybercrime to report it to Police Scotland by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Question reference: S5O-02573

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in establishing forensic examination facilities in Orkney for victims of rape or sexual assault.