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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: S4O-03231

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is being provided to deliver ophthalmology services in Shetland.

Question reference: S4W-20672

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 07 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government where security staff for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be housed during the games.

Question reference: S4W-20670

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 07 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of security staff needed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Question reference: S4W-20523

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the tweet by Humza Yousaf on 19 January 2014 that “we look towards the Swedish model of policy coherence, where civil society provides the barometer in conjunction with government”, whether an independent Scotland would permit military and security exports to the same list of countries permitted by Sweden.

Sweden is a leader in Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and legislated in 2002 to give all government policy areas a remit to formulate and implement policy in a way that takes account of effects on developing countries and strengthens Sweden’s contribution to equitable and sustainable global development.

On 1 June 2012 the Swedish Government appointed a parliamentary committee to review export controls on military equipment. The committee is due to report by 15 December 2014.

As stated in ‘Scotland’s Future’ the Scottish Government is committed to delivering a coherent approach to international development across Scottish Government policies through the ‘Do No Harm’ proposition. Sweden offers one model to be considered in deciding how an independent Scotland might achieve this but decisions as to how PCD is delivered in specific policy areas would be for the government of an independent Scotland to decide.

Question reference: S4W-20519

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Humza Yousaf on 1 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 29618) that “we would like Scotland to be known as a nation that promotes peace and leaves a positive influence on the global stage”, whether it will provide a list of the countries that it believes an independent Scotland would not permit military or security exports to; what its position is on whether Yemen should be included on this list, and what Scotland-based companies currently export such items to these countries.

‘Scotland’s Future’ details that under the government’s plans, an independent Scotland’s foreign, security and defence policies would be grounded in a clear framework that includes a commitment to participate in rules-based international co-operation and that Scotland would be an active member of multilateral institutions.

As an independent member of the EU, Scotland would abide by the provisions of the EU Common Position on arms export controls adopted in 2008. Applications for export licences for items on the EU Common Military list would be assessed on a case by case basis in line with the criteria set out in Article 2 of the Common Position. This includes the denial of an export license for any application which is inconsistent with the international obligations of member states and their commitments to enforce United Nations, European Union and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe arms embargoes.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on companies which apply to the UK Government for an export control licence.

Question reference: S4W-20522

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Humza Yousaf on 1 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 29658) that “the UK Government that [Tavish Scott] supports … sold defence equipment to Saddam Hussein and then illegally invaded Iraq”, whether it is aware of any changes in the political administration of the UK Government since arms were last exported by the UK to Iraq.

Whatever its political make-up, it remains the case that it is the UK Government, which makes decisions for Scotland on whether to trade arms with or go to war with another country. As we made clear in Scotland’s Future, with independence, the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament would assume responsibility for these decisions, allowing these institutions to develop an approach to defence which truly represents the will of Scotland’s people and will enact a policy of do no harm.

Question reference: S4W-20014

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19567 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and publish the names of the BBC representatives whom it consulted on broadcasting policy prior to the publication of its white paper on independence, and what consultation it has had with the (a) director, BBC Scotland and (b) director general on (i) this and (ii) wider broadcasting matters.

Question reference: S4W-20010

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will publish the names of the representatives of Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 whom it consulted regarding media policy in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-20015

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19566 by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2014, on how many occasions ministers have been advised of officials’ contacts with stakeholders in preparing the policy on a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-20011

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, on how many occasions in an answer to a parliamentary question it has chosen not to publish a requested list of the (a) people and (b) organisations that it has consulted regarding an independent Scotland.