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-06231

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 31 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it will undertake with the sheep farming sector on maintaining Scotland’s position in the single market, in light of reports that Scottish farmers may be exposed to significant competition resulting from a proposed trade deal between the UK and New Zealand.

We are having regular engagement with the food and drink industry on a range of Brexit related issues, most recently at the Food and Farming summit that I hosted last week in Edinburgh. The National Sheep Association was represented at the summit and we discussed the opportunities to further grow and support the sector. In addition I met with the NSA in November last year where we discussed among other things the Common Agricultural Policy and EU Exit. Scotland’s primary producers – including our sheep farmers – are vital to the future success of the food and drink industry and the Scottish Government will continue to protect their interests.

Question reference: S5T-00359

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update following the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on 30 January 2017.

Question reference: S5W-06308

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed in the smartphone application development sector in Scotland.

There is no specific category for the smartphone application development sector using the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007, produced by the Office for National Statistics.

However, data are available for the ‘Computer programming, consultancy and related activities’ sector (SIC 2007 Division 62) which will encompass the smartphone application development sector. Data from the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) shows that employment (employees plus working proprietors) in this sector was 34,100 in 2015, up by around 5% from 32,400 in 2014.

Question reference: S5W-06307

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the value of the smartphone application development sector is to the Scottish economy.

Question reference: S5W-06309

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact on the smartphone application development sector in Scotland of the decision by Apple to increase the price of its apps following a fall in the value of the pound as a result of the Brexit vote, and what representations it has made to the UK Government on this.

We have not conducted any analysis of the effects that this particular decision might have. Apple is one of a number of companies across different sectors who have stated their intention to increase consumer prices due to the recent devaluation of the pound.

However, the Minister for UK Negotiations for Europe has met with representatives from the digital sector to discuss the effects of the Brexit vote, and ensuring that he is fully briefed on the key issues and concerns from that sector's perspective.

Question reference: S5O-00584

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that the health advice it produces is accessible to people with hearing loss and deafness.

Question reference: S5O-00489

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to protect the marine environment.

Question reference: S5W-05402

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has commissioned from the Committee on Climate Change on a new Climate Change Bill.

The Scottish Government has commissioned advice from the Committee on Climate Change on the appropriate levels, forms and mechanisms for future Scottish greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. The Committee will be issuing a call for evidence in relation to this advice in due course.

The Committee on Climate Change’s advice will help inform the development of a Climate Change Bill that keeps Scotland at the forefront of global climate ambition, by responding to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement with new, evidence-based, statutory targets. The Bill will provide the strategic direction for Scotland’s future climate action. It will be complemented by a range of other measures, both legislative and non-legislative and including the Scottish Government’s new Climate Change Plan and Energy Strategy, to deliver a low-carbon transition that promotes social inclusion and sustainable economic growth.

The Scottish Government will update Parliament on its proposals for the Bill once the Committee on Climate Change has published its advice.

Question reference: S5O-00484

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that water meters are placed in accessible locations.

Question reference: S5W-05379

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Beef Efficiency Scheme.

An important milestone has been reached this week with BES scheme members being notified of the animals that have been selected for genotyping analysis. As of today the animals selected will be visible for the applicants to see on the BES data base. Following on from that the first tissue sample kits will go out to applicants by the end of next week, with all applicants receiving the kits by the end of 2016.

We have also issued an email directly to scheme members informing them that the selection process has taken place, and reminding them that there will be no penalties for famers who have already sold their animals.