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: S4W-29540

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what legal recourse is available to victims in Scotland of any illegal undercover policing activity carried out by members of the Special Demonstration Squad.

The options available to any individual will depend on the facts and circumstances of their case. Depending on the particular circumstances, individuals may seek redress via the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which has jurisdiction to consider certain proceedings for actions which concern the use of investigatory powers, and additionally may seek redress through the courts, subject to the rules which determine the jurisdiction of the courts.

Question reference: S4W-29539

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a reply from the Home Secretary regarding extending the Pitchford Inquiry to cover Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-29398

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has asked the new chief constable about the activities of the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) in Scotland, including (a) the extent of these activities, (b) which campaigns and individuals were investigated and (c) how many people who were investigated became involved in relationships with SDS officers.

Question reference: S4W-29399

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take if the remit of the Pitchford inquiry into undercover policing is not extended to cover Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-28828

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that people in Scotland subject to illegal conduct by undercover police officers should have access to a public inquiry and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

I have written to the Home Secretary asking her to confirm that Lord Justice Pitchford’s inquiry is able to take evidence relating to activity by any undercover officers in Scotland that were authorised by and carried out by English and Welsh police forces as part of a national operation. The Home Secretary has offered to discuss this matter further and arrangements are being made accordingly.

Question reference: S4O-05531

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confidence in the chair and the chief officers of NHS Lothian.

Question reference: S4W-29075

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had, or plans to have, discussions with Sciencewise regarding public engagement and communications strategies on the issue of fracking.

Question reference: S4W-29072

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, (b) the Department of Energy and Climate Change or (c) any other agency to discuss public (i) engagement and (ii) communications on the issue of fracking.

Question reference: S4W-29068

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the inquiry taking place during the moratorium on unconventional gas extraction and fracking should report prior to the Scottish election in 2016.

On 8 October 2015 the Scottish Government announced a timetable for a wide-ranging programme of research and a full public consultation. This timetable allows time to gather the information necessary to make the right decision for the people of Scotland.

Details of the plans announced on 8 October 2016 are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 57240) and at:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/onshoreoilandgas

Question reference: S4W-29073

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss fracking.