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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-16590

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet the target of making 95.24% of CAP Pillar 1 payments by the end of June 2018.

The Scottish Government is working hard to deliver the European Commission’s payment target and this year’s payment trajectory is broadly on track compared to last year. We have already made 95% of Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme payments and are making good progress on Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments. Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme payments will be made later in the payment window. Regular progress reports are being provided to Parliament and the next update will be provided at the end of May.

Question reference: S5O-02108

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the National Economic Forum meeting in Dumfries on 16 May 2018.

Question reference: S5O-02074

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-01992

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5O-01947

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what future infrastructure investment plans it has for South Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-01909

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle loneliness and social isolation in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S5W-14961

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many animals were exported from Scotland for (a) slaughter, (b) breeding and (c) production purposes in 2017.

Question reference: S5W-14962

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it and its agencies will encourage growth in exports from Scotland of sheep meat to the Middle East, in light of Saudi Arabian authorities' decision to lift a ban on such imports from the UK.

Following delivery of a large volume of data from UK Government, the Saudi Arabian authorities have indeed lifted the ban on UK lamb imports and an Export Health Certificate has been agreed to enable trade. The conditions required have been deemed as equivalent with those already carried out in the UK so there is no specific approval needed (above existing EU approval) for factories producing lamb for export to Saudi Arabia. Halal accreditation requirements are being explored.

A list of the UK sites with interest in exports have been sent to the Saudi authorities and we will continue to explore further potential market opportunities in the region.

Question reference: S5W-14965

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish beef exports will benefit from the announcement in 2017 that such products are BSE-risk free, particularly in accessing international markets outside the EU.

BSE negligible risk has advantages as some third countries tend to consider countries or regions with Negligible Risk status as having a higher health status than those with controlled status.

As you will be aware from the response to question S5W–14963 on 12 March 2018 the Chinese Government are close to lifting the BSE ban on the UK, dependent on the UK successfully meeting China’s requirements during a planned inspection visit in April this year.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-14964

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it and its agencies are exploring possibilities to access new export markets for Scotland’s red meat industry.

Scotland’s food and drink industry has ambitious plans for export growth as articulated in “Ambition 2030” and the Scotland Food and Drink Export plan. The Export plan was developed in 2014 by the Scotland Food & Drink partnership to significantly increase exports, widen the range of products and markets, and build Scotland’s reputation as a ‘Land of Food & Drink. The growth is based on 15 priority markets with the greatest opportunity for the sector with F&D in-market specialists in the eight top prospects.

The Scottish Government through the UK Export Certification Partnership are prioritising access to a number of markets these including, China, USA and Japan. In addition there is on-going work with Taiwan on pork, Mexico on lamb and South Korea on beef.