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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: S6O-01455

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of community policing, including community safety patrols, in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S6W-11316

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to introduce a statutory obligation on Scottish public sector bodies to procure, where possible, from Scottish manufacturers and suppliers.

The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 places a Sustainable Procurement Duty on public bodies to consider how procurement processes can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area, and facilitate the involvement of SMEs, third sector bodies and supported businesses. This might, for example, mean designing a tender in such a way as to ensure that there are no unnecessary barriers to local firms bidding.

The World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement, and other international agreements, require bidders from other countries party to those agreements to be afforded equal treatment in covered procurement exercises. It would not therefore be possible to oblige public bodies to procure from Scottish manufacturers and suppliers.

Question reference: S6W-11315

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the further investigations into the increase of neonatal deaths in March 2022.

The Scottish Government has commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to lead a national review to understand any contributing factors to the increase in neonatal mortality during 2021-22. The review will cover reported neonatal deaths across Scotland between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 and be informed by relevant data and clinical expertise. It will assess and determine whether there are any themes, underlying causes or safety factors that have contributed to the increased neonatal mortality rate, from both a clinical and system perspective. Key learning points will be identified and recommendations for improvements in the quality of care should be made.

Families affected by this review can seek support from a number of organisations, should they wish to do so. Further information on help available can be found at: www.mygov.scot/child-baby-death and on the National Bereavement Care Pathways Scotland website at: www.nbcpscotland.org.uk/covid-19/signposting-support/

Question reference: S6O-01433

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle rural isolation and loneliness, particularly in the approach to the winter period.

Question reference: S6W-10961

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Transport Scotland has reportedly exceeded its projected timescale of six months to carry out the roadworks between Cairnryan and Glenapp on the A77 by over four years, and whether it will provide (a) an urgent update on the status of these roadworks and (b) a timescale for their completion, in order to prevent any further disruption due to any single-lane traffic convoy systems for both HGV traffic, and other drivers, on the A77 arterial route.

I understand the frustration of local communities and users of the A77 and the difficulties and delays they cause, but these works are essential to maintain the safety and resilience of this section of the A77. Work at Carlock Wall commenced in February 2020 and was due to be completed by the end of that year. However, unforeseen adverse ground conditions were identified during construction. This included bed rock to support the new wall being much deeper than anticipated and significant volumes of unstable material on the existing slope face requiring additional stabilisation. Work started immediately to tackle both of these issues. Good progress has been made despite impacts associated with Covid-19. Carriageway re-opening to two way traffic is currently programmed to be completed by late Autumn 2022. Further landscaping and finishing works to areas remote from the carriageway will be complete in Spring 2023.

Question reference: S6W-10656

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact fishery management networks, including the Galloway Fisheries Trust, have on its biodiversity enhancement objectives.

The Galloway Fisheries Trust, along with other fishery and river trusts, fishery boards and angling associations, play an important role in helping Scotland meet its nature recovery ambitions. The Trust was successful in securing £100,000 through the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) this year, to undertake a project on invasive species control and knowledge across nine river catchments in the Solway. This work builds on their previous NRF projects, which improved the climate resilience of local water courses and contributed to peatland restoration.

Through NRF funding, we continue to support fishery management organisations across Scotland in undertaking a range of projects that aim to address biodiversity loss.

Question reference: S6W-10556

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its meeting with the Galloway Community Hospital Action Group and members of the Wigtownshire community regarding maternity service provision in the Wigtownshire locality, whether it will provide an update on its discussions with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the establishment of a Community Midwifery Unit (CMU) at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer.

Question reference: S6W-10662

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to recommence breast screening self-referrals for over-71s.

From 29 August 2022, eligible groups of women over the age of 71 will be able to register for self-referral appointments by contacting their local breast screening service.

Invitations will begin issuing to the eligible groups from 26 September, with appointments commencing from 24 October.

At this stage, the eligible groups being prioritised for self-referrals are women aged 71 to 74 (+364 days), and women over 75 with a history of breast cancer who have completed their hospital follow up. This phased approach allows self-referrals to restart in a way we hope will not unduly impact on waiting times for women aged 50-70 for whom screening is recommended.

The impact of the restart on programme capacity and wait times will be monitored closely. At the same time, the programme will continue to look for opportunities to increase the number of available appointments.

Question reference: S6W-10458

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Scotland is taking to help tackle the climate emergency.

Question reference: S6W-09802

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the joint £10 million of funding from the Scottish and UK governments, as committed to in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, will be released for the borders rail extension feasibility study.

Through the Borderlands Inclusive Deal the Scottish Government have allocated up to £5 million to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Borders Railway. That funding will be released on the achievement of agreed milestones, in line with the usual business case and governance processes that apply to all growth deal projects. As this is a joint funding commitment, the Scottish Government are currently awaiting the outcome of internal UK Government discussions on governance procedures to be able to align advice to partners and move things forward.