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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-02161

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress developing the low emission zone in Glasgow.

Question reference: S5W-16136

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 April 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 24 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what changes to parliamentary liaison officers have been made; to which ministers, and what their responsibilities are.

The First Minister has made changes to the appointed parliamentary liaison officers (PLOs), the revised list is set out in the following table. The role of PLOs is to assist in developing and maintaining a positive and constructive relationship between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government and to take account of the views of the Parliament and of Scotland as a whole. PLOs are unpaid, are not members of the government and are not, therefore, bound by collective responsibility.

Parliamentary Liaison Officer	Portfolio
Ben Macpherson MSP Gail Ross MSP	Office of the First Minister
Mairi Evans MSP	Communities, Social Security and Equalities
Tom Arthur MSP	Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Ivan McKee MSP	Economy, Jobs and Fair Work
Jenny Gilruth MSP	Education and Skills
Gillian Martin MSP	Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Kate Forbes MSP	Finance and Constitution
Fulton MacGregor MSP	Health and Sport
Emma Harper MSP	Rural Economy and Connectivity
Fulton MacGregor MSP	Justice

Question reference: S5O-02021

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns raised by commuters regarding the level of stop-skipping by services that are scheduled to call at Drumchapel station.

Question reference: S5O-01991

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to farmers and crofters who face adverse financial circumstances following the recent extreme weather.

Question reference: S5W-14666

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the compliance of (a) farmers, (b) gamekeepers, (c) pest controllers and (d) local authority staff with the (i) Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use Code of Best Practice and (ii) rules governing the purchase and safe use of rodenticides to prevent the secondary poisoning of non-target species.

The Scottish Government undertakes a number of surveys of agricultural and local authority use of rodenticides. Agricultural use, by farmers and pest controllers, is surveyed on farms growing arable crops every two years (last published in 2016) and on farms growing grass and fodder crops every four years (last published in 2013). Local authority use of rodenticides is surveyed every four years (last published in 2015). These are published as National Statistics and can be found at: https://www.sasa.gov.uk/pesticides/pesticide-usage/pesticide-usage-survey-reports .

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use is an industry led initiative and publishes information online at http://www.thinkwildlife.org/downloads/ .

Question reference: S5W-14665

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the levels of rodenticides in (a) red kites, (b) kestrels, (c) barn owls and (d) other non-target species in each of the last five years.

Residues of anticoagulant rodenticides are monitored in suspected poisoning victims and non-target species as part of the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS), operated on behalf of the Scottish Government, by the Chemistry Branch of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA).

The results of WIIS investigations are published quarterly and are available on SASA’s website; http://www.sasa.gov.uk/animal-poisoning-reports .

This information covers all of the species mentioned in this question.

Question reference: S5O-01737

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging public bodies to do more to promote human rights.

Question reference: S5F-01972

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2018

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

Question reference: S5O-01691

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is improving rights for children with additional support needs.

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people in Scotland are given every chance to fulfil their full potential.

From 10 January 2018, children with additional support needs who are aged between 12 and 15 have been empowered by the extension of their rights under the Additional Support for Learning Act. This landmark extension of rights will enable children to have their voice heard and be fully involved in decisions about their education.

These rights are balanced by safeguards and supported by a newly created children's service which will help children to access advice and support at every stage of the process.

Question reference: S5W-13090

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of future reductions in defence spending on (a) jobs and (b) the economy in Scotland.

The Scottish Government are determined to minimise any potential impact on the defence sector from UK funding cuts. The announcements made by MOD 12 months ago, including, for example, the closure of Glencorse, a location that has seen considerable investment and which remains fit for purpose, are ill conceived and I have made this point to the Defence Secretary and his Ministers on several occasions.

We will continue to strongly oppose any further base closures in Scotland. We are committed to engaging with the MOD and the Defence Secretary for assurance that Scotland’s defence sector will not be further debilitated by UK Governments cuts.

Scottish defence industries are a key driver of innovation and boast highly skilled workforces. The Scottish government is committed to doing all we can to support the sector and the individuals within it. Through our enterprise agencies Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highland and Island Enterprise (HIE) companies involved in the defence sector in Scotland can access a wide range of support including R&D support, leadership and workforce development, and support to diversify into new products and markets.

We have a long and proud shipbuilding history and our yards on the Clyde and at Rosyth have proven their ability time and again to deliver important contracts such as the construction of the QEC Aircraft Carriers. Whilst we are pleased to finally have confirmation that eight Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde, we would also expect Scottish yards to be given full opportunity to bid for forthcoming defence contracts, including the Type 31.