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: S4W-05858

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to tackle the reduction in the number of foreign language assistants in schools and what progress it has made since the Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages met consuls general and consulate education officers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria on 18 January 2012.

The Scottish Government is taking several measures to tackle the reduction in the number of foreign language assistants (FLAs) in schools including continuing to fund British Council Scotland to recruit and support FLAs, promoting the use of FLAs through video and media interviews, as well as meetings with consular officials to discuss ways in which FLAs can enhance language learning in schools.

Following the meeting on 18 January 2012, Dr Allan met with the Chair of the Languages Working Group and to discuss the views of the Consuls General. The Chair subsequently met with the German Consul General and a range of consulate education officers. Their views will help inform the group’s report on the delivery of the government’s 1+2 languages commitment which is due in April 2012.

Question reference: S4W-05535

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the number of empty retail units in Paisley town centre.

This is a matter for the local authority which is responsible for local economic development and regeneration. The wider issue of empty retail units and their impact on town centres was highlighted by a number of respondents to our Regeneration Discussion Paper –Building a Sustainable Future.

As set out in our regeneration strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future we are committed to undertake a national review of town centres in 2012, in partnership with local authorities and other key stakeholders. Whilst the detail is still being scoped, it is likely that this issue will be identified as a priority for further action.

Question reference: S4W-05441

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 22 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in Scotland contain asbestos.

Question reference: S4W-05440

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 22 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its response to the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health, which stated that more than 75% of Britain’s state schools contain asbestos.

Occupational health and matters relating to health and safety at work is a reserved issue on which the Scottish Government receives advice from the Health and Safety Executive. The Scottish Government would expect the Health and Safety Executive to consider the recent findings from the Westminster All Party Group on Occupational Safety and Health and, if necessary, revise their guidance for local authorities and others on the management of asbestos in light of the report's findings.

Currently, The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006 place a duty on those responsible for buildings to manage the risk from asbestos. In the case of publicly funded schools, that is the local authority.

Question reference: S4W-05239

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the responses to the consultation on the proposed Rights of Children and Young People Bill.

Question reference: S4O-00687

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in meeting its targets for reducing emissions by 2020.

Question reference: S4O-00560

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on access to sporting facilities in relation to improving young people’s health and fitness.

Question reference: S4O-00513

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding public consultation on the future of the children’s ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Question reference: S4W-03981

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Government discretion has been agreed with the UK Government in respect of its energy market reform proposals for long-term financial support for carbon capture and storage deployment.

The Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change on the detail of the reforms set out in the Electricity Market Reform White Paper, Planning our electric future: a White Paper for secure, affordable and low-carbon electricity, published on 12 July 2011. This includes agreeing the proposals in the Electricity Market Reform which relate to support for carbon capture and storage deployment.

Question reference: S4W-03986

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise is reviewing its CCS Cluster Investment Plan and any shared usage of infrastructure in relation to the existing proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects, in light of the cancellation of the Longannet CCS demonstration project.

The UK Government decision not to proceed with the CCS demonstration competition funding for the Longannet project does impact on the infrastructure development scenarios in the CO₂Transport Infrastructure Options study by Scottish Enterprise.

The study is now being reviewed and Scottish Enterprise are in discussion with industry partners how existing infrastructure can be fully utilised to promote Scotland’s opportunity to provide CO₂ storage capacity for CCS projects across the EU. Options for maximising storage potential are being considered in more detail, including the importation of captured CO₂ by shipment from Europe for injection into depleted hydrocarbon fields and deep saline formations within the North Sea.