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: S5O-03268

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist the tourism sector to attract workers in the event of Scotland being impacted by an end to the freedom of movement following Brexit.

Question reference: S5O-03152

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the R100 superfast broadband programme.

The procurement process for our £600 million Reaching 100 percent programme is now well underway and I can confirm we have three highly credible bidders currently engaged in dialogue with officials.

The procurement process is, however, complex and tightly bound by law and procurement rules and, so, at this point in the process, I am constrained regarding the detail I can provide given the commercial sensitivities around the dialogue itself.

However, we will of course inform Parliament first, when we are able to confirm awards for each of the three regional contract lots.

Question reference: S5O-03108

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the AWPR is having on traffic flow and congestion on other roads in the north east.

Question reference: S5W-22364

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it expects Registers of Scotland to achieve in 2019-20.

Question reference: S5O-02894

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the CAMHS taskforce at NHS Grampian has had on mental health treatment for adolescents.

The Mental Health Access Support Team (MHAIST) has been working with NHS Grampian to develop an improvement plan for CAMHS which is currently being implemented.

A range of ongoing activity includes:

? Targeted support for key services, currently focused on the Moray region,
? Standardisation of key processes to ensure equity of access for all children and young people, and;
? Data improvements to improve decision-making around workforce planning, job planning and service demand.

We have already seen reduced waiting times in all areas of service, with the exception of Moray which is now the focus of dedicated improvement activity.

Question reference: S5O-02861

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the rate of articulation from college to university.

Question reference: S5W-21036

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reports that the company that operates the Stoneywood paper mill in Aberdeen, Arjowiggins, has entered administration; what engagement it is having with (a) the company and (b) the workforce, management and unions at the plant regarding this; what support and assurances it can offer to the employees, and what plans it has to undertake an assessment of the economic importance of the plant and to help secure a viable future for it.

I visited the Stoneywood mill on 23 January and met with Senior Management, as well as Unite representatives and local partners. The Minister had previously spoken with the company on 11 and 15 January, workforce representatives (Unite) on 17 January and administrators (FRP Advisory) on 21 January. Scottish Government will continue to engage with the company and union as well as with local MPs and MSPs, to try to secure a sustainable future for the mill and its workforce. Scottish Enterprise has engaged with local (Aberdeen City Council) and national partners (SDS/PACE) and is working closely with the administrators and senior management towards securing a positive outcome for Stoneywood.

Scottish Enterprise prepared an Economic Impact assessment last year as part of its ongoing work with the company. This will be reviewed for relevance in the current context and also with regards to any potential public sector support.

Question reference: S5O-02699

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote Scotland’s reputation overseas as that of a welcoming and tolerant society.

Question reference: S5F-02865

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 December 2018

To ask the First Minister how Scotland is working with the international community to tackle climate change.

Question reference: S5O-02638

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how courts take domestic abuse into account in child contact cases.

Section 11(7A) to (7E) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 makes provision in this area. These subsections provide that the court must have regard to the need to protect from abuse when considering cases such as contact and residence.

We have recently consulted on reforming family law and are committed to introducing a Family Law Bill. One of its aims is to ensure victims of domestic abuse and children are protected in child contact cases.