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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-04567

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the High Court ruling in favour of ClientEarth against the UK Government in relation to tackling air pollution, what action it is taking to improve air quality in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is taking forward a range of actions to improve air quality in Scotland, working closely with Transport Scotland, SEPA and other partner organisations. These actions are set out in 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' - Scotland's first separate air quality strategy which was published in November 2015. The Programme for Government commitment to have Scotland's first low emission zone in place by 2018 will make a major contribution to this work.

Additionally we are working in partnership with local authorities, with financial and practical support for implementing their local air quality action plans; and we also provide advice and information through the Scottish Air Quality Website and Scotland’s Environment Web.

Question reference: S5W-04477

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions it has had with The Highland Council and (b) financial support will be available in relation to the development of Ashaig airfield on Skye to create an operational airport.

Highland Council, HITRANS and Transport Scotland have regular discussions on Highlands and Islands air services, including the studies that have been carried out in relation to Skye. We recognise the aspirations of bodies and individuals in the Highlands and Islands to expand air services and we are happy to discuss them. However the future development of the airstrip at Broadford remains a matter for Highland Council as owners of the site.

Question reference: S5W-03877

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-01999 by Shona Robison on 13 September 2016, how many of the five GP Specialty Training (GPST) posts in the North region have been filled and whether it remains on target to fill the remaining posts by February 2017.

The North region is made up of the Caledonian and Grampian training programmes. Two posts in the Caledonian programme have filled but the three in Grampian have not. The three unfilled posts will be advertised again when recruitment opens in November for an August 2017 start date.

In addition to these new posts, 58 established GPST posts were advertised in the North region in earlier 2016 recruitment rounds, with 45 filled.

Question reference: S5O-00339

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to VisitScotland and The Highland Council to encourage tourists to the Highlands and Islands, including by ensuring that the North Coast 500 route is fully maintained.

Question reference: S5W-04000

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the anticipated (a) passenger carrying and (b) crew capacity for each new ferry scheduled to enter service on Clyde and Hebrides routes during the current contract.

The two new LNG dual fuel vessels currently under construction are being designed to carry up to 1000 passengers. The number of passengers carried will vary according to the route the vessel is deployed on and time of year, i.e. summer or winter timetables. It is anticipated that over the life of the vessel passenger carryings will continue to increase.

Crewing numbers are a matter for the operator in accordance with regulatory requirements.

There will be 30 cabins for officers and crew and 2 cadet cabins on each vessel.

Question reference: S5W-04003

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many berths will be provided for trainee (a) ratings and (b) officers on each route of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network, for each year of the current contract.

Question reference: S5W-04001

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd on the provision of training berths on each new ferry scheduled to enter service on Clyde and Hebrides routes during the current contract.

Question reference: S5W-04002

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many berths there will be for trainee (a) ratings and (b) officers on all CalMac Ferries vessels in each year of the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

The provision of berths is an operational matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd. CalMac’s successful bid for the new Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract included a commitment to continue to invest in Officer Cadet and Deck and Engine Rating Apprenticeships with a total of 20 engaged each year. Related information on this subject was provided to the member in response to his question S4W-27942 on
29 October 2015.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-04082

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 16 February 2015, Review of exotic pet trade, whether it will (a) provide an update on the progress of the review and (b) confirm what plans it has for a public consultation on the subject.

The review of the exotic pet trade is part of a wider review of pet welfare, which is a substantial and on-going piece of work. Initial meetings with stakeholders have already been held on exotic pets and breeding and sale of pets and further meetings are planned to discuss what the welfare challenges are and on how animal welfare might be best assured in various situations.

Once the review is completed, proposals for changes to the current legislation and/or policies relating to pet welfare will be developed and, in due course, consulted on. It is still too early in the process to suggest what those changes might be.

Question reference: S5W-03570

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) JDRF, (b) Diabetes Scotland and (c) academics about bio-banking data from all new Type 1 diabetes cases to aid medical research.

Officials from the Scottish Government met with representatives from JDRF on 28 June 2016 to discuss areas of mutual interest, including possible collaborative research. Contact between the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office and JDRF is on-going.

The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office is the co-funding partner with Diabetes UK (Diabetes Scotland's parent organisation) of the Scottish Diabetes Research Network Type-1 Bioresource. Over 6100 Type 1 patients consented to take part in the study, thereby creating the largest bio-bank of Type 1 Diabetes adults in Europe with blood, urine and DNA available for further study.

The Chief Scientist Office is represented on the Type-1 Bioresource executive steering committee and participates in discussions with academics on how to maximise the outputs of the study. The role of CSO as a research funder is well-known among the Scottish Diabetes research community. CSO would welcome discussions on potential further Type 1 Diabetes bio-banking initiatives.