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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-07053

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) river catchment areas and (b) lochs are covered by protection orders, and when each order (i) was lodged and (ii) will expire.

Question reference: S5W-06619

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many child contact centres are fitted with (a) CCTV, (b) panic alarms and (c) safe rooms.

Question reference: S5W-06618

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the minimum qualification is for staff and volunteers working in child contact centres.

Question reference: S5W-06615

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce regulation of child contact centres.

The vast majority of child contact centres in Scotland operate as part of the Relationships Scotland network.

All Relationships Scotland child contact centres operate under Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator requirements and undergo an internal quality assurance audit every 3 years. The child contact centres also adhere to Relationships Scotland’s Quality Assurance Framework; National Policies and Procedures; and Standards and Practice Procedures for Child Contact Centres. Officials have liaised with Relationships Scotland and they have agreed to write the Member with details of these policies.

Question reference: S5W-06620

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what health and safety standards child contact centres are required to meet.

The vast majority of child contact centres in Scotland operate as part of the Relationships Scotland network. All child contact centres in the Relationships Scotland network are expected to comply with the relevant Health and Safety legislation that applies in Scotland and also follow national Health and Safety guidelines as set out in their Standards and Practice Procedures for Child Contact Centres. Officials have liaised with Relationships Scotland and they have agreed to write to the Member to provide more detail of these procedures.

Question reference: S5W-06616

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the requirements are for a property to be deemed appropriate as a child contact centre.

The vast majority of child contact centres in Scotland operate as part of the Relationships Scotland network. Relationships Scotland requires all the child contact centres in its network to meet standards set out in its internal guidance relating to safety and security. Officials have liaised with Relationships Scotland and they have agreed to write to the Member with details of this internal guidance.

Question reference: S5W-06617

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many child contact centre staff and volunteers are trained in child protection.

The vast majority of child contact centres in Scotland operate as part of the Relationships Scotland network. Training of staff and volunteers in the contact centres in its network is a matter for the organisation. Officials have liaised with Relationships Scotland and they have agreed to write to the Member with more information about its training and qualifications.

More generally, the Scottish Government is committed to working towards every professional working with children being trained on child protection and also equality, attachment and child development.

Question reference: S5W-06621

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how often sheriffs are required to update their training in relation to domestic abuse.

Under provisions within the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, the Lord President, as Head of the Scottish Judiciary, has statutory responsible for making and maintaining arrangements for the training and guidance of judicial office holders.

A range of dedicated courses which include intensive domestic abuse training are available to all sheriffs, and domestic abuse training features in the induction training of all new members of the judiciary.

Question reference: S5W-06201

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £15.3 million reduction in its drug and alcohol budget in 2016-17 has been replaced in the 2017-18 draft budget.

Question reference: S5W-06202

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government where it expects integrated joint boards and NHS boards to find the £15.3 million required each year to maintain drug and alcohol services at 2015-16 levels.