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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.

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Question reference: S5O-02393

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for veterans.

Question reference: S5T-01190

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail and South Ayrshire Council regarding the implemented exclusion zone around Ayr railway station, which is causing disruption for passengers travelling south of Ayr to Girvan and Stranraer.

Question reference: S5W-18384

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 August 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure the long-term health of Scotland's forests and environment by reducing chemical use in forestry while protecting young trees from fatal attacks by pine weevils.

The Scottish Government supports the appropriate use of regulated chemicals as part of sustainable forest management, as well as seeking to identify non-chemical alternatives through collaborative research and development programmes.

The government recognises that the large pine weevil ( Hylobius abietes ) is a particularly damaging pest, which can devastate the regeneration of sites following timber harvest by attacking young trees. Some form of control is therefore often required under Scottish conditions, such as the appropriate application of pesticides either by pre-treatment in the nursey in controlled conditions or by targeted spraying on site. The chemical Acetamiprid is currently recommended for this post planting protection on the basis of its efficacy and low risk when compared with other chemical alternatives.

Reducing chemical use is also an important aspect of sustainable forest management, therefore the Scottish Government is also working with others to identify and develop suitable alternatives. I was therefore pleased to announce the launch of a new £550,000 project earlier this month to address the challenge of weevil control in Scotland. In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Enterprise Scotland are working with Forest Research and forestry sector partners in the Hylobius Industry Research Programme Group to develop alternatives including physical and biological methods to further minimise the risks associated with chemical use.

Question reference: S5W-17701

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 July 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to help manage the expansion of Phytophthora ramorum on larch trees in Scotland’s forests.

The threat to our trees from pests and diseases is growing. Climate change, global travel and imported plants and wood can increase pests and diseases and their impacts.

First found in Scottish plant nurseries in 2002 and in gardens/parks in 2007, Phytophthora ramorum is causing extensive damage and mortality to larch trees and other plants in the wetter West of Scotland.

Particularly favourable weather conditions in 2012 led to a major surge in the extent and intensity of infection resulting in the designation of a ‘Management Zone’ centred on South West Scotland. An ongoing programme of progressive removal of infected larch within the Management Zone is underway.

Outwith the Management Zone, symptomatic trees and associated buffer areas of host species are systematically controlled through the use of Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHN’s) which require removal of host species in those locations.

Forestry Commission Scotland undertakes a yearly aerial and ground surveillance programme, across Scotland to detect any intensification and expansion of symptomatic trees.

This intensive surveillance has ensured early identification of symptomatic trees and resultant control action with the aim of managing the pace of disease spread and intensity.

This year surveillance has shown that the extent and severity of symptomatic larch is significantly greater than seen over the past few years. However it is not yet at the level seen during the major outbreak in 2012-13.

Research evidence confirms that the wetter than average weather conditions experienced during August/September 2017, coupled with high inoculum levels have resulted in intensification in disease incidence this year. This effect is also being replicated in England and Wales.

Immediate action has been taken to commence the process of issuing the required Statutory Plant Health Notices, focussing on those furthest away from the currently heavily infected areas. Work is also underway with the sector, through the Scottish Tree Health Advisory Group and the Phytophthora Ramorum working group, to ensure that appropriate and proportionate management action is implemented. This work will include a full review of the Phytophthora Ramorum action plan to consider whether the approach identified within the plan is still appropriate.

Question reference: S5W-17187

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be for Scotland’s (a) farming and (b) fisheries sector following the decision by the UK Parliament on the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The Scottish Government regards the passing of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill by the UK Parliament as a clear and fundamental breach of the Sewel Convention, and as an attack on the existing devolution settlement. These actions undermine the trust and credibility of inter-governmental engagement between the nations of the UK, jeopardising the scope for such engagement to continue.

As I have stated previously, as it stands the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will give the UK Government powers to make changes in devolved policy areas for the next 7 years – this includes areas where the needs of Scotland are very different to the rest of the UK, such as the extent of our upland hill sheep farming and the need for fisheries management arrangements that are tailored for Scottish circumstances.

The Scottish Government will continue to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the powers of the Scottish Parliament over areas that are clearly devolved, such as agriculture and fisheries, and to prevent a Westminster power grab.

Question reference: S5F-02503

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 June 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2018

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government has received details of the financial implications for Scotland of the UK Government’s investment in the NHS.

Question reference: S5O-02249

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Respiratory Improvement Taskforce.

Question reference: S5W-16637

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 May 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding future funding for Scottish hill farmers.

Over the last year, I have repeatedly pressed my counterpart in the UK government for clarity regarding future funding for Scottish agriculture, including hill farmers.

Most recently, this has included a letter I sent on 23 March 2018, in conjunction with Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Welsh Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths, to the Secretary of State Michael Gove setting out several detailed questions regarding future funding. As no answers to this letter were forthcoming, I again pressed the Secretary of State on this issue at a ministerial meeting on 14 May 2018.

The Secretary of State was unable to provide further clarity at that meeting, and so I have again written to him, with Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Welsh Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths, requesting immediate answers to these questions.

Question reference: S5W-17217

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to empower community groups in South Scotland.

I am pleased to advise that on 1 June 2018, Forest Enterprise Scotland approved the following Asset Transfer Requests received under the Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS):

Community	Site
Peebles Community Trust	Eshiels Wood: 6.9 ha alongside the River Tweed, by Peebles
Friends of Leadburn Community Woodland	Leadburn Wood: 9.4 ha near Penicuik – an extension to the existing 44 ha community woodland on land purchased from FES in 2007.
Dronley Community Woodland	Dronley Wood: 50 ha at Auchterhouse, Angus near Dundee

These decisions recognise that community ownership of woodland can help to build community resilience and capacity, un-locking additional benefits.

In the case of Peebles Community Trust, ownership will allow the community to improve sustainable productive management of the woodland, resurrecting coppice management and the associated skills / experience. It also provides a space for further skills training and nature learning.

The Friends of Leadburn Community Woodland, previously established a community woodland on land purchased from FES. The increased area of ownership increases the variety of walks and adventure trails available whilst also providing an increased focus for activities and community events.

The existing woodland user group at Dronley set up a new community company, Dronley Community Woodland to purchase the site. The community intend to maintain and enhance the rich and diverse environment in the wood, and develop its educational, recreational and timber resource. In doing so the community will increase capacity, skills and confidence, exploiting innovative opportunities and generating a range of other long-term benefits and values to society.

These are the latest requests to be approved under the Community Asset Transfer Scheme for the National Forest Estate, following the approval in February 2018 of the transfer of land at Carron Valley to the Valley Renewables Group and approval in November 2017 of transfer of the Fairy Pools Car Park to the Minginish Community Hall Association.

Question reference: S5O-02140

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on concerns of people in the agricultural community regarding livestock worrying.