Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 3507 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-10437

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that ending the franchise agreement between Loganair and Flybe will have on air service connections to and from the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S5W-10869

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to promote the principle that crimes committed online should be taken as seriously as those committed in person.

The Scottish Government works closely with Police Scotland and a range of other stakeholders in relation to cybercrime and cyber resilience.

The Policing 2026 Strategy developed by Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority recognises the emerging threat from online crime and one of the main priorities is to strengthen Police Scotland’s cyber capability and capacity. Police Scotland is also investing significant funds in developing its cybercrime infrastructure through the development of a network hubs to ensure that knowledge and skills are maintained to a high level.

The Scottish Government is committed to protecting the police resource budget in real terms in every year of this Parliament – a boost of £100m by 2021. We committed a further £61 million in police reform in 2017-18 to help support Police Scotland to deliver a police service capable of meeting the changing demands of crime and society over the next 10 years.

Scotland’s public sector bodies take cyber security seriously and already implement a wide range of measures to ensure basic security standards are met. The Scottish Government launched the cyber-resilience strategy, Safe, Secure and Prosperous: A Cyber Resilience Strategy for Scotland, in November 2015. The strategy is being taken forward with key partners through the recently established National Cyber Resilience Leaders Board. We have committed to accelerating the development of a public sector action plan to help promote a common approach to cyber resilience across Scotland’s public bodies.

Question reference: S5W-10870

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the policy guidance that was issued by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on 4 December 2014 regarding communications sent via social media.

It is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to consider what steps, if any, should be taken to raise public awareness of the content of guidance for prosecutors which it publishes.

However, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the public are aware of changes to the criminal law, including offences committed mainly in an on-line environment. That is why, for example, the Scottish Government recently undertook a publicity campaign to make the general public aware of the new law criminalising the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

Question reference: S5W-10732

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases have been investigated by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year since 2007, and what proportion has involved referrals to the High Court for appeal.

The following table sets out the number of cases each year since 2007-08 in which the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission investigated and issued a decision, and the number of those cases which resulted in a referral being made to the High Court:

Year	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17
Number of cases concluded by SCCRC	145	98	104	93	141	159	190	179	172	159	128
Number of cases referred by SCCRC to the High Court	10	8	7	15	4	6	11	4	3	2	3

More statistics and information concerning the Commission's consideration of cases is contained in their Annual Report, a copy of which is laid in Parliament.

Question reference: S5W-10552

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported comments by the chairman of the British Transport Police (BTP) Federation in The Scotsman that it is "in the dark" regarding plans to integrate the BTP into Police Scotland, when it will next meet the BTP Federation to discuss this, and whether it will publish any (a) correspondence and (b) minutes of meetings it has had with the BTP Federation on this issue.

Scottish Ministers and officials have met BTP Federation representatives on a number of occasions to discuss our plans and further engagement is planned.

During the passage of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017 we published a series of letters between the Scottish Government, the BTPF and other organisations in respect of the integration of British Transport Police into Police Scotland these can be found on the following links http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/102680.aspx

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/policies/police-fire-rescue/police-scotland/BTP/BTPFLetter

Question reference: S5W-10553

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in The Scotsman on 2 August 2017 that officers have begun leaving the British Transport Police ahead of its integration into Police Scotland, and what action it will take to offer assurances to officers.

The Scottish Government has consistently given assurances throughout the passage of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017 that terms and conditions, pay and pensions of BTP officers and staff will be the same as they are currently, or that an equivalent level of benefit will be provided to ensure that transfer takes place on a no-detriment basis.

We greatly value the work of BTP officers and staff in keeping people safe. Maintaining and improving safety and security is our main priority and Police Scotland will maintain a dedicated railway policing unit protected within the broader structure of the force.

Integration will provide a single command structure for policing in Scotland with seamless access to wider support facilities and specialist resources, providing an enhanced service provision to the rail industry and travelling public.

Question reference: S5W-10733

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the link between fuel poverty and poor physical and mental health.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty and reducing health inequalities.

The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum includes members from NHS Scotland and we will continue to work with them to build on existing and, as necessary, develop new partnerships alongside wider joined-up approaches. This will build on the progress already made, in particular with NHS Health Scotland which, in response to our Fairer Scotland Action Plan, has pledged to work in partnership with NHS Boards to develop national referral pathways between NHS services and local advice services, including the provision of energy advice, to maximise the income of patients.

The Scottish Government encourages collaborative working that will help mitigate the impacts of fuel poverty on health and wellbeing and this was set out in a joint Ministerial letter, issued in May, to NHS Chief Executives and Directors of Public Health. In addition to this, a cross-Ministerial meeting will take place later this year to bring together Ministers with a range of portfolio responsibilities, including health, to harness opportunities for joint working across portfolios and inform development of the new fuel poverty strategy.

Question reference: S5F-01497

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2017

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the management of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.

Question reference: S5O-01196

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the recommendations of the Barclay review of non-domestic rates.

Question reference: S5W-10579

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £40 million committed to in 2014 for the training and recruitment of 500 additional health visitors by 2018 has been spent, broken down by financial year.

The Scottish Government allocated £2 million, £6.8 million, and £19m in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18 respectively for additional Health Visitors. In 2016-17, funding for Health Visitors was included in the new Outcomes Framework (totalling over £160m) issued to Health Boards. All of this funding supported the provision of an additional 500 health visitor posts. In addition, a further £3.3m has been allocated to Health Boards over the same period in respect of Health Visitor training.

The above funding will allow us to meet the manifesto commitment by 2018, investing over £40m by 2017-18.