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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-05841

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the impact of online alcohol sales on overall (a) availability and (b) consumption in Scotland at a (i) national and (ii) local level; what data it uses to inform this and how it will ensure that sufficient data is gathered.

As part of the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) programme undertaken by NHS Health Scotland, retail alcohol sales data are used to estimate per adult consumption of alcohol at a national level. NHS Health Scotland assessed the validity and reliability of retail alcohol sales data in 2012 (report is available at http://www.healthscotland.com/uploads/documents/25959-MESAS%20validity%20reliability%20update%20-%20Aug%202015.pdf) and estimated that online sales leads to a 0.1 litre underestimate in overall adult consumption of alcohol from retail sales data. This represents less than 1% of the estimated 10.8 litres of pure alcohol sold per adult in 2015. We will be introducing a refreshed Alcohol Framework shortly and will be considering on-going monitoring arrangements, including for online sales.

As regards availability of alcohol, the provision or overprovision of licensed premises within a local area is a matter for local licensing boards to consider. In assessing the extent of any overprovision in a locality, the licensing board will have regard to the number and capacity of existing premises rather than sales volume.

Question reference: S5W-05984

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported rise in the use of azamethiphos, emamectin benzoate and deltamethrin on salmon farms.

The use of such chemicals in coastal waters is regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency through the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, in the form of conditions in licences issued to salmon farms. If SEPA finds evidence of incorrect use of such chemicals, the Regulations enable SEPA to take appropriate enforcement action for non-compliance with the licence conditions.

Question reference: S5W-05977

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 19 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service resources were used to deal with wildlife crime during 2014-15.

Question reference: S5W-05982

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish its response to the consultation on the extension of wildlife crime investigative powers for inspectors in the Scottish SPCA.

Question reference: S5W-05983

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04342 by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 November 2016, by what date it will publish the findings of the review by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Question reference: S5T-00323

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support local authority action to reduce air pollution.

Question reference: S5W-06054

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-00556

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce a decision regarding tuition fee support for EU students applying for courses for 2018-19.

Question reference: S5W-06033

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-05485

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the implementation of the living wage for private sector care workers delivering services for local authorities can be sustained beyond 2017-18.

As part of the 2017-18 draft budget, we have shown our commitment to the social care sector by announcing a further £100 million to be made available to Integration Authorities to support sustainability in the sector and continued delivery of the Living Wage to adult care workers. Within this settlement we have included a number of assumptions such as employer costs and assumed no provider contribution in 2017-18, this will support partnerships and private and voluntary sector providers to be able to implement this commitment sustainably. This was based on a one year Spending Review. Further support for delivering the Living Wage will be discussed as part of next years budget.