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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: S5W-13662

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that women who are prescribed sodium valproate are (a) adequately counselled regarding the risks of taking the drug while pregnant and (b) supported to plan their pregnancies in order to minimise the risk of foetal abnormalities.

Regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) who operate on a UK wide basis. The Scottish Government has ensured that all relevant advice issued by the MHRA to highlight the risks associated with taking Sodium Valproate have been circulated to healthcare professionals in Scotland. This includes strengthened warnings and educational materials.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the MHRA. This will include discussion on any outcomes from the current European wide review considering the effectiveness of measures taken so far and whether further regulatory measures are required to minimise risks of foetal abnormalities in girls and women of childbearing potential.

Question reference: S5O-01677

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage qualified teachers who have left the profession to return.

Question reference: S5O-01660

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to promote cold water island tourism in 2018.

This year, the Scottish Government and our partners will continue to promote sustainable growth, right across Scotland, in the marine and coastal tourism sectors as we build towards the 2020 Themed Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters.

We have recently published our first estimates of the value of marine tourism in Scotland and, in 2015, marine recreation and tourism contributed around £485 million in GVA to the Scottish economy and employed 29,500 workers.

We will also work with Scotland’s islands, building on their proud traditions and vibrant cultures to maximise their contribution to the visitor economy, promoting their numerous festivals and events and their uniqueness as places to live, work, study and visit.

Question reference: S5T-00849

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent reported concerns regarding City Region Deals.

Question reference: S5O-01590

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by how much PFI/PPP payments will increase in 2018-19, given such payments and index-linked bonds include charges that increase with inflation.

Question reference: S5F-01787

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2017

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is tackling knife crime.

Question reference: S5O-01539

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering reducing its financial support for the Scottish Sports Association.

Question reference: S5O-01506

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Pupil Equity Fund is having on educational attainment in North Ayrshire.

Schools in North Ayrshire have received almost £4.4m of Pupil Equity Funding in 2017-18 to be spent at the discretion of Headteachers.

Locally, we expect schools and authorities to make the best use of data they have and to incorporate details for evaluating the impact of Pupil Equity Funding into their existing planning and reporting processes.

Nationally, we are currently consulting on the criteria that we will use to measure progress towards closing the gap and will confirm our approach within the 2018 National Improvement Plan, which will be published in December.

Question reference: S5O-01392

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to grow the economy of North Ayrshire.

Question reference: S5O-01299

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the number of Higher exam passes in North Ayrshire in 2017 compared with 2016.

The Scottish Government does not hold the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) 2017 data set. As a national awarding body SQA only publishes data at a national level. Data is, however, provided annually to local authorities relating to the schools in their region, and I would encourage you to contact North Ayrshire Council for the information you require.

Since the start of the Scottish Attainment Challenge in 2015, North Ayrshire has been allocated over £14.8m in funding. £4.8m of this year's funding is being provided through the Challenge Authority programme to implement an authority wide improvement plan. Schools in North Ayrshire have also received a further £4.3m of Pupil Equity Funding this year to be spent at the discretion of Headteachers.