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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 333 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-11131

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on farmers in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding whether the UK will retain access to EU animal health resources, such as the vaccine bank for foot and mouth disease, after it leaves the EU.

Question reference: S5W-11130

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding whether Scotland will have access to the level of emergency EU funding that is provided in cases of serious animal disease outbreaks after the UK leaves the EU.

Question reference: S5W-11129

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding whether Scotland will have access to the level of EU funding that helps support (a) the farm structure survey, (b) the farm business survey, (c) the sheep and goat inventory and (d) animal health testing and surveillance after the UK leaves the EU.

Question reference: S5O-01249

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assess the models of healthcare that are used in primary and community services.

Question reference: S5W-10825

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many hits there have been on the website, scottishairquality.co.uk.

Question reference: S5W-10826

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how often mobile air quality sensors loaned to schools are used, and whether it considers that there are enough to meet demand.

Question reference: S5W-10827

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are signed-up to the Know and Respond service, which provides voicemail, SMS and email alerts on air pollution episodes.

Question reference: S5W-10612

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged further with the European Commission on an extension to the deadline for 2016 CAP payments and, if so, what the commission’s response was.

The Scottish Government wrote to the European Commission on 21 June to request an extension to the end-June deadline for CAP Pillar 1 payments. The Commission responded to indicate that it does not propose to offer an extension and, as noted in the answer given to question S5W-10309 on 25 July 2017, the Scottish Government subsequently made a further request. The Commission responded on 2 August to confirm there will be an opportunity to make further representations on these issues once they have undertaken initial penalty calculations in the Autumn. The Scottish Government will consider whether further action is required at that time.

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: S5O-01056

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 31 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to encourage increased uptake of carbon auditing among farmers.

Carbon audit tools can help farmers and crofters manage and reduce the carbon footprint of farming and crofting. By using resources more efficiently it can also potentially improve profitability.

The agriculture chapter in our draft Climate Change Action Plan commits to consulting on how best to ensure maximum uptake of carbon audits. Use of such tools is also promoted through the Scottish Government’s Farm Advisory Service.

Participation in the Beef Efficiency Scheme will also involve beef farmers in conducting carbon audits – 1880 beef farmers have signed up to take part in that scheme.

Question reference: S5W-09261

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the proposed trial on electro-fishing, and when it will commence.

Marine Scotland is organising two workshop events (one in Glasgow and on in the North West) in early June which will be focussed on obtaining industry stakeholder views on the location of the proposed electrofishing trials. The findings from these workshops will assist in shaping discussions with other public sector partners and the relevant local authorities in defining the boundaries of the trial areas. It is anticipated that the location of the trail sites will be confirmed over the summer.