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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-22065

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 25 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum waiting time is for an autism diagnosis after request for assessment.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people through the implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism.

Autism assessments are a matter for Integration Authorities (IAs) and Health and Social Care Partnerships. Waiting times vary across Scotland.

We absolutely understand the anxiety and frustration that waiting for a diagnosis causes for autistic people and their families – and we want every child, young person and adult to have access to the right services and support. That is why we are investing in a National Autism Implementation Team to support Health and Social Care Partnerships to consider best practice in the redesigning of autism diagnostic services.

We are engaging with local Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland about why it is so important for them to increase capacity for autism diagnostic services and for them to redesign services that are sustainable.

We also recognise the importance of support after diagnosis and that is why we are developing a national resource to provide consistent information and support to autistic people and their families following a diagnosis.

Question reference: S5W-22061

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward plans to dual the A75.

Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to all modes of transport on key strategic corridors, including that served by the A75. The study is expected to be published this spring and will provide recommendations which identify transport interventions to be considered in more detail through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Until the outcomes from that review are available, it is not possible to set a date for improvements on particular roads.

Question reference: S5W-22063

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils attend schools where buildings are not deemed to be satisfactory.

Question reference: S5W-21388

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what help it offers to communities that are seeking to (a) improve the appearance of buildings that are considered to be "eyesores" and (b) bring derelict buildings back to use.

We offer various types of help to communities to address this kind of situation. The Part 3A community right to buy provides a compulsory purchase power for communities to take ownership of land (and buildings) that are abandoned or neglected. The Scottish Land Fund provides financial support to communities who wish to take ownership of land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects – this does not need to be done through formal community right to buy routes.

We have established the Vacant and Derelict Land taskforce to consider ways to bring vacant and derelict land into productive use. A key approach of the taskforce will be to work with communities to help them identify land that can be used for purposes that will support local needs.

We also support local government in the delivery of locally-led regeneration projects including through our Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Question reference: S5O-02933

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the school estate in Dumfries meets an acceptable standard.

Question reference: S5W-21321

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when the temporary traffic lights between Kirkconnel and New Cumnock on the A76 are scheduled for removal.

Following a road traffic accident on 14 January 2018, an LGV demolished 50m of safety barrier at this location, south of Marchburn. Temporary traffic signals and associated signing were provided at the time and are remain in place for public safety reasons.

The repair to the damaged fence has unfortunately been delayed due to difficulties in the design process. Replacing the damaged barrier with a like for like replacement is not possible due to the ground conditions and the presence of public utility apparatus which were laid after the current barrier was installed. As such, the design of a new barrier system which complies with required standards has been challenging. Investigations have taken place in several phases since the incident occurred in January 2018, with the final investigations taking place earlier in February 2019.

With investigations now complete, the design process can progress with a view to carrying out construction works in May 2019. Further details will be shared with stakeholders as the scheme develops.

Question reference: S5W-20834

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported plan by NHS Dumfries and Galloway to close its doctor-led out-of-hours service at midnight.

Question reference: S5W-20643

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends on mental health research.

Question reference: S5W-20390

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14751 by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018, what account it takes of climate change when considering whether to fund new flood defence systems, and how many new systems in each of the last five years that it has provided funding for (a) have and (b) have not been subject to such consideration by it.

Question reference: S5W-20377

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14751 by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018, what its position is on whether local authorities should take account of climate change when considering new flood defence systems, and what information it has regarding how many new systems that it has provided funding for in each of the last five years (a) have and (b) have not been subject to such consideration by the relevant councils.

The Scottish Government provides guidance for responsible authorities on the economic, social and environmental aspects of option appraisal for actions promoted under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-support-sepa-responsible-authorities/ . It includes guidance on how to take climate change into account. The Scottish Government does not hold information on what consideration has been given to climate change by local authorities when designing new flood protection schemes.

It is for the local authority to decide on the standard of protection for a proposed scheme based on all the relevant factors. The approach should be risk based, linking benefits to costs with the aim of maximising the reduction in overall risk.

Climate change has not been a specific consideration when making decisions about which flood protection schemes should be funded. In 2012 an arrangement was agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA whereby the flooding component of the General Capital Grant would be distributed to major projects against a set of eligibility criteria agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA. No design standards were applied at this time but schemes had to be able to demonstrate a positive benefit cost ratio of greater than 1 and demonstrate project value for money.

In July 2016 it was agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA that from 2016-17 onwards 80% of the flood component of the general capital grant would be allocated to large scale projects and distributed according to the prioritised list of flooding schemes and works set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategies. Schemes proposed in the flood risk management strategies were prioritised according to their cost benefit ratio and taking into account a series of additional criteria, encompassing the environmental and social impacts of flooding. This list was agreed by the National Prioritisation Advisory Group which was chaired by the Scottish Government. It was agreed that for 2016-2021 all the 40 schemes on the prioritised list would receive 80% grant funding if they went ahead.