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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.

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Question reference: S5W-09464

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the (a) small businesses and (b) people affected by the recent Royal Bank of Scotland branch closures in Mid Scotland and Fife, and what impact these closures have had on the parliamentary region.

While regulation of banks is a reserved matter, bank branch closures are a matter of great concern to communities across Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work and I raised the issue of branch closures with representatives of Scotland’s financial sector at the last meeting of the Financial Services Advisory Board on 10 May 2017. I was pleased to see a recognition from those present that consideration of the impact of closures was now necessary and we are keen to engage in that discussion.

I do appreciate that the banks must make savings and efficiencies in delivering their services in a changing world and digital banking is having an impact on footfall in branches, but clearly there is a continuing need for face to face provision of banking for some customers. So while I recognise that, in general, declining branch activity is a driver for banks to change their operating model, I urge the banks to see branch closures as a last resort, and before closing a branch to consider genuine consultation with local stakeholders and communities to explore all practical options.

Given that, the regulation of banking remains reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Government cannot compel banks to maintain a branch presence where they have taken the commercial decision to close. However, I will continue to engage with the banks to ensure that their future strategy for Scotland takes into account the needs of customers, local communities and staff and to ensure that banks concerned are aware of our own concerns and those of the people of Scotland and to identify any actions that can be taken to assist retention of banking facilities in communities affected by current or potential bank closures.

Question reference: S5W-09496

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-08693, which recieved a holding response on 4 May 2017, and what the reason is for the delay.

Question reference: S5W-09389

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle aggressive behaviour towards cyclists.

The Scottish Government provides record levels of funding to a range of organisations to develop and deliver high quality programmes to encourage an increase in everyday cycling. These organisations are obliged to incorporate road safety guidelines and promote mutual respect to all road users as part of their projects.

There are a number of initiatives that contribute to reducing aggressive behaviour towards people cycling, such as the recent "Operation Close Pass" and the annual "Give Everyone Cycle Space" awareness campaigns. Organisations also promote the use of the Highway Code for all road users. Additional projects include cycle skills training for children, adults and cycle ride leaders and "Practical Cycle Awareness Training" provision for HGV, and PCV drivers as well as young and learner drivers.

Question reference: S5W-09459

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) house prices and (b) rental costs in national park areas compare with other rural areas.

The Scottish Government estimate average house prices and rents in the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) Tool. This assists Local and Planning Authorities and National Parks to estimate housing need and demand over the next 20 years. The Tool provides results for different size areas including Strategic Development Plan Authorities, Local Authorities and National Parks and Housing Market Areas.

The Tool provides the following estimates of house prices and rents as at 2016:

Cairngorms National Park – median house price £218K, median weekly rent £135.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park - median house price £245K, median weekly rent £121

These estimates are based on Registers of Scotland and Rent Service Scotland data as at 2012, which are then projected forward. The HNDA Tool will be updated with the latest house price and rent data in Summer 2017.

The Tool can only provide estimates of house prices and rents for four geographies shown above. it is not designed to produce outputs based on rural or urban geographies although the available geographies may be of interest. The Tool is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/supply-demand/chma/hnda. A short user instruction is also available.

Question reference: S5W-09315

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 5 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports apprenticeships in veterinary nursing.

There is no specific Modern Apprenticeship framework available for Veterinary Nursing. However, training is available through a variety of veterinary nursing courses at the Scottish Rural College and North Highland College. The latest figures available for Quarter 2 of this year show that there were 262 enrolments to those course.

Full details of these courses and how to apply are available on the individual Colleges’ websites.

Prior to Skills Development Scotland being established in 2008, LANTRA (Land-based, Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation Industries) delivered a Modern Apprenticeship, including a NVQ delivered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, but both of these were withdrawn due to lack of uptake from employers and prospective students.

Question reference: S5W-07899

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 7 February 2017, Future of Farming, whether it will confirm the (a) the terms of reference, (b) membership and (c) timescale of the agricultural review group to be chaired by Professor Griggs.

The updated terms of reference, including membership and timescale, for the group chaired by Professor Griggs were published on the Scottish Government website in May 2017. The membership of the group is as follows:

Russel Griggs (Chair)

Allan Bowie

Caroline Drummond

Maggie Keegan

John Kinnaird

David Michie

Colin Mitchell

Pete Ritchie

Geoff Squire

Vicki Swales

John Thomson

Christine Watson

Graham Young

The updated terms of reference are available at this link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/Theterms.

Question reference: S5W-09198

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-07899, which received a holding response on 22 March 2017, and what the reason is for the delay.

Question reference: S5O-01092

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many professional veterinary bodies have indicated support for its legislative proposal to allow the amputation of tails in healthy puppies.

Question reference: S5O-01038

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding whether dust clouds from the Valleyfield ash lagoons have exposed communities in West Fife to hazardous pollutants.

In addition to taking enforcement act to ensure ash spread was stopped, SEPA undertook additional environmental monitoring which was shared with Health Protection Scotland (HPS). On the basis of analysis undertaken by HPS, NHS Fife were able to provide reassurance to the public that there is no evidence that the composition or concentration of the ash cloud presents a significant risk to public health.

Question reference: S5O-01059

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the recent pay award to Scottish Prison Service operational staff has not been extended to non-operational staff in the same institutions.