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: S4O-02549

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 6 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s recent trip to Estonia.

I had a very productive trip to Estonia last week. It was clear to me that Scotland and Estonia have much to learn from each other.

I met senior ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials, and had fruitful discussions on matters of common interest which included
e-health, telehealth and the public health response to over consumption of alcohol.

I spoke at their Annual Alcohol Conference and there was much interest in how we are tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland, including minimum unit pricing of alcohol. I consider there is a growing recognition of the harm alcohol causes and a growing recognition that action needs to be taken.

I am delighted that the Republic of Ireland is also pursuing minimum unit pricing of alcohol, the momentum is growing and I hope to see other countries join us.

Question reference: S4W-17765

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government where it has sourced the (a) cabling, (b) steel and (c) other materials for the (i) Borders railway and (ii) Forth replacement crossing project.

(i) Borders Railway

Network Rail is responsible for constructing the Borders Railway on behalf of Scottish Ministers and to date has not ordered any cabling or any large quantities of steel. If these materials are required they will all be sourced by Network Rail via competitive tender.

(ii) Forth Replacement Crossing

The main contractor is responsible for sourcing all materials for the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project in accordance with the specifications of the contract. The award of all subcontracts for the supply of services and materials is not covered by EU public procurement law and is a wholly commercial matter for the firms themselves.

The FRC is the first contract to demand that subcontracts tendered by the main contractor are advertised on Public Contracts Scotland procurement portal. As of 30 June 2013, 9,732 out of 10,758 supply orders (90.5%) worth approximately £61 million out of a total of about £85 million (72%) have been awarded to Scottish firms.

Question reference: S4T-00469

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with INEOS and Unite the Union regarding the dispute at the Grangemouth plant.

Question reference: S4W-17297

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the average response time is of the Scottish Ambulance Service to (a) an emergency call and (b) a medical request for patient transfer between hospitals, broken down by NHS board area.

The average response times for (a) emergency calls for the last three years are set out in the following table.

NHS Board Area

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Cat A (mins)

All

(mins)

Cat A

(mins)

All

(mins)

Cat A

(mins)

All

(mins)

Argyll and Clyde	6.3	8.1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ayrshire and Arran	6.7	8.6	6.9	9.3	6.6	8.6
Borders	8.5	9.7	8.1	9.8	7.5	9.7
Dumfries and Galloway	7.6	9.5	7.9	10.3	7.5	9.4
Fife	6.6	7.9	6.4	8.2	6.3	8.1
Forth Valley	7.6	9.6	7.1	9.6	6.7	9.5
Grampian	6.6	8.4	6.8	8.6	7.1	8.9
Greater Glasgow and Clyde (from 2011-12)	6.8	9.7	6.5	9.6	6.1	8.4
Highland	7.4	9.1	7.9	9.7	7.8	9.4
Lanarkshire	7.0	8.8	6.4	8.3	6.6	8.4
Lothian	6.9	9.6	6.5	9.8	6.1	9.1
Orkney	N/A	10.2	N/A	10.4	N/A	10.7
Shetland	N/A	11.3	N/A	11.1	N/A	11.8
Tayside	6.9	8.3	6.6	8.3	6.3	8.3
Western Isles	N/A	9.3	N/A	9.5	N/A	9.5
SCOTLAND	6.9	9.0	6.7	9.2	6.5	8.7

* Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), and published in their annual report each year.

** Until 2011/12 SAS systems recorded data under the previous structure of 15 geographic health boards.

*** ‘All’ emergency is defined as Category A, B and C calls.

**** For the years set out above, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles were subject to different performance management measures so figures are provided at an all emergency level. From 2013-14 emergency incidents on the Island Boards will be categorised on the same basis as mainland Scotland.

Average response times for (b) medical requests for patient transfer between hospitals are not held in the format requested. All such requests are prioritised on a case by case basis, within a timeframe agreed with the requesting clinician and based on the clinical needs of the patient. The clinician may request an emergency transfer and these will be included within the table. Requests might also be made for non-emergency transfers within any other timeframe.

Question reference: S4O-02448

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to improve teacher employment.

Question reference: S4W-17124

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what information is required by competent authorities wishing to consent plans or projects in cases where adverse impacts on European wildlife sites cannot be ruled out, and whether it will issue guidance on this matter.

In keeping with the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (“the Habitats Regulations”) set out certain procedural requirements which competent authorities must apply when considering plans or projects which are not directly connected with or necessary to the management of European sites and are likely to have a significant effect on such sites.

In general terms, the regulations prohibit competent authorities from granting consent unless such authorities can ascertain, by means of an appropriate assessment (and in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage), that the plan or project will not adversely affect the integrity of a European site. However, the Habitats Directive provides a derogation for exceptional situations whereby consent may be granted in spite of a negative assessment. The derogation may be applied if there are no alternative solutions, there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest and provided any necessary compensatory measures are taken to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected. Accordingly, regulations 49 and 53 of the Habitats Regulations make provision and, in this context, the information required by competent authorities will vary on a case-by-case basis subject to the particulars of the plan or project and the European sites which might be affected.

A further revision of the Scottish Government’s revised guidance updating Circular No. 6/1995 on implementation in Scotland of the Habitats and Birds Directives is in preparation. Guidance on various aspects of the EU Habitats Directive is provided by the European Commission at the following web address:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/index_en.htm.

Question reference: S4W-17167

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what information it requires in order to determine whether compensatory measures under regulation 49 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) are sufficient.

Regulation 53 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) provides for compensatory measures to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected. In this context, the information required will vary on a case-by-case basis subject to the particulars of the plan or project, the nature of the European sites which might be affected and the range of options available for the implementation of compensatory measures.

Question reference: S4W-16922

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many trade delegations to Turkey have been promoted by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Development International in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S4W-16923

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what support has been provided since 2007 by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Development International to firms seeking to enter the Turkish energy sector.

In 2007, Scottish Development International (SDI) commissioned reports into energy in key markets including Turkey.

Parallel to this, SDI worked to raise interest in the Turkish energy market among Scottish companies.

Since 2007, most of SDI’s annual trade missions to Turkey have been energy related and these have provided a mechanism to introduce a number of Scottish companies to relevant contacts in Turkey.

A senior Scottish Enterprise (SE) official has just completed a five week assignment in Turkey to enhance SE’s knowledge of the market and understanding of the opportunities for Scotland.

In addition SE’s CEO has also just returned from a three day visit to Turkey where she met with a number of CEO’s and senior executives of leading Turkish firms, including many energy related companies.

SE will now reflect on the learning from these in order to determine their future trade and investment activities in Turkey.

Question reference: S4W-17120

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09952 by Keith Brown on 24 October 2012 and the findings in the report of the public inquiry into the proposed Rosyth international container terminal, whether it will receive advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the implications of confirming the harbour revision order.