Chamber and committees

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: S5W-14917

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has been made of the impact of beavers on (a) red squirrels, (b) beech trees and (c) other aspects of biodiversity.

a) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) assessed the potential interaction and effects (positive or negative) between beavers and other mammal species, including red squirrels, when preparing its ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report submitted to the Scottish Government in June 2015: http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/research/Beavers%20in%20Scotland%20-%20Final%20-%2010%20June%202015.pdf

SNH further assessed the likely impact of beavers on red squirrels as part of its preparation for the Strategic Environmental Assessment it has undertaken: ‘Beavers in Scotland Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report’: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00528945.pdf

Red squirrels were not included in the Environmental Report as any impact on red squirrels from beaver felling activity is expected to be negligible.

b) SNH assessed the potential interaction and effects (positive or negative) between beavers and woodland habitat when preparing its ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report submitted to the Scottish Government in June 2015:

http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/research/Beavers%20in%20Scotland%20-%20Final%20-%2010%20June%202015.pdf

Beaver browsing preferences and effects were assessed as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial woodland monitoring and included comparing results found at Knapdale with those found elsewhere in Europe, including beaver selection of trees: section 5.2 of ‘The Scottish Beaver Trial: Woodland monitoring 2009 – 2013, Final Report’:

http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/788.pdf

Beavers show strong preference for particular tree species e.g. willow, rowan and birch. Beech does not form a native component of any Natura woodland habitat in Scotland. It does poorly on wet ground and is therefore unlikely to form a high proportion of the woodland in areas occupied by beavers. Any impact is therefore likely to be small scale, and localised to individual trees.

c) SNH carried out a review of beaver impacts on biodiversity: ‘A review of beaver ( Castor spp.) impacts on biodiversity, and potential impacts following a reintroduction to Scotland, (2015)’: https://goo.gl/djEqVu .

This reviewed the evidence that beavers act as ecosystem engineers, and included a meta-analysis of published studies. The impact on a wider range of species groups were considered, including plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. It explored the impact beavers will have on the biodiversity of Scotland and in particular, examined the effect of a beaver reintroduction on protected or vulnerable species and habitats.

Question reference: S5W-14710

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consultations are taking place as part of Zero Waste Scotland’s work to develop a range of possible models for a deposit return scheme.

Question reference: S5W-14162

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a voluntary code of practice for takeaways that have drive-throughs to reduce littering from vehicles.

Every business has a legal responsibility to manage the waste it produces and we encourage businesses to support their customers by reducing waste and preventing litter.

Zero Waste Scotland produced guidance on takeaway litter (Tackling Takeaway Litter) which was published in 2017. Zero Waste Scotland also supports business who want to develop individual action plans to prevent litter, and those that want to work with their wider communities - including local government, other businesses and volunteers - to develop a wider approach tailored to local circumstances.

Question reference: S5W-14163

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact litter abatement orders have on keeping roads clean.

Question reference: S5W-14164

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to ensure that the research being undertaken by Scottish Water and local authorities to assess sewer and drainage networks is kept up to date in the future.

Scottish Water and Local Authorities are working together to understand how sewerage and drainage networks operate at times of heavy rainfall. This work is enabling them to assess the performance of sewerage and drainage networks whether these be for the day to day management of the networks, the planning of investment or the enabling of new connections.

The models and plans resulting from these studies are updated periodically to ensure that they remain up to date.

Question reference: S5W-14160

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to increase the fixed penalty notice for littering.

Question reference: S5W-14161

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to increase the fixed penalty fines issued by SEPA for fly tipping.

Question reference: S5W-14437

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much was collected in fines from people prosecuted for fly-tipping in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S5W-14007

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13949 by Shona Robison on 19 January 2018, whether families currently being treated at Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital will have financial support for travel considered as part of individual treatment plans to be agreed before paediatric services are transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

As set out in my response to question S5W-13949 and the Statement I delivered to Parliament on 23 January 2017, my approval of these proposals is conditional on: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde maintaining and developing community based paediatric services, thereby maximising local provision where clinically appropriate; and on the Health Board working directly with families from the Paisley area on specific treatment plans. These plans must be in place before any service changes are made, and will ensure that there is a full understanding of what services and support will be available to local families and from where. This will include transport and financial support advice. The Royal Hospital for Children has a dedicated Family Support Information Service which offers support for families accessing the hospital. It provides funding to cover transport, fuel, travel expenses, or other forms of assistance identified by the family or medical and nursing staff on the wards.

Question reference: S5W-14005

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether an environmental assessment has been carried out in relation to proposed work by Scottish Water to install a new pipeline between Baljaffray and reservoirs in Milngavie.