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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 470 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-22046

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09238 by Fergus Ewing on 12 September 2012, what progress has been made by Business Club Scotland (BCS) in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), and what the outcome was of the BCS/Scottish Enterprise research to identify the barriers to SMEs supplying goods and services to major events.

Business Club Scotland (BCS) finalised their research to identify the barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises supplying goods and services to major events in 2012. In September 2013, following preparatory discussions with Scottish Enterprise, BCS informed members of a change in how their services would be delivered: ‘As a member you will be aware that our aim is to help businesses capitalise on opportunities relating to the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and Homecoming. In discussion with Scottish Enterprise (SE), it has been agreed that BCS will be integrated into their wider communications channels. SE will continue to maintain BCS channels, alongside their own website and email newsletters. They will also continue awareness raising events.’

In the run up to the Commonwealth Games, 72 business awareness events have been delivered through a partnership approach with a range of bodies, including SE. These events aimed to encourage Scottish businesses to bid for the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup related contracts and approximately 9000 participants attended these events.

Question reference: S4W-21993

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it is increasing awareness of the maedi-visna virus in sheep among sheep farmers and veterinarians, and what advice it is giving farmers to help maintain disease-free status on their farms.

The Scottish Government, through the Veterinary and Advisory Services programme, funds the Scottish Rural College (SRuC) to deliver veterinary surveillance in Scotland, to communicate animal health risks to farmers and veterinarians and to produce advice on disease prevention and control.

Since 2012, SRuC has produced and published more than 30 articles in farming and veterinary press, newsletters and veterinary and scientific publications, with three to date in 2014.

Farmers should remain vigilant for signs of disease within their flocks and contact their veterinary surgeons for advice on maedi-visna disease prevention and control.

Question reference: S4W-21834

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas to report back.

Question reference: S4W-21699

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Diabetes Group expects to agree an approach to identifying people with undiagnosed diabetes.

Question reference: S4W-21469

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 12 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities in Forth Valley have signed up to the No Knives, Better Lives campaign.

Clackmannanshire Council have been signed up to the No Knives Better Lives programme since 2010.

Latest crime figures recorded by the police show that the number of crimes of handling an offensive weapon, which includes knives, in the Forth Valley area (Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils) has decreased by 32% for the period 2011-12 to 2012-13, a decrease of 55% since this government came into power.

Question reference: S4O-03328

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote healthy eating choices for children.

Question reference: S4W-21091

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what mitigating measures the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is using to remove nonylphenols from rivers and the natural environment.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is currently consulting on possible measures for reducing the impacts of toxic substances such as nonylphenol on the water environment. The consultation suggests possible measures such as end-of-pipe treatment by sustainable urban drainage systems for surface water run-off, and wastewater treatment for contaminated trade effluents (though these are potentially costly measures). The consultation also highlights the option of control of imported products containing this substance. As this is a reserved area this would be a matter for the UK Government until such time as Scotland obtains the legislative powers to introduce such controls.

Question reference: S4W-21092

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 27 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the introduction of wifi on all CalMac vessels.

CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) has made good progress in completing the procurement of a new wide area network which will include the connection of all CalMac vessels. A contract has been prepared and an award letter is expected to be issued very shortly.

The preferred supplier will begin work as soon as possible to deliver a wide and local area network at each of CalMac's locations and on all vessels. This involves over 80 locations spread throughout the west of Scotland and is expected to be delivered before the end of this year.

Public wifi is an integral part of CFL’s plans and should be available throughout the CalMac network this year. The first ports and vessels are expected to have public wifi by late summer 2014.

Question reference: S4O-03277

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the National Planning Framework 3 and the revised Scottish planning policy.

Question reference: S4W-21093

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the re-instatement of a passenger rail service between Grangemouth and Falkirk.

A passenger rail station at Grangemouth was not raised during the consultation process for the 2008 Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which sets out the Scottish Government’s 29 transport investment priorities over the period to 2032. As the STPR forms the main basis for the specification of future transport spending until 2032, the Scottish Government has no current plans to re-instate a passenger service between Grangemouth and Falkirk.

We understand that Falkirk Council, in conjunction with the South East Scotland Transport Partnership, are updating an earlier feasibility study in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance on a potential new railway station at Grangemouth. The Scottish Ministers are willing to consider proposals for new services where there are clear benefits, subject to affordability and taking into account the potential negative effect on other passengers on the network.