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-09201

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request quality assurance and performance reports from the Scottish Ambulance Service regarding the additional funding to improve services in Caithness to ensure that it is being used effectively.

Question reference: S5W-09200

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the additional funding recently announced by the Scottish Ambulance Service to help improve services in Caithness will be spent; what improvements will be seen in services as a result of this funding, and how long it will take for these improvements to be seen.

The additional funding recently announced will be used to enhance ambulance provision through exploring opportunities regarding estates, community resilience and staffing.

The Service has established the Caithness Ambulance Investment Project Group which comprises of representatives from SAS, NHS Highland and members of the public. Plans are being developed by the group to consider how this extra investment can be best used to meet the needs of both staff and the local community.

I have asked to be kept informed as these discussions progress and am happy to provide an update once decisions have been made.

Question reference: S5W-09167

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many trees were planted in 2016-17, and what information it has regarding how this compares with England.

The national statistics for woodland creation record the area planted rather than number of trees. The UK statistics for 2016-17, including a breakdown by country, will be published on 15 June 2017 on the Forestry Commission website: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqknx.

The published statistics for 2015-16 stated that Scotland created 4,600 hectares of woodland compared to the 700 hectares of woodland created in England.

Forestry Commission England has published provisional figures for grant-aided woodland created in 2016-17 of 525 hectares. This does not include tree planting on the Public Forest Estate.

Question reference: S5O-00964

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve ambulance cover in the far north.

The Scottish Government fully recognise the vital frontline role the Scottish Ambulance Service plays which is why we have provided a 1.5% uplift in its budget for 2017-18, equating to a £3.4m increase. I also recently announced additional funding of £6.3m to help the Service move forward delivery of its strategy in 2017-18.

In line with our commitment to see 1000 more paramedics recruited to work in the community by the end of this Parliament, the Service introduced 52 new posts throughout the North of Scotland in 2016-17. The Service recently announced increased investment in Caithness following a review which showed a rise in patient transfers in the area. This highlights the Services commitment to continuously review demand and capacity throughout the country to ensure it continues to deliver a high level of care to patients.

Question reference: S5W-08787

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement is in place for dealing with raptor persecution on grouse moors.

Question reference: S5W-08790

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of their status as a protected status, for what reason the shooting of mountain hares is permissible.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, mountain hares are protected by a close season which is between 1 March and 31 July. Outwith this period, mountain hares may legally be shot. An application for a licence to shoot hares during the close season may be made to Scottish Natural Heritage for specific purposes, as set out in Section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These include the conservation of flora or fauna and the prevention of serious damage to foodstuff for livestock or to crops, vegetables, fruit and growing timber.

Question reference: S5W-08788

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement is in place for dealing with mountain hares being shot out of season.

Question reference: S5O-00871

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that CCTV is being installed in slaughterhouses to assist in animal welfare scrutiny.

Question reference: S5O-00835

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the hospitality sector regarding business rates relief.

Question reference: S5W-07929

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how often in each of the last two years the Eastern Airways' service from (a) Wick to Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeen to Wick been (i) cancelled and (ii) has delayed, also broken down by the reason for the disruption.