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: S6W-10295

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the responses to its consultation on mandatory calorie labelling in the out of home sector.

Question reference: S6W-09971

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when repair work on the A77 at Carlock Wall is anticipated to be completed.

Question reference: S6W-09521

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the use of anthelmintics through medicated grit to treat wild red grouse, what monitoring is in place for (a) how much is being used and (b) where it is being dispensed.

Medicated grit can only be used under licence administered by a veterinarian. A veterinary prescription is required to purchase flubendazole coated medicated grit and it is recommended following predetermination of worm levels in grouse .

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is the competent authority in the UK responsible for the testing of food producing animals for residues of authorised veterinary medicines products and prohibited substances. The National Residues Surveillance Programme is carried out by VMD in accordance with The Animal and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (England and Scotland) Regulations of 2015. Food Standards Scotland collect samples on behalf of VMD in approved game handling establishments.

The testing of red grouse for the presence of anthelmintic compounds authorised for use in medicated feed, such as flubendazole, has been carried out since 2016 and VMD publish its annual figures on gov.uk.

Question reference: S6W-09522

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the recommendations of the SEPA report, Preliminary environmental assessment of Flubendazole use in Scotland for parasitic worm control in Moorland Grouse, published in November 2020.

As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will – ‘deliver the recommendations of the Grouse Moor Management Review Group as a matter of urgency, including the licensing of grouse moors. Licensing or further regulation will cover the key areas identified in the review, including muirburn, wildlife control, the use of medicated grit and wildlife crime. Licensing will be supported by clear penalties to encourage compliance, as well as additional effort to detect wildlife crime’.

The Scottish Government has been working with SEPA on how best to address the recommendations of the SEPA report Preliminary environmental assessment of Flubendazole use in Scotland for parasitic worm control in Moorland Grouse.

SEPA are currently preparing to test particulate release of flubendazole from medicated grit. We will provide an update on the findings in due course.

Question reference: S6W-09520

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what research is being carried out into the potential for resistance from use of veterinary medication on wild red grouse.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any research being carried out specifically on the potential for resistance from the use of veterinary medication in wild red grouse.

However, Moredun Research Institute are currently leading on a Strategic Research Programme project on ‘Strategies to promote sustainable parasite control and reduce anthelmintic usage’.

The aims of the research, which started in April this year, include:

• Investigate measures to minimise environmental impacts of anthelmintics whilst maintaining/boosting productivity and livestock efficiency

• Understand the tension between environmental benefits of livestock grazing vs impacts of treatment with anthelmintics

• Evaluate environmental implications of alternative strategies for animal health and welfare, specifically worms and fluke, and requirement for anthelmintic treatment

Question reference: S6O-01277

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the reinstatement of inpatient births at the Community Maternity Unit within the Galloway Community Hospital.

Question reference: S6W-08722

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for extended opening hours for licensed premises between 2 and 4 June 2022 to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Independent Licensing Boards in Scotland can grant general extensions of licensed hours if they consider it appropriate to do so in connection with a special event of local or national significance – as was the case during the Queen’s 60 th Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Whilst these are matters for Licensing Boards in their areas, the Scottish Government is supportive of Licensing Boards having these powers. It is worth emphasising the local decision making powers in this area, the Scottish Ministers do not have a power to grant a general extension of licensed hours, unlike the Home Secretary under the England and Wales licensing regime.

Question reference: S6O-01191

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a maximum bidding price has been applied to commercial-scale ScotWind projects, but not to 100MW innovation projects looking to progress through the forthcoming Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas leasing round.

Question reference: S6O-01111

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support a town centre first approach to the development of new housing.

Question reference: S6O-00920

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current levels of unmet need and staff vacancies in social care.