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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: S5O-04335

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of court cases in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is critical that we maintain public trust and confidence by maintaining the essential services that support justice.

The courts have already ceased all jury trials, adjourned all but essential summary criminal trials, adjourned all civil hearings involving witnesses and Tribunals will only proceed with essential hearings by audio conference.

Yesterday (25 March 2020), the courts moved to the next phase of their contingency plans. I will set out these plans here and details are also available on the SCTS website ( https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/ ).

The Court of Session will continue to sit in Parliament House dealing with essential civil business. All other business will be continued as required. Urgent business includes: child abduction petitions, interim interdicts and other urgent matters on cause shown.

The High Court will continue to sit in Lawnmarket, Edinburgh and Saltmarket, Glasgow. The court will continue to deal with preliminary hearings and adjourn trials.

For Sheriff and JP Courts, all business, other than undertakings, will be consolidated within Sheriffdoms, into ten sheriff courts. Further details are available on the SCTS website.

Appearance from undertakings will continue to call in the court specified on the undertaking where possible.

The courts are also advising that anyone with urgent civil business should contact the appropriate court, listed on the SCTS website, to arrange for cases or applications to be dealt with.

Urgent business includes: new applications for child protection orders, interim interdicts, child referral appeals, urgent adoptions or urgent interim residence or contact applications and urgent applications in relation to Adults with Incapacity.

In another measure to reduce risk, all accused persons with symptoms of COVID-19 appearing from custody will have their case conducted via video link. The courts are working hard to extend this to all custodies – and are developing an approach that will allow agents to represent clients by telephone.

Question reference: S5W-27929

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27753 by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020, and in light of the commitment to initiate legislation within the same parliamentary session, whether it will confirm on what date new regulations will be laid to give full effect to the proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to bringing forward new regulations covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers, animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in this Parliamentary session.

Delivery of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill has however taken priority and this has impacted on the timetable for delivery. The work to deliver the new licensing regulations continues to progress and we will lay draft legislation before the Scottish Parliament for its approval as soon as possible, subject to parliamentary business.

Question reference: S5W-27754

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timeline is for the introduction of a modern licensing system for dog, cat and rabbit breeders and pet sellers, as outlined in its Programme for Government 2019-20.

Question reference: S5W-27753

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform's indication under Rule 9.14.13(a) on 23 November 2018, when it will initiate legislation that will give full effect to the proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

The work to update and strengthen existing licensing legislation covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers, animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities is proceeding and our intention is to lay the new regulations before the Scottish Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

As the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform indicated in her correspondence of 23 November 2018 to Mr Balfour, this legislation will give full effect to his proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S5O-04295

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Lothian is taking to recruit additional clinical staff, in light of recent ISD figures suggesting that one in three young people in the area are waiting over a year for mental health support.

Question reference: S5W-27646

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what processes are in place for transferring staff, equipment and systems from Social Security Scotland’s current headquarters in Dundee to the new premises.

Question reference: S5W-27645

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what stage in the process it has reached in its acquisition of a new head office for Social Security Scotland in Dundee, and on what date it expects the relevant staff to be transferred to the new office.

Question reference: S5O-04254

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the recent two-day closure of the Queensferry Crossing.

Question reference: S5O-04233

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on facilitating the Eden Project initiative, The Big Lunch, in June 2020 to bring people who work at the Parliament together and help strengthen the sense of community.

Question reference: S5O-04125

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Competition and Markets Authority's analysis of its handling of ferry contracts and the potential effect this has on future procurement.