Questions and answers

Question reference: S5T-00516

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent comments by the Children's Commissioner on protecting children from physical punishment.

Question reference: S5W-08461

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Climate Change Committee proposal published in its report, Advice on the new Scottish Climate Change Bill, to shift the overall accounting framework on emissions to one based on actual emissions, and whether it considers that this would be more transparent than the existing framework.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

The Scottish Government has committed to setting targets in the Climate Change Bill on the basis of reductions in actual Scottish emissions, which it considers will increase transparency. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s recommendations on implementing a move to actual emissions accounting.

Question reference: S5W-08464

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether its forthcoming climate change bill will express targets relative to emissions in 1990 as percentage reductions, and whether the bill will make provision for annual targets.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s report and recommendations, including through a programme of engagement with key stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-08462

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the UK Climate Change Committee report, Advice on the new Scottish Climate Change Bill, and whether it supports a greenhouse gas reduction target of 80% or 90% by 2050.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s report and recommendations, including through a programme of engagement with key stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-08463

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has given to the UK Climate Change Committee proposal published in its report, Advice on the new Scottish Climate Change Bill, that Scotland's shares of international aviation and international shipping emissions be included within Scottish targets, and what impact this would have on its current policy.

The Scottish Government welcomes the recently published advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on the levels, forms and mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining an evidence-based approach to climate targets, of which the CCC’s independent, expert advice forms an important part.

A Scottish share of emissions from international aviation and shipping is already included in statutory climate targets under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the CCC’s recommendations on how such emissions should be accounted for under future legislation.

Question reference: S5W-08370

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the delivery of the new food and drink strategy, Ambition 2030, and £10 million funding package will promote island produce, and how it will ensure that organisations, businesses and charities can access this support.

The industry leadership body, Scotland Food and Drink, facilitated an extensive engagement exercise with businesses across Scotland to help inform the development of Ambition 2030 - as part of that, ideas were sought on actions to further promote island and regional produce.

As result of this consultation, the new strategy includes a specific programme of work dedicated to regional and islands food development. This programme, in conjunction with the work of the wider strategy, will consist of a range of actions that will help support the promotion of island and regional produce, develop business capabilities and attract the skills required to help facilitate growth.

Further details will be defined over the coming months by the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership that will outline how support can be accessed.

Question reference: S5W-08565

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on research by Cardiff University that suggests that charging for disposable cups could cut their use by up to 300 million a year in the UK, and whether it supports the introduction of a charge on disposable cups.

Question reference: S5O-00861

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed wild fisheries bill will make provision for a scheme for rod licences.

Question reference: S5W-08269

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making the electric vehicle charge point scheme, Charge Place Scotland, a free service when its network experiences problems, and what assessment it has made of what the cost of this would be.

Question reference: S5W-08186

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were homeless (a) when entering and (b) on release from prison in each year since 2010.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The Scottish Prison Service does not hold this information.

Scottish Government’s Homelessness statistics show that the number of people leaving prison and completing homeless applications has reduced by 13% over the last 5 years. SPS’ Prisoner Survey (2015) showed that 29% of respondents did not know where they would be living on release. This compares to 35% in 2011.

Chamber and committees