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 1272 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-19476

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the maintenance budget for the (a) A1, (b) A68 and (c) A7 for 2018 has been in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S5F-02737

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2018

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that there is mental health support for college and university students.

Question reference: S5O-02489

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce levels of social isolation among older people.

Question reference: S5W-18868

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Health Technology Committee last discussed the Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring system.

Question reference: S5W-18479

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the James Hutton Institute, which suggests that they are at risk of losing more than 25% of their population by 2046, what action it is taking to reduce population decline in rural areas.

The Scottish Government recognises that people are key to driving forward our rural communities and economies.

In order to retain and attract people, action is needed to grow the rural economy and to invest in the infrastructure that supports communities like broadband and housing. The Scottish Government has stepped in to provide 97% of the £600 million investment in the initial phase of the Reaching 100% programme to deliver superfast broadband for rural and island communities across Scotland. We are purposely prioritising this substantial public funding where it is needed most – in rural Scotland. This initial phase will extend a future-proofed, accessible fibre network into remote rural areas, providing the essential platform for delivering superfast broadband for all and for a variety of technologies.

On top of work to increase community ownership of land, the Scottish Government also announced the Rural Housing Fund in 2016, providing £25m over five years with the aim of increasing supply of long term affordable housing in rural Scotland with a complementary £5m Islands Housing Fund to focus on the housing needs of our island communities.

However the research by the James Hutton Institute illustrates the critical importance of a migration policy that increases Scotland’s population and grows the economy.

The dual threat of leaving the Single Market and Customs Union and the UK Government’s approach to immigration is risking Scotland’s future.

We need a tailored migration system which meets the needs of Scotland and the evidence is clear that the current system is not fit for purpose.

The case is overwhelming for the Scottish Government, accountable to the Scottish Parliament, to be able to set the rules for migration in a way that will attract and retain people with the skills we need to ensure the future sustainability and vitality of our rural communities.

Question reference: S5O-02395

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the UK Government to discuss UK bills that contain proposals that impact on Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-02367

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations regarding the A1 in the Jacobs report, Borders Transport Corridors.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role the A1 plays in providing access to key markets, jobs and services between the south east of Scotland and north east England and beyond. The recommendation in respect of the A1, one of 21 emerging options from the study, is welcomed and will be considered within the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. STPR2 is the opportunity to consider at a national level the important contribution that transport infrastructure projects will play in enabling and sustaining Scotland’s economic growth.

Question reference: S5W-18551

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates has been lost from the economy as a result of sea lice infestation.

Question reference: S5W-18546

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many recorded fish deaths due to sea lice there have been in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S5W-18544

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of chronic lice infestation on fish farms have been reported in each of the last 10 years.

Fish farms report average adult female sea lice numbers above reporting and intervention levels to Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI). These reports are used to assess whether satisfactory measures are in place to prevent, control and reduce parasites. Industry average adult female sea lice figures are published by site for the first five months of 2018 and are available here: http://scottishsalmon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Industry-averages-May-2018.pdf