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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: S5O-04179

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed by the Crofting Commission.

Question reference: S5W-27152

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 13 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to additional sailings on the Sound of Barra ferry service during the summer.

Following the short term recommendations highlighted in the Outer Hebrides STAG Report, commissioned by Transport Scotland, timetable improvements for the Sound of Barra were considered during the annual summer 2020-21 timetable review process. The options considered looked at extending the operating day on the Sound of Barra route between Ardmore and Eriskay.

The operational analysis, undertaken by CalMac, concluded that in order to deliver this proposal CalMac would require a full set of additional crew members. This would mean a step change in costs which, due to the challenging fiscal position, is not financially feasible at this time.

The request for additional sailings will remain under consideration in future years when it is hoped that there may be funding available for service enhancements.

Question reference: S5O-04129

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how the justice system provides support to victims of serious crime and keeps them informed at every stage of the process.

Question reference: S5O-04118

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the recruitment challenges in the social care sector in rural and remote areas.

Our National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan aims to support workforce planning across health and social care services and directly address recruitment challenges. As part of this work the Scottish Government launched a national campaign on 27 January 2020 to promote adult social care as a meaningful, valued and rewarding career choice;

we have provided significant resources to enable adult social care workers to be paid the Real Living Wage and average earnings of adult social care workers are consequently higher in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK;
we are working with partners in the sector to develop enhanced career pathways and an framework for practice which shows how both formal and informal learning is recognised;
we are calling for a tailored approach to future immigration requirements, which recognise the importance of a welcoming migration policy to public services, including social care, and to Scotland's demographic challenges. This includes our proposal for the devolution of additional responsibilities relating to the development and administration of additional visa routes such as the creation of a 'Scottish Visa';
In the meantime I along with COSLA's Health and Social Care spokesperson have written a number of times to EU social care staff in Scotland to provide reassurance, to thank them for their commitment to the sector and to encourage them to apply for settled status, highlighting the resources available from the Scottish Government to assist them.

Question reference: S5O-04076

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government's welfare reforms are having on low-income families in Scotland that include a disabled person.

Question reference: S5O-03836

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it can take to better enhance the consumer protection for vulnerable people facing aggressive sales at the doorstep.

Question reference: S5W-26248

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much expenditure there has been on the croft house grant scheme since 2007.

Question reference: S5O-03749

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the conditions for firearms certificates.

Question reference: S5O-03676

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the replacement of St Brendan's Hospital and Care Home on the Isle of Barra.

Question reference: S5W-25434

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many vessels are listed by the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation as "catching wrasse for supply to the salmon farming sector", in accordance with the measures set out in Voluntary control measures for the live capture of Scottish wild wrasse for salmon farms.