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-03572

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation will be done of the work carried out by schools to help prepare 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum.

Question reference: S4O-03549

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 1 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has of a link between the UK Government’s welfare policies and the increase in the number of people using foodbanks.

The Trussell Trust reported that between April and June 2014 over 6,000 people used their Scottish foodbanks due to a benefit delay, 4,000 due to low income and 4,000 due to benefit changes.

These statistics reflect the conclusions of the report we published in December 2013 - that benefit changes and delays are a major cause of these increases.

That is why we are providing 26 projects with a total of over half a million pounds through our Emergency Food Fund, and why I continue to press the case to the UK Government that the most vulnerable people in our society must be protected, and that any changes to the welfare system must not further reduce their income.

Question reference: S4O-03414

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last visited the Crichton Campus in Dumfries and what was discussed.

Question reference: S4O-03314

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government's decision to introduce fees for employment tribunals of £250 to register a case and a further £950 before it gets to a hearing.

Question reference: S4O-03271

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering to support turnout at local authority elections.

Question reference: S4W-20621

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to control or eradicate North American signal crayfish in (a) Lochrutton and (b) the Lochfoot Burn in Dumfriesshire.

I am advised by Scottish Natural Heritage that they have not yet identified an effective method for the eradication of North American signal crayfish in water bodies such as Lochrutton and the Lochfoot Burn, albeit this is an objective the Scottish Government is keen to pursue if at all possible.

The Fisheries Trusts and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are working together to raise awareness of appropriate biosecurity measures that water users can take to avoid spreading the species, and other freshwater invasive species, to other parts of the catchment or to other parts of Scotland. This includes launching a number of biosecurity campaigns across Dumfries and Galloway this spring and summer to raise awareness of invasive non-native species, including the Check Clean Dry and Be Plant Wise initiatives across the region. All campaigns are being co-ordinated by SEPA with support from a variety of partner organisations such as Police Scotland, the Galloway Fisheries Trust, the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust, the River Annan Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service, Solway Firth Partnership and Scottish Natural Heritage. These campaigns will be supported by the distribution of thousands of leaflets, identification guides, posters and signs across the region.

Question reference: S4O-03095

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with relevant stakeholders regarding access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses.

Question reference: S4O-03007

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas.

Question reference: S4O-02961

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what benefits independence could bring to the forestry industry.

Question reference: S4O-02677

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish independence would improve economic circumstances in rural Dumfries and Galloway.