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: S3W-17201

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance and other general support will be offered to local authorities looking to increase provision of allotment space.

Question reference: S3W-17556

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 18 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government about measures being taken to ensure that furniture and upholstery products that fail to meet UK fire regulations do not enter Scotland.

Question reference: S3W-17203

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 13 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for multi-use games areas where there is a need and desire for such a community facility and there is no local authority funding.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the development of quality facilities where these are consistent with the priorities as set out in the facility strategies of local authorities and/or sports governing bodies. Funding may be available from sportscotland subject to an application meeting the relevant programme criteria including the need for a partnership contribution from the applicant and other sources.

Question reference: S3W-16966

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report to the Parliament on progress in implementing the recommendations by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland in Natural Justice: A joint thematic inspection of the arrangements in Scotland for preventing, investigating and prosecuting wildlife crime and when it expects the most urgent of the recommendations, including the appointment of a serving officer as a full-time wildlife crime officer in every force, to be implemented.

The Scottish Government fully supports the recommendations of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland report into wildlife crime. Officer appointments and organisation of the police services are a matter for the respective chief constables.

Considerable progress has been made in implementing the report''s recommendations as they apply to government, the police service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. I will make a substantive report to Parliament on all aspects of this shortly.

Question reference: S3W-16448

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken or is taking to protect Scotland against bluetongue.

Post-import testing of all livestock coming to the UK from bluetongue-affected countries on the European continent has been in place since bluetongue was found in the Netherlands in 2006.

In Scotland we have, in addition, a post-movement notification system for all susceptible animals that have been in any bluetongue restricted zone within the previous 60 days. The Scottish Government has also made it a requirement that animals entering Scotland from any restricted zone under conditions of vaccination must be accompanied by a certificate that proves vaccination by a veterinarian. These additional provisions provide protection from domestic as well as foreign bluetongue-infected areas.

Finally, in light of the recent spate of infected imports to England and Wales, I have, in agreement with industry stakeholders, committed Scotland to launching a vaccination campaign against BTV8 this winter. This will not commence before the 1 November 2008. Twelve million doses of vaccine have been secured by the Scottish Government on behalf of industry and the first batch of 1 million is available for contingency purposes only; the rest of the order will be made available once the campaign is launched. The Scottish Government is supporting the first year of the campaign by paying 50% of the cost of the vaccine from the manufacturer.

Whilst the Scottish Government is undertaking significant work to protect Scotland against bluetongue it remains important that animal keepers recognise their role and, in particular, avoid sourcing stock from high risk areas.

Question reference: S3W-16353

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking work in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive to increase employee on-site safety in Scotland’s open cast coal mines and, if so, what the nature is of this work.

Health and safety regulation and enforcement is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government is however aware of, and supports, the action taken by the Health and Safety Executive to improve safety at all Scotland''s opencast coal sites following the tragic accident at a site in 2007.

The Scottish Government has been working with the Health and Safety Executive and other organisations within Scotland''s health and safety system on the implementation of the Scottish Action Plan on Health and Safety which contains a range of measures to support improvements in health and safety in Scotland. Copies of the action plan are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46565).

We are also taking forward proposals to transpose EC Directive 2004/35/EC on the management of waste from the extractive industries. The purpose of this Directive is to ensure that mineral waste is managed in a way that reduces as far as possible risk of damage to the environment or human health. However, the Directive''s requirements in relation to on-site safety are already adequately covered by existing health and safety regulation.

Question reference: S3W-16354

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is carrying out work in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive to reduce and minimise company safety failures on opencast mines and, if so, what the nature is of this work.

Question reference: S3W-16333

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make the Stranraer regeneration project a national priority.

The proposed redevelopment of Stranraer waterfront has long been regarded as a local regeneration priority and there are no plans for that to change.

The Scottish Government does however wish to see the proposal succeed and deliver benefits to the community and the wider region. It will therefore continue to engage with Dumfries and Galloway Council, which has lead responsibility for local regeneration issues, along with Scottish Enterprise and other local partners to help progress this important project.

Question reference: S3W-16331

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Stranraer regeneration project.

I am aware that Stena Line''s proposed move from Stranraer to Old House Point is critical to the regeneration of Stranraer and can assure you that Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with the company in respect of its proposed relocation. I understand that the outline timeframe for the development indicates that work on the new terminal could be complete and services operational by mid 2010.

As the lead responsibility for the redevelopment of Stranraer waterfront lies with Dumfries and Galloway Council, it would be for the council to advise on progress in this regard. However, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise will be following developments closely and will continue to work with Dumfries and Galloway Council to help exploit the opportunities arising from the regeneration of Stranraer and its wider area.

Question reference: S3W-16332

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding package will be available for the Stranraer regeneration project.

The Scottish Government is keen to see the proposed redevelopment of Stranraer waterfront succeed and deliver benefits for the community and the wider region. Lead responsibility for the project lies with the local authority and the funding package is therefore primarily a matter for Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Scottish Enterprise however remains involved to support aspects of this project where there is a close fit with its remit and priorities. While any assistance that might be considered would be an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I am aware that in the past four years its investment to date in the strategic vision of Stranraer and Loch Ryan is some £2.5 million towards site investigations, market research, business planning and contributions towards early action projects including removal of redundant infrastructure, installation of new infrastructure and facilities such as pontoons and a breakwater. I am also aware that Scottish Enterprise is currently giving consideration as to how it might assist Stena Line''s proposed relocation which, as I understand it, is seen locally as integral to the regeneration.