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-02692

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the health and wellbeing impact is of income inequality.

Question reference: S4W-17855

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) retailers and (b) the farming sector regarding the use of substitute or synthetic egg products and whether it plans to discuss with the Food Standards Agency the labelling of such products.

Question reference: S4O-02504

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress it has made in reducing the number of deaths from fires.

Question reference: S4O-02392

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's decision not to recommend the introduction of the meningitis B vaccine.

Question reference: S4O-02361

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what environmental impact the proposed coal bed methane extraction at Canonbie will have on the town and the surrounding area.

An assessment of the environmental impact of the coalbed methane proposal was set out in the environmental statement associated with the planning application.

Findings from the environmental statement revealed that there are no designations regarding ecology or archaeological interests at or adjacent to the site. No significant adverse impacts were identified in the studies relating to landscape, ecology, hydrology, hydrogeology, noise, traffic, air quality, archaeology, recreation or tourism.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) also assessed the environmental impact in issuing associated controlled activities regulations licences. SEPA has in place a robust regulatory environmental framework for the operation of activity regarding extraction of unconventional gases.

Question reference: S4O-02310

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve numeracy in the later years of primary school.

We are committed to improving numeracy levels in Scotland and monitoring performance through the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy. In response to the numeracy survey published last year, Education Scotland published a suite of practical resources to support primary and secondary teachers, and undertook a series of events around the country to promote their effective use in the classroom.

Question reference: S4O-02118

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing Scotland's Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan.

Question reference: S4O-02057

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what support Dumfries and Galloway has received from the CashBack for Communities scheme.

Question reference: S4O-02018

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what can be done to boost employment opportunities in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S4O-02010

Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect golden eagles.