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-34149

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the independent economic impact study of Scottish hospitality carried out by BiGGAR Economics.

The Scottish Government fully understands the challenges facing the hospitality sector as we look to balance measures to suppress the virus and protect lives with keeping businesses open and trading viably. The scale of the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality sector is significant. Data from Scottish Government’s Monthly GDP statistics for October indicates that GDP in Accommodation and Food Services was almost 44% lower than in February, while data from our analysis of ONS’s BICS survey indicates that 52.4% of the workforce in the sector were on furlough leave in the period 16 November to 13 December. The findings from this report offer a further illustration of the negative impact Covid-19 has had on hospitality. We have provided substantial support to the hospitality sector in response to these unprecedented challenges, including 100% rates relief for pubs and restaurants for the year, and we will shortly announce details of further funding targeted for tourism and hospitality. We also pressed the UK Government intensively for the extension of the CJRS – in light of the challenges faced by sectors like hospitality. We believe the current restrictions for hospitality are the correct balance but we will continue to assess the restrictions to ensure they remain appropriate for the circumstances. A Four Harms analysis report has also been published which set out the impact and analysis across all four. We remain committed to building on our constructive dialogue with the industry – including regular contact with key business organisations – and are listening carefully to their suggestions and concerns.

Question reference: S5W-34147

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported concerns regarding forestry planting at Tansy Hill, and what action it is taking to protect peatland.

Scottish Forestry investigated the concerns about forestry planting operations at Tansey Hill in December 2020 and found that some small areas of deep peat, adding up to 0.5 hectares in total, had been ploughed in preparation for tree planting.

The Scottish Government’s policy seeks to protect areas of deep peat and does not approve ploughing or tree planting on deep peat. The ploughing of deep peat on Tansey Hill did not comply with the terms of the planting approval or the Forestry Grant Scheme contract.

Scottish Forestry has requested a range of remedial actions to protect the peatland and reinstate the damaged areas. These have been accepted by the forestry agent and are in the process of being implemented.

The measures include removing the deep peat areas from the planting scheme and reinstating the disturbed peat on all ploughed areas where the depth exceeds 50 cm.

Ploughing will not be allowed to recommence until these remediation measures have been completed.

Question reference: S5O-04930

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with dualling the A75.

Question reference: S5W-34120

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of parents at Canonbie Primary School regarding changes to the building to establish additional space to deliver increased nursery hours.

The Scottish Government’s 2017 publication A blueprint for 2020: the expansion of early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland - ELC expansion planning guidance for local authorities sets out a framework to support local authorities in developing plans for the expansion of early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours. This framework encourages local authorities to make full use of existing assets before purchasing or building additional capacity.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for the planning and execution of any changes required to its infrastructure in preparation for the increase to 1,140 funded nursery hours for eligible children in August 2021.

The Scottish Government would expect local authorities to work with school communities to discuss how they make changes to the learning estate, and we would encourage anybody who is concerned about the proposals for Canonbie Primary School to discuss these with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Question reference: S5W-34121

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to Canonbie Primary School to facilitate the changes required to accommodate a nursery classroom.

The Scottish Government has provided no direct funding to Canonbie Primary School to facilitate the accommodation of a nursery classroom.

In May 2018, the Scottish Government awarded Dumfries and Galloway Council a multi-year capital funding settlement of £9.1m for early learning and childcare, including any capital works required to make the council’s infrastructure ready for the increase to 1,140 funded nursery hours for eligible children.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for decisions on how that £9.1m should be allocated to individual projects.

Question reference: S5W-34470

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 January 2021
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has sought from local authorities regarding their home learning provision in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-34119

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 cases have been identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

Question reference: S5W-34286

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent COVID-19 developments, whether it will reconsider its proposals to move trials from Dumfries Sheriff Court.

Question reference: S5W-34123

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns regarding the need for roof repairs and a long-term roof replacement at HMP Dumfries, and what plans there are for further investment on the site.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS is developing proposals for replacing the roof over the health centre, prisoner reception, gymnasium and a section of the prisoner accommodation. Additional works will also be carried out to the prison’s workshed roof. It is intended to award a contract during this financial year and for the work to be carried out during the summer and autumn periods of 2021 at an indicative cost of circa £350k.

SPS also plan to undertake a condition survey of the prison buildings at HMP Dumfries. This work is due to be completed before the end of this financial year and will help to develop a rolling 5 year development plan for the prison. This plan will include a programme of work based on a number of factors and will be used to identify future investment required at the site which will be subject to available funding.

Question reference: S5W-34067

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to keep jury and sheriff business at Dumfries Sheriff Court beyond January 2021.

While this is an operational matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the Scottish Government does not hold this information, SCTS has confirmed the matter in Dumfries cannot be viewed in isolation to the recovery programme across the country and that the temporary solution which is being put in place is based on the overall funding available, takes account of business volumes and minimises disruption for the greatest amount of people. SCTS has worked with the judiciary, legal profession and third sector to introduce highly innovative remote jury centres within cinema complexes to ensure that the criminal justice system continues to operate during unprecedented times. This is an incredibly complex technical solution both to install and to service and operate on an ongoing basis and is not one that can be replicated in every court in Scotland.