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-30072

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding fiscal reform to secure the future of the oil and gas industry.

The key fiscal levers that affect the sector remain with the UK Government. The Scottish Government has made repeated calls for the fiscal regime to support greater exploration, protect critical infrastructure and encourage further investment in the oil and gas sector. Most recently, the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 February 2016 to outline the need for further urgent fiscal reform.

The Deputy First Minister called for:

A substantial reduction in the headline rate of tax, in order to create an internationally competitive tax regime that will successfully bid for investment, improvements to accessing decommissioning tax relief and the fiscal treatment of infrastructure, which should encourage innovation and efficiency.

The removal of fiscal barriers for exploration and enhanced oil recovery, via the further refinement of the investment allowance. Additional non-fiscal support to support investment in the sector, such as government loan guarantees.

The Scottish Government is currently using all of its devolved powers to help where it can. Building on actions such as the creation of the energy jobs taskforce in January 2015, the Scottish Government has recently announced a comprehensive support package for the sector.

Question reference: S4O-05636

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Question reference: S4W-30231

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Marco Biagi on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Question reference: S4O-05614

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the Aberdeen women's hospital and cancer care unit projects.

NHS Grampian is continuing to plan the Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre in Aberdeen with the support of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust. The planning process involves a wide range of clinical staff and public engagement. The clinical strategies for the new facilities are complete and work is proceeding on the detailed specifications and development of the designs. The planning applications for the new facilities have been submitted.

Question reference: S4O-05568

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in introducing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

Question reference: S4O-05475

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Aberdeen City Council to discuss education issues.

Question reference: S4W-29135

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 14 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what services are provided by (a) local authorities, (b) NHS boards and (c) other public bodies to help treat people who have a gambling addiction, and what information it has regarding the contribution by the betting and gaming sector toward such treatment.

In common with other behaviours that cause difficulties in people’s lives and contribute to their ill health, problem gambling is addressed as part of wider health issues that a person may be experiencing including mental health problems and substance misuse problems. Where a person is referred to a service for treatment, the clinical team will work with the person to identify the issues or problems that are important to support their recovery in a holistic person-centred way. Specialist psychological skills and competencies used in the management of alcohol and drug misuse have some applicability to some problem gamblers as do problem solving counselling skills.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering faster access to psychological therapies for people with mental illness or disorders, including those who have problems with gambling which is recognised as a type of impulse-control disorder. The delivery of psychological therapies is a core part of NHS activity. NHS boards have made good progress in recent years in improving access to many psychological therapies.

The Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) is an independent UK wide charity committed to minimising gambling-related harm and is funded by donations (minimum of £5 million per year) from the gambling industry. RGT funds education, prevention and treatment services and commissions research to broaden public understanding of gambling-related harm. The aim is to stop people getting into problems with their gambling, and ensure that those that do develop problems receive fast and effective treatment and support. The RGT website refers to the funding of services such as GamCare and the RCA Trust which both offer counselling services and are available in Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-05268

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is progressing.

Question reference: S4W-29141

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to regulate the number of staff employed in betting shops with fixed-odds betting terminals and to ensure that the terminals are placed in sight of staff desks.

Question reference: S4W-29130

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding devolving all aspects of (a) gaming and betting legislation or (b) the regulation of fixed-odds betting terminals, including curbing the terminals' speed of play and maximum stakes.

The Scottish Government argued in the Smith Commission that the power to regulate gambling should be devolved to Scotland. The commission recommended a more limited devolution that would allow the Scottish Parliament to control the proliferation of fixed-odds betting terminals.

The Scotland Bill does not deliver this recommendation. The provision would only give the Scottish Parliament the power to set the maximum number of fixed-odds betting terminals in new betting premises. This precludes any action in respect of existing machines, new machines in existing premises and those found in premises other than betting shops. The provisions set out in the Scotland Bill would not allow steps such as limiting stakes or prizes, or action to regulate the speed of play.