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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

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Question reference: S4W-00142

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of COSLA to discuss the planned guidance for the proposed closure of schools.

Question reference: S4W-00139

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in publication of the planned additional guidance on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

Question reference: S4W-00138

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward further guidance on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

A short-life working group was launched in November 2010 with a remit to review and update the statutory guidance associated with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The group, as well as others, recognised that the legislation has not worked in exactly the way we intended and it became apparent that more work was required.

On 31 May 2011, I announced a 12 month moratorium on rural school closures and the creation of a commission on the delivery of rural education which will, amongst other things, review the legislation and its application before making recommendations on how to reflect best practice on the delivery of education in rural areas. I expect the guidance to be considered with that process.

Question reference: S4W-00200

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 3 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Natural Heritage's position is on wind farm developments (a) in or adjacent to national parks and (b) in nature conservation areas.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) advise the relevant consenting authority, which is either the local planning authority or the Scottish Government, on potential impacts on the natural heritage from wind farm developments and their position is set out in Scottish Natural Heritage’s approach to Renewable Energy which is available on SNH’s website at:

http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/renewable-energy/our-approach-to-renewables/our-approach/.

SNH’s approach is informed by Scottish planning policy and their own strategic locational guidance which provides a strategic view on onshore wind farm developments in sensitive areas, including proposals in and adjacent to national parks and developments in designated nature conservation areas.

Question reference: S4W-00174

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is provided to NHS boards regarding the provision of mental health services for LGBT people.

NHS boards and their partners are expected to plan and deliver services in line with relevant legislation including the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 which has at its heart fundamental principles to ensure equal access to health care: participation; non-discrimination; respect for diversity; reciprocity; and equality.

We are currently supporting the LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing, in partnership with NHS Lothian, to conduct a project which is contributing to the understanding of LGBT communities and their mental health and wellbeing needs, and delivering specialist mental health support to LGBT people in Lothian. The outcome of this work will assist NHS boards across Scotland in the planning and provision of mental health services for LGBT people.

Question reference: S4W-00173

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will meet its aim of creating a mentally flourishing Scotland.

We will work with our partners and continue to build on the success of delivering a wide range of policies including the towards a mentally flourishing scotland (TAMFS) policy and action plan designed to improve mental health and wellbeing and making a step change in how we, as a society, look after our own and others’ mental health.

TAMFS demonstrated the Scottish Government’s continuing commitment to promoting mental health improvement and has driven further progress in addressing stigma, preventing common mental health problems, suicide and self-harm; and improving the quality of life of those experiencing mental health problems.

Integration of policy and practice on mental health promotion and mental health service delivery will be a key challenge for this work in the future.

Question reference: S4W-00075

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether responsibility for tackling poverty will be co-ordinated by the First Minister's office.

Question reference: S4W-00079

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconvene the Tackling Poverty Board and broaden its membership to involve people in poverty and other stakeholders in the ongoing development of anti-poverty policy, as recommended in the Poverty Alliance's The 100 Day Challenge: Anti-Poverty Priorities for the next Scottish Government.

Question reference: S4W-00078

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a campaign to raise awareness of the reality of living in poverty and to tackle prejudice toward people living in poverty, as recommended in the Poverty Alliance's The 100 Day Challenge: Anti-Poverty Priorities for the next Scottish Government.

Question reference: S4W-00074

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to implement the recommendations in the Poverty Alliance's The 100 Day Challenge: Anti-Poverty Priorities for the next Scottish Government.