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: S5O-02497

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support food banks that are struggling to cope with increased demand following the roll-out of Universal Credit.

The Scottish Government provides support to community food organisations – including food banks – to respond to food insecurity. We have increased our Fair Food Fund from £1.5 to £3.5 million this year.

However the priority should always be to tackle the causes of poverty.

It is clear, from evidence that foodbanks face increasing pressure in areas where Universal Credit has rolled out. The Trussell Trust point to an average increase in use of 52%.

That is why it is disappointing that the UK Government did not use their recent budget to tackle the fundamental flaws in the Universal Credit system.

Question reference: S5O-02451

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on legally obliging landowners to formally engage with communities affected by major changes in land use.

Question reference: S5O-02361

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to improve the trunk road network in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S5W-18539

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has had from the UK Government to calls for the devolution of immigration.

The Scottish Government has published evidence setting out why the UK Government’s approach to immigration does not meet Scotland’s needs. We want a more flexible and sensitive migration system tailored to Scotland’s needs, an approach endorsed by this Parliament.

When we published our discussion paper ' Scotland’s population needs and migration policy' in February, Fiona Hyslop wrote to the Home Secretary providing a copy of our proposals and requesting a meeting.

Whilst we are still awaiting engagement on the specifics of that request, I subsequently had an introductory meeting with the UK Immigration Minister, Caroline Nokes. I remain committed to seeking meaningful engagement with the UK Government given the profound impact immigration has on our nation’s economy and society.

Question reference: S5W-18547

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of Brexit negotiations and the impact on Scotland.

Despite the overwhelming vote in Scotland to remain in the EU, in less than seven months’ time the UK Government intends to take the UK out of the EU.

Negotiations between the UK Government and the EU on the terms of withdrawal are still ongoing, with some critical issues outstanding – not least, an acceptable backstop on the Northern Ireland border with the Republic of Ireland and the crucial issue for Scotland’s food and drink producers of maintaining existing protection for our Geographical Indications. Furthermore, discussions on the shape of a political declaration about a framework for the future relationship appear to have made limited progress. The EU has been clear that the Chequers proposals on goods and customs are unacceptable. There is now a risk of exiting in March 2019 with, at best, no more than a commitment to further negotiations – in other words a blind Brexit. It is not acceptable that the people of Scotland, who did not vote for this outcome, should have Brexit imposed upon them with no certainty as to the future relationship.

The Scottish Government has continued to put forward our own realistic and workable solutions for the future relationship with the EU whilst also demonstrating the impact that Brexit will have on Scotland. Our publication Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment highlights that short of continued EU membership, retaining membership of the Single Market and Customs Union is the least harmful option for Scotland and the rest of the UK. That is why we will continue to make the case for this outcome which is both achievable and the least damaging.

Question reference: S5W-18602

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest situation is with the Pinneys site in Annan.

Young’s Seafood confirmed on 3 September that it has now ceased production at the Pinney’s of Annan site and the majority of the workforce has now left the company. A skeleton staff of around 50 are expected to remain on site until November to oversee the close-down procedure.

The Scottish Government, working with Scottish Enterprise and Dumfries & Galloway Council, has worked intensively over the past 5 months to encourage Young’s Seafood to maintain production at the site and offered a range of incentives to do so, including a reduction on rates and professional support to review the efficiency and productivity of their operation. However, it became clear that Young’s wanted to extract themselves from the site as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government is now seeking a new investor for the site and discussion are ongoing with a number of interested parties. Meanwhile, we remain committed to finding alternative employment for those formally employed at the site and on the
‎ 19 July our multi-agency Partnership for Action on Continuing Employment (PACE) facilitated a dedicated jobs fair in the town. Over 200 individuals attended the fair with 19 employers and recruitment agencies exhibiting over 350 vacancies. The jobs fair was well received and initial feedback is that a number individuals were successful in seeking alternative employment. In light of the further redundancies that took place in August, and in agreement with the local trade union, we have agreed to facilitate an additional jobs fair in the town in October and are now in the process of finalising the detail for that.

Question reference: S5O-02284

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is providing in 2018-19 through the Empowering Communities Fund.

This year the Scottish Government will provide £20 million through the Empowering Communities Fund which is a range of funds that assist communities to identify aspirations and priorities; create solutions and make improvements; and, to tackle inequality and poverty on their own terms. Where people feel they can influence what happens in their communities and can contribute to delivering change, they can achieve extraordinary results and huge benefits.

Question reference: S5O-02223

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation in Dumfries and Galloway of Developing the Young Workforce.

The Dumfries and Galloway Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group has helped establish school/employer partnerships, enabling work experience placements and encouraging the development of employability skills within the region. Youth Guarantee Coordinators and Employability Coordination Groups, working across the area to support young people in school at risk of not achieving a positive destination, have supported an increase in positive destinations from 87.4% in 2011-12 to 94.6% in 2015-16.

In addition, the industry-led DYW Regional Group in Dumfries and Galloway has facilitated over 140 DYW events and engaged with over 200 businesses, leading to over 3000 young people in Dumfries and Galloway directly benefiting from DYW activity.

Question reference: S5O-02151

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to the food and drink industry in South Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-02119

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Borderlands Growth Deal.