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-00491

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002, in light of the review by Lord Bonomy.

Question reference: S5W-04974

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 6 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, calculated by Cancer Research UK, which show that 11 to 18-year-olds eat and drink three times the recommended amount of added sugar, with sugary drinks being the main source of this.

There are clear health benefits associated with reducing sugar consumption as part of a healthy diet. While we welcome the creation of a sugary drinks levy, it cannot in isolation address the levels of obesity in the country.

We support the work of Public Health England in setting sugar reduction targets across a range of food categories and are inputting to this through Food Standards Scotland.

We have announced our intention to set out and consult on the development of our new Diet and Obesity Strategy in 2017, building on our wide range of activity to make it easier for people – including children and their families – to be more active, eat less, and eat better.

Question reference: S5O-00421

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met the president of COSLA to discuss the spending review and the local government settlement.

Question reference: S5W-04773

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what agreement has been reached with the chair of the national review of health and social care targets and indicators regarding a timetable and outputs.

Question reference: S5W-04778

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) remit and (b) membership is of the national review of health and social care targets and indicators.

Further to my answer to question S5W-04508 on 15 November 2016. The final remit has been circulated to the group for agreement by 2 December 2016. The chair has also invited the Coalition of Carers for Scotland to nominate a representative to join the group.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-04779

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that changes to health and social care targets and indicators that result from the national review will support the delivery of the draft health and social care standards, which are due to be implemented in Spring 2018.

Question reference: S5W-04776

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how members of the public and other stakeholders can contribute to the national review of health and social care targets and indicators.

Question reference: S5W-04774

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the targets and indicators that are included in the national review of health and social care targets and indicators.

Question reference: S5W-04750

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04538 by Michael Matheson on 16 November 2016, whether any other minister has made representations to (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority regarding police charging for events.

Question reference: S5W-04624

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the actions of Laing O’Rourke, which is contracted to build the new acute hospital in Dumfries and Galloway, in light of claims by the construction union, UCATT, that it has been refused access to the site, and what its position is on how such actions support fair work and the role of trade unions.

We have continually shown our commitment to promoting positive relationships with Trade Unions as they provide a voice and a source of empowerment to those that might otherwise go unheard.

There is clear evidence that unionised workplaces have more engaged staff, have a higher level of staff training and a progressive approach to staff wellbeing.

Trade unions have a crucial role to play both in distributing the ‘returns’ from work and in contributing to making workplaces more effective and prosperous for all.

Industrial Relations in Scotland are strong and we will continue to work closely with Trade Unions to promote the benefits of Trade Unions to employers.

We would encourage Laing O’Rourke and UCATT to work together to seek a resolution which best supports their workforce.