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-27753

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform's indication under Rule 9.14.13(a) on 23 November 2018, when it will initiate legislation that will give full effect to the proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

The work to update and strengthen existing licensing legislation covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers, animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities is proceeding and our intention is to lay the new regulations before the Scottish Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

As the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform indicated in her correspondence of 23 November 2018 to Mr Balfour, this legislation will give full effect to his proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S5W-27754

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timeline is for the introduction of a modern licensing system for dog, cat and rabbit breeders and pet sellers, as outlined in its Programme for Government 2019-20.

Question reference: S5O-04295

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Lothian is taking to recruit additional clinical staff, in light of recent ISD figures suggesting that one in three young people in the area are waiting over a year for mental health support.

Question reference: S5W-27645

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what stage in the process it has reached in its acquisition of a new head office for Social Security Scotland in Dundee, and on what date it expects the relevant staff to be transferred to the new office.

Question reference: S5W-27646

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what processes are in place for transferring staff, equipment and systems from Social Security Scotland’s current headquarters in Dundee to the new premises.

Question reference: S5O-04254

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the recent two-day closure of the Queensferry Crossing.

Question reference: S5O-04233

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on facilitating the Eden Project initiative, The Big Lunch, in June 2020 to bring people who work at the Parliament together and help strengthen the sense of community.

Question reference: S5O-04125

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Competition and Markets Authority's analysis of its handling of ferry contracts and the potential effect this has on future procurement.

Question reference: S5O-04074

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote intergenerational work to support older people.

Question reference: S5O-04030

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what organisations it has met to discuss Edinburgh’s preparedness for the festivals in summer 2020.