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-07760

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal provision allows the exit strategy for the Knapdale beaver trial to be undertaken.

Question reference: S4W-07761

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what circumstances have changed since Scottish Natural Heritage’s unsuccessful application in 2005 for a beaver trial in Knapdale that has allowed the current trial to proceed.

Question reference: S4W-07587

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to replace the system in which farmers have to prove individual farm yield for nitrate vulnerable zone Nmax limits with a more regional-based approach.

Question reference: S4W-07585

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation nitrate vulnerable zones, whether it will (a) review and (b) update the figures concerning nitrogen uptake and use in modern crops.

Question reference: S4O-01161

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many women had post natal depression in 2011.

Question reference: S4W-07584

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the claim in the report, The relationship between soil mineral nitrogen, applied nitrogen and yields in Scottish soils, that many crops would need to exceed their Nmax figures to achieve potential yield.

The Nmax figures in the Scottish Nitrates Action Programme are based on the Scottish Agricultural College's recommendations for economically optimal applications of nitrogen fertiliser. The report cited has highlighted the variability of soil mineral nitrogen test results, but provides no explanation for the variability between sites. The statement relating to the need to exceed Nmax does not take account of the yield adjustment factor, which allows for increased rates of nitrogen where there is a history of higher than standard yields. The report does not demonstrate any significant indication for the need to increase Nmax for profitable crop production.

Question reference: S4W-07586

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend the limits for groundwater nitrate levels.

Question reference: S4W-07420

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingencies it has developed to deal with an outbreak of cattle scab.

Psoroptic mange, or cattle scab, is difficult to diagnose, requires prolonged treatment (which is not always successful) and is spread by bringing infected cattle into a herd. The best defence against the disease is taking appropriate precautions when buying cattle. To help animal keepers to do so, the Scottish Government funds, through the Scottish Agricultural College, a free service for testing skin samples, and encourages veterinary practitioners and farmers to submit samples whenever the disease is suspected.

Question reference: S4W-07333

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the involvement of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association in research to determine whether the use of electronic shock collars for dog training should be prohibited.

The involvement of industry leaders in research projects is an important way of ensuring that practical issues are considered and that strict scientific protocols can be followed in a commercial environment. The Scottish Government appreciated the involvement of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association in the Defra-funded research project on electronic training aids. We are aware that ECMA helped to ensure that the strict scientific procedures required during the project were adhered to, and their knowledge and experience in this area were a welcome contribution.

Question reference: S4W-07334

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the delay to research into the use of electric shock collars and whether it will discuss with the Welsh Assembly Government the evidence that it considered when legislating against the use of such devices.

The Defra-funded research project was due to finish in November 2011; the Scottish Government received a draft final report in July 2011. The research has been completed and the project is currently being peer reviewed. Peer review is an important part of the research process as it ensures that the results reported have arisen from suitably structured scientific research and analysis and are not biased. This process should be completed later this year, at which point the Scottish Government will consider whether any further action is required on electronic shock collars.

The Scottish Government is aware of the evidence that the Welsh Government considered when legislating against the use of electronic shock collars; however, we do not consider that the studies that have been published to date are sufficiently robust to impose a ban or regulation at this point in time. Scottish Government policy is that such regulatory burden should only be imposed where there is clear evidence that doing so will improve animal welfare in the most proportionate manner.