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-23738

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 18 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the cap on transitional relief for non-domestic rates.

The Scottish Government put in place a transitional relief from 2017-18 to cap the annual year on year increase in rates bills at 12.5% real terms, for all but the largest hospitality across Scotland and Aberdeen city and Shire offices. In 2018 the Scottish Government confirmed that transitional relief would be maintained for eligible properties for the full five-year period between the 2017 and the 2022 revaluations.

Question reference: S5W-23575

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 12 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what power it has under the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 to ban smoking in (a) playparks, (b) outdoor sports facilities and (c) other similar outdoor areas by means of regulations under section 4 of the act.

Question reference: S5W-23344

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government where South of Scotland Enterprise will be based.

South of Scotland Enterprise will operate across the South of Scotland, in a way that is accessible to all wanting to access its services and support. As I outlined in my letter to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 21 March, Scottish Government officials are taking forward work to deliver the commitment that South of Scotland Enterprise will be accessible to all. This includes looking at options and arrangements for co-locating with other organisations which would not only be cost-effective but would help joined-up delivery and ensure that the organisation operates effectively across the area.

Question reference: S5W-23354

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what data will be gathered from communities and businesses in the region following the establishment of South of Scotland Enterprise.

Question reference: S5W-23341

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "inclusive growth" in relation to the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill.

The Scottish Government set out its definition of Inclusive Growth, and how it relates to the activities of its Enterprise Agencies, in the answer to question S5W-15066 on 14 March 2018. This states that Inclusive Growth is growth that combines increased prosperity with greater equity; that creates opportunities for all and distributes the dividends of increased prosperity fairly.

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-23343

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how growth in the region will be measured following the establishment of South of Scotland Enterprise.

As with other such agencies, South of Scotland Enterprise will be expected to set out how it will measure and evaluate growth in its action plan and to report on progress, including utilising standard economic measures and any required to show progress on key national and local economic priorities. Additionally it will be expected to contribute to and benefit from the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board's approach to performance measurement and shared outcomes to improve understanding of impact across the Enterprise and Skills support system.

Question reference: S5W-23342

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to ensure that economic growth in the south of Scotland is inclusive and sustainable.

In recognition of the unique challenges and opportunities in the South of Scotland, the Scottish Government is committed to establishing a new enterprise agency to serve the region from April 2020. South of Scotland Enterprise will play a key role in driving forward the economy, sustaining and growing communities and harnessing the power of its people and resources. As the draft Bill makes clear, supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth is a key action in the draft Bill which the new agency can take towards delivering its aim to further the economic and social development of the South of Scotland.

Whilst we work to establish the new enterprise agency, the Scottish Government has set up the South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SOSEP) to take a fresh approach to economic development across the region. SOSEP has invested in a range of projects, based on strategic priorities defined in consultation with local people, and over £13 million has been made available to support its activity in the current financial year.

Alongside this, in March this year, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity announced that the Scottish Government has committed £85 million to support the South of Scotland through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal. The UK Government will also invest up to £65 million to support activity in the South of Scotland through the deal. The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal will support a range of strategic projects on priority themes defined by local authorities to help to achieve a step change in economic growth in the South of Scotland.

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Question reference: S5W-23435

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 6 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how forestry impacts on wild aquatic life, and what measures it is taking to alleviate the impact of any (a) acidification, (b) siltation and (c) eutrophication of the aquatic environment arising from this.

Forestry’s impacts on the water environment are complex, with well managed woods and forests often having beneficial impacts – for example by moderating extreme flows and temperatures.

There are well understood legal and best practice standards in place to safeguard the water environment, including mitigating the risk of forest management activity contributing to negative impacts from acidification, siltation and eutrophication. These standards are set out in the UK Forestry Standard and associated Water Guidelines. Scottish Forestry ensures that Scotland’s forests and woodlands are managed in accordance with these standards through the application of regulations, advice and support.

In addition, the Scottish Government commissions ongoing research into the impacts of forestry on the water environment and offers a ‘Woodlands for Water’ higher grant payment rate for woodland creation schemes in target areas that have been identified as having the greatest potential to provide multiple benefits for water quality and natural flood management.

Question reference: S5W-23487

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated through the Pupil Equity Fund for dyslexic assessments since 2017, broken down by local authority.

Pupil Equity Funding was introduced in 2017 as a new way of working to close the attainment gap, by providing money directly to the schools, and headteachers, that know their young people best, giving schools the power to choose where to target support and interventions. While the Scottish Government collects and publishes school level Pupil Equity Funding spend from Local Authorities each financial year, we do not collect or hold detailed information about what the funding has been spent on. The headteacher is accountable to their local authority for the use of Pupil Equity Funding within their school. To ensure transparency, schools are expected to incorporate details of their Pupil Equity Funding plans into existing planning and reporting processes to their Parent Council and Forum, including in their annual School Improvement Plans and Standards and Quality Reports.

Question reference: S5O-03290

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent passive smoking.