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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: S5O-02311

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how its investment in the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal will help deliver inclusive economic growth across the region and benefit residents in Midlothian and Musselburgh.

Question reference: S5O-02233

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 14 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information the UK Government shares with it regarding the possible outcomes of a so-called hard Brexit, and what input it has into the scenario planning.

Many reports show that a hard Brexit would be disastrous for the Scottish economy but the UK Government has not shared with us its assessment of the impact of such an outcome. Indeed throughout the Brexit process the UK Government has failed to involve the devolved governments in any meaningful way. The UK Government needs to be much more open about the risks and adverse consequences that are contained in its internal impact assessments of the consequences of Brexit.

We have made our views clear repeatedly to the UK Government that if Brexit is to happen then the least damaging solution is for Scotland and the UK to remain within the Single Market and Customs Union

Question reference: S5O-02150

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on farming of Brexit.

Question reference: S5O-02038

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Newbattle High School Digital Centre of Excellence.

Question reference: S5O-01773

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of Brexit on Scotland's finances, in light of the recent analysis by the UK Government, which reportedly suggests that, regardless of the terms of departure, Brexit will have a negative impact across all sectors.

The Scottish Government published Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment on 15 January 2018 which assesses the implications for Scotland’s economy if the UK exits the European Union. The analysis in this document indicates that a hard Brexit could lead to a loss of up to 8.5% of GDP (or £12.7bn in 2016 terms) in Scotland by 2030 – equivalent to £2,300 per individual.

Such an adverse shock to our economic performance would reduce tax revenues, and in turn the funding available for public services. For example separate analysis published in August 2016 and based on UK wide research provides an illustrative estimate that resources for public spending could be up to £3.7 billion a year lower under a “hard Brexit”.

Outside of the EU, continued membership of the European Single Market and Customs Union is the least worst option for Scotland and the rest of the UK. As we move into the crucial second phase of the negotiations, it is time for the UK Government to start putting jobs and living standards first.

Question reference: S5O-01752

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that there is independent scrutiny of the new social security system and that it meets its aims and expectations.

The Scottish Government has been clear for some time that it wishes to have independent scrutiny of the devolved Scottish social security system. That is why I asked the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group to consider what would be the most appropriate way of providing such scrutiny for the new Scottish system. The Group established a short-life workstream to answer this request, which subsequently provided its response in December 2017.

Based upon their recommendations and advice, the Scottish Government proposes, via Stage 2 amendments to the Social Security Bill, to set up the Scottish Commission on Social Security, an independent body that will ensure there is scrutiny of our new, Scottish social security system.

Such amendments to the Bill are being considered by the Social Security Committee as we are about to start Stage 2 of the Bill process.

Question reference: S5O-01703

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in establishing local micro energy generation across Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that small scale renewable technologies can play in meeting energy demand at a local and community level. Our recently published Scottish Energy Strategy highlights the increasingly important role and potential of local energy systems.

The most recent report on Community and locally owned renewable energy in Scotland produced by the Energy Saving Trust shows a 12% increase on operational capacity from 2016 to 2017 when it reached more than 660MW while the Energy Saving Trust most recently published report on Renewable heat in Scotland shows an 11% increase in capacity from heat from microgeneration (<45 KW) installations between 2015 and 2016.

We continue to support this progress through a range of funding mechanisms such as our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), our Home Energy Scotland Loans Scheme, and the
£60 million of funding announced in programme for Government in the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP).

Question reference: S5O-01640

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its current road safety initiatives.

Question reference: S5O-01620

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent study, which found that air pollution can increase the risk of birth defects.

Question reference: S5O-01602

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in improving productivity across the country.