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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-26119

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what improvement work is planned for the A77, and what the (a) cost and (b) timeline is for this.

The Scottish Government is investing £29 million in the A77 Maybole Bypass. The contract was awarded to Wills Bros Civil Engineering Limited on 12 April 2019 and the 5km bypass is expected to be completed in summer 2021.

In the current financial year, the Scottish Government will invest approximately £2 million on road maintenance schemes on the A77. In addition, there are also road safety improvement schemes being progressed. This financial year these include:

A proposed speed limit reduction on the A77 south of Ballantrae at a cost of £30,000.
Introduction of speed management from Shallochpark Roundabout to Knockcushan Street, Girvan at a cost of £45,000
Minor signing improvements at the junction with the A751 with an estimated cost of £10,000.

There is also an investigation into accidents at A77 Doonholm Road junction, Ayr. Remedial measures are to be agreed and these may include traffic signals. If traffic signals are included these are estimated to cost in the order of £100,000.

Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and the South West Scotland Transport Study is also being progressed. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to all modes of transport on key strategic corridors, including that served by the A77. The study will provide recommendations which identify transport interventions to be considered in more detail through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. The output of the review will provide Scottish Ministers with a programme of potential transport investment opportunities over the period 2022 – 2042 and will support the vision, priorities and outcomes of the new National Transport Strategy.

Question reference: S5O-03766

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the delivery of mental health services delivered by third sector organisations.

Question reference: S5O-03714

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address issues regarding pollution management at the Tarbolton landfill site.

Question reference: S5F-03668

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to encourage the uptake of school meals, especially among children eligible for free school meals.

Question reference: S5F-03631

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported staffing shortfalls in psychiatric services, particularly those for children.

Question reference: S5F-03610

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle inequality between men and women in the diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks.

Question reference: S5F-03558

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle stigma surrounding HIV.

Question reference: S5O-03536

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that schools and teachers understand and accommodate the needs of young carers.

Question reference: S5O-03492

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to include third sector organisations in its plans to tackle the rise in drug and alcohol related deaths.

Question reference: S5W-24413

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23920 by Jeane Freeman on 9 July 2019, what its response is to the findings of the recent study, Early Cancer detection Test – Lung cancer Scotland, regarding screening for high-risk individuals.

Scottish Government officials met recently with the lead investigator of this study who presented some early findings in confidence. However, the results of the study have yet to be published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Once the full results have been published, it is expected that the UK National Screening Committee will consider the data as a matter of course.

The Scottish Government has a clear commitment to increase early detection rates of lung cancer and a number of pieces of work are underway to ensure Scotland contributes to the emerging evidence base. While there are some potentially exciting developments for lung cancer in the pipeline, it’s imperative that the time is taken now to carefully explore the best option(s) that match our unique circumstances in Scotland, to avoid creating further health disparities.