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-18195

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to transport connections at the ferry port of Cairnryan.

Transport Scotland is currently working collaboratively with local and regional authorities to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study – Initial-Appraisal: Case for Change. This will consider the rationale for improvements across all modes in the area, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. The study will feed in to the process of gathering robust evidence to enable decisions on support for infrastructure improvements.

Question reference: S5W-18194

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding plans for a new town station in Stranraer.

Currently there are no plans for a new town station at Stranraer. Transport Scotland is working collaboratively with local and regional authorities to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study - Initial-Appraisal: Case for Change. This will consider the rationale for improvements across all modes in the area, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. The study will feed in to the process of gathering robust evidence to enable decisions on support for infrastructure improvements including for potential new rail stations.

Question reference: S5O-02258

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to tackle the reported high levels of COPD in the Stranraer area, and whether this will include the installation of new air monitoring equipment.

Question reference: S5O-02209

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for the funding of further education courses in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S5W-16870

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what process is in place for funding applications to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership.

Those with potential projects seeking funding should submit their ideas to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership ( [email protected] ).

The Partnership will consider initial enquiries and the potential for those projects to progress to a formal funding application. Projects progressing to a formal funding application will require a business case setting out information about the project and its contribution to inclusive growth. The business case will be assessed by the Partnership against a set of agreed and consistent criteria including demonstrating: a clear link to the Partnership's priorities; additionality, activity that could not otherwise have happened; ambition, making a significant difference; partnership; and leverage of other funding sources.

The Partnership will then submit a recommendation to the Government to decide on whether or not to approve the funding application. The process will be set out on the Partnership's website.

Question reference: S5W-16869

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many funding applications have been received by the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, and how many of these (a) have been successful and (b) are waiting to be processed.

In the 2018-2019 Budget, the Scottish Government identified £10million to drive forward inclusive growth and support communities across the South of Scotland. The budget will support the work of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, enabling additional activity to take place supporting businesses and communities. A range of individuals, groups and organisations have made initial approaches to the Partnership to explore the potential for funding and whether to progress their ideas and submit applications for support. There have been nine formal applications for funding, with two approved and seven under consideration.

Question reference: S5W-16853

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many on-board compliance inspections Marine Scotland has conducted each month as part of the scientific trial of electrofishing for razor clams, also broken down by how many boats have failed the inspection, and how often after their initial inspection can boat owners expect their craft to be further inspected.

The scientific trial commenced on 1 February 2018. Vessels selected to participate are required to undergo an inspection by Marine Scotland to ensure that each vessel and its operation fully meets the criteria for the trial. There have been 17 such inspections (5 in February, 7 in March, 4 in April and 1 in May) and each of these vessels have now received a derogation allowing them to commence fishing. Vessels are not failed on initial inspection and operators are given the opportunity to address any identified shortcomings prior to any derogation being issued, the time taken to address operational issues varies from case to case.

Marine Scotland Compliance deploy resources based on regular risk assessment. Since the start of the trial there have been 6 boardings of razor vessels at sea and 13 inspections following landings undertaken by Marine Scotland Compliance. These numbers do not indicate a heightened risk. However inspections would be increased if intelligence received warranted it or if infringements were detected.

Question reference: S5W-16095

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15636 by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 April 2018, by what date it expects the legislation to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to be (a) introduced and (b) in place.

The Scottish Government has committed, in its Programme for Government 2017-18, to prepare to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to increase the maximum penalty for the most serious offences to 5 years imprisonment.

The Scottish Government will introduce the legislation when the most suitable legislative vehicle to deliver this commitment is identified and it will come into force on approval by the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5W-15643

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it conducted an economic and environmental assessment of hydraulic dredging for razor clams prior to setting the terms of the razor clam electrofishing trial.

Question reference: S5W-15642

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it undertook with hydraulic dredge fishing operators prior to the passage of the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017.