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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: S5W-17217

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 June 2018
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
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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.

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
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
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.