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: S5W-22400

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent SAMH report, 'It Was A Confusion’ Universal Credit and Mental Health: Recommendations for Change.

This report adds to the growing evidence, and to similar reports from other organisations, about the impact Universal Credit is having on the people who are forced to rely on it.

Universal Credit is causing debt, rent arrears, extreme hardship, and pushing more people, particularly those in vulnerable groups, into poverty. This of course can also have a further detrimental impact on people with poor mental health.

The Scottish Government has, on numerous occasions, made clear to the UK Government that Universal Credit is not working and that urgent changes need to be made to make it fit for purpose.

Question reference: S5W-22344

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will make a final decision on unconventional oil and gas.

On 3 October 2017, the Scottish Government set out a preferred position that it does not support onshore unconventional oil and gas development in Scotland. The preferred policy position is subject to a statutory Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and other assessments before any policy can be adopted.

An Environmental Report for the SEA of the Scottish Government’s preferred policy position was published in October 2018, alongside the preferred policy position statement and a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA). Views were invited on the contents of these documents during an eight-week consultation from October to December 2018.

We are grateful to all those who responded to this consultation. The Scottish Government is committed to transparency and public engagement on this important issue. The consultation responses received have led the Scottish Government to form the view that it would be helpful to provide some further clarification on a number of points raised in response to the consultation documents, specifically regarding the preferred policy position and its objectives. We are also taking the opportunity to update our position on the reasonable alternatives to the preferred policy position which were considered as part of the SEA process.

The Scottish Government is publishing an addendum to the SEA Environmental Report, the preferred policy position statement and the partial BRIA, and wishes to invite further comments on the points covered. Responses to the addendum will be considered in detail prior to a final policy position being reached.

It is anticipated that the addendum and related consultation documents will be published for consultation following the Easter Parliamentary recess. In line with the initial consultation in late 2018, views will be invited over a period of eight weeks, and the responses analysed prior to publication. Our final policy on unconventional oil and gas will be confirmed and adopted as soon as possible after this process is complete.

We are appreciative of the contributions submitted and time taken by those who have already considered the contents of the SEA Environmental Report, the preferred policy position statement and the partial BRIA. We are mindful of the points raised by all stakeholders in response to the 2018 consultation, and are keen to continue our dialogue with the public and stakeholders on this important issue.

Question reference: S5W-22081

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on assisting NHS Forth Valley to return to a sustainable level of performance against the national four-hour accident and emergency target.

We have been formally supporting NHS Forth Valley to return the board to a sustainable position of performance against the four-hour target since January 2019. Performance in January 2019 was 77.2%, since early February we have seen a significant and sustained improvement with performance above 90% on a weekly basis – performance in the latest week (w/e 10 March) was 93.8%.

A series of improvement actions were put in place to support this sustained recovery including:

Clear operational management structure in place, including appointment of Site Director.
24 hour Duty Manager role.
Enhanced GP call handling service;
Enhanced Escalation Process in place.
Development of the Nurse Coordinator role.
Introduction of frailty model.

Officials continue to monitor progress in a number of ways, including through the Oversight Group, which was established and chaired by Scottish Government to review progress against objectives and against the ladder of escalation.

Question reference: S5W-22315

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the appeal by INEOS FPS Ltd against a SEPA Notice of Variation to the Kinneil Terminal permit.

The determination of the appeal was published today and can be accessed through this link .

The Scottish Government has accepted the reporter’s recommendation to affirm SEPA’s notice of variation to the permit, but with modifications. The company’s claim for costs has been refused.

The modified conditions require the operator to make progress in addressing noise from flaring as part of an improvement programme at the site.

Question reference: S5W-21890

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage change has been in the number of pupils presenting for National 5 qualifications in (a) Gaelic (learners) and (b) Gàidhlig in each year since 2012.

National 5 qualifications were introduced in 2014. The number of National 5 entries in Gaelic (Learners) and Gidhlig since 2014 are included in Table 1.

Table 2 includes the number of entries in Gaelic (Learners) and Gidhlig at SCQF Level 3-5 in order to provide the percentage change since 2012, due to being unable to separate Standard Grade entries from 2012 into different levels.

Table 1 - Number of candidates entering into Gaelic (Learners) and Gidhlig National 5 qualification, by centre type, 2012 to 2018

Subject	Centre type	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Percentage change 2012 to 2018
Gaelic (Learners)	School	n/a	n/a	163	109	141	112	104	n/a
	Other 1	n/a	n/a	0	0	4	3	3	n/a
	All candidates	n/a	n/a	163	109	145	115	107	n/a

Gidhlig	School	n/a	n/a	175	167	158	151	183	n/a
	Other 1	n/a	n/a	0	0	0	0	0	n/a
	All candidates	n/a	n/a	175	167	158	151	183	n/a

Source: SQA (December post-review data)

1. Other includes: Further Education Colleges, and Other (which covers candidates outwith school or college, for example workplace candidates).

Table 2 - Number of candidates entering into Gaelic (Learners) and Gidhlig SCQF Level 3-5 qualifications 1 , by centre type, 2012 to 2018

Subject	Centre type	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Percentage change 2012 to 2018
Gaelic (Learners)	School	369	370	294	155	207	152	156	-57.7
	Other 2	6	1	0	4	4	4	3	-50.0
	All candiates	375	371	294	159	211	156	159	-57.6

Gaidhlig	School	232	237	222	195	187	166	197	-15.1
	Other 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-
	All candidates	232	237	222	195	187	166	197	-15.1

Source: SQA (December post-review data)

1. SCQF Level 3-5 includes: Standard Grades, Intermediate 1 and 2, National 3, National 4 and National 5

2. Other includes: Further Education Colleges, and Other (which covers candidates outwith school or college, for example workplace candidates).

Question reference: S5W-21756

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Forth Ports regarding the use of the Port of Grangemouth in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The Scottish Government has had regular and ongoing discussions with Forth Ports on the available capacity at Grangemouth. This has included the ability to ensure additional priority goods can move through the port should this be required to mitigate any impacts of a No-Deal Brexit i.e. if the UK Government causes the UK to leave the EU without seeing an agreed trade deal with the EU 27 to ensure ongoing access to the single market and all markets with which the EU has negotiated preferential terms or membership of the Customs Union.

Question reference: S5O-02903

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Falkirk Council to discuss the proposed growth deal for the district.

Question reference: S5O-02855

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Transition Training Fund has made in addressing the reported skills shortage in the HGV industry and increasing the number of drivers.

Question reference: S5W-20505

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 21 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in the (a) Falkirk West and (b) Falkirk East constituency have been lifted out of paying non-domestic rates under the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Question reference: S5W-20191

Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the (a) work and (b) budget of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust.

The Annual accounts of SMRT are prepared in line with the accounting guidelines of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and are independently audited by accounting firm RSM.

All annual accounts of SMRT are provided to the Scottish Government and are also available for free public scrutiny and access at Companies House.

Work undertaken by the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (SMRT) to restore open cast mining impacts on the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area is overseen by a stakeholder group convened by the Scottish Government which currently meets twice a year and which receives regular progress reports from SMRT. Payments for works undertaken are made by the Scottish Government as drawdown under a grant agreement with SMRT on receipt of invoices.