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: S5W-02039

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 12 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken when a potential client of the Scottish Legal Aid Board is unable to find a suitable solicitor or advocate.

If an individual is unable to find a suitable solicitor to represent them, the Law Society of Scotland provides a solicitor locator on their website at: http://www.lawscot.org.uk/find-a-solicitor/. This provides the option to search for a solicitor registered to provide legal aid. If the person does not have access to the internet they can call the Law Society on 0131 226 7411.

Alternatively, the Scottish Legal Aid board (‘the board’) provides information on the nearest solicitors who offer help through legal aid, or other advice providers funded by the board at: http://www.slab.org.uk/public/solicitor-finder/. For civil matters it is possible to search by case type. Although a firm is registered for legal aid work, they are not obligated to offer services to any client or offer to take on a case on legal aid.

There are also a number of specific grant-funded projects around Scotland, administered by the board on behalf of the Scottish Government, that are in place to provide help, advice and some representation. These can provide an alternative way for individuals to resolve their legal issues.

Question reference: S5W-01816

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions it will take to tackle nuisance calls following its nuisance calls summit on 29 June 2016.

Question reference: S5W-01359

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion.

Question reference: S5W-01360

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what contribution it made to the most recent UK state party report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination regarding the representation of black and minority ethnic communities in (a) the police service, (b) employment, (c) health and (d) mental health.

The UK Government is responsible for providing the State Party report to the UN CERD. The Scottish Government provided an update to the UK Government in relation to the race equality work being carried out. This input was informed by its on-going work around race equality, including dialogue with communities, and drew on the relevant available data and information.

Our ‘Race Equality Framework for Scotland’ published on 21 March 2016, sets out clear goals to support minority ethnic communities in representation across a range of areas, including the police service, employment, health and mental health.

Question reference: S5W-01361

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it will meet its legal duty to involve equality groups in setting its equality outcomes for 2017-21.

The Scottish Government works with a number of organisations which provide a coordinating or intermediary role across the different equality communities. They play an important role in informing the policy making process, in supporting and engaging communities, and in developing capacity and leadership. The Scottish Government will work with these organisations and will meet them shortly in order to establish the plan and details for involving people with protected characteristics in setting its equality outcomes for 2017-21.

Question reference: S5W-00836

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much will be allocated to Renfrewshire Council through the second tranche of the Attainment Scotland Fund.

Question reference: S5O-00045

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it has set to measure the impact of the Scottish Attainment Fund in West Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-00187

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to (a) reopen any former railway stations and (b) improve the provision of rail services across the west of Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving rail services and connectivity within the west of Scotland. We have, through the ScotRail franchise, delivered enhanced services on the Kilmarnock, Ayr and Stranraer route in December 2015 and will introduce new electric trains on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route from summer 2017.

We remain willing to consider proposals for new stations and services where a clear rationale has emerged from an appraisal in line with Scottish transport appraisal guidance, where viability has been established through more detailed analysis; and these proposals are subject to affordability in conjunction with consideration of other competing priorities.

Question reference: S5W-00189

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 600 new early learning and childcare centres that it has committed to open will be in the west of Scotland.

We will ensure that provision is developed in partnership with each local authority to meet the needs of parents and children. We are currently working with the Scottish Futures Trust to determine the additional infrastructure requirements of each local authority to meet the commitment to provide an entitlement to 1140 hours per year of early learning and childcare by the end of the current Parliament. Solutions for each authority will be determined through a detailed analysis of their existing infrastructure estate and capacity, plus their expansion plans. The Scottish Government is committed to meeting the infrastructure costs of the 1140 hours expansion in full.

Question reference: S5W-00185

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on enforcing the (a) minimum site standards and (b) core rights and responsibilities for Gypsy/Traveller site tenants.

<>The Scottish Government does not have a formal enforcement role, but expects all local authority and Registered Social Landlord Gypsy/Traveller Sites to meet the minimum site standards, and have tenancy agreements that reflect the core rights and responsibilities, by 30 June 2018. We will continue to work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers) and others to assess progress in meeting the standards, and to develop ways of collecting robust data on the quality of sites.