Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

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 ��˿�� 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-28002

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 31 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with universities about ensuring best practice and consistency across institutions in relation to exams and awards in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

As autonomous institutions, universities do not have to follow the same pattern for exams. However, we know there is considerable engagement across the sector at this time, as institutions try to work together to deal with the range of issues arising from the impact of COVID-19.

The Scottish Funding Council is engaging with institutions on COVID-19 related issues on a daily basis and my officials are also speaking regularly with sector representatives at this time.

Question reference: S5O-04334

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether a right to food will be incorporated into its Good Food Nation Bill.

Question reference: S5W-27810

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to a parliamentary delegation from Malawi seeking to attend COP26.

The Scottish Government looks forward to welcoming the world to Glasgow for COP26 – a critical moment in the global fight against climate change. It is important that COP26 is inclusive and has representatives from the Global South, who play a key role in tackling the global climate emergency and meeting the sustainable development goals.

The Scottish Government will seek to develop a programme of opportunities where all voices can be heard in a respectful and collaborative way. We will also encourage the UK Government to provide assistance and ensure the process of securing visas is as easy as possible, and so that delegates from around the world are able to attend COP 26.

Question reference: S5W-27707

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on 29 October 2019 (Official Report, c. 19), whether it will provide an update on the status of the six live Scottish environment cases that the cabinet secretary said were before the European Commission, and what arrangements are being made to continue to investigate these following the end of the EU transition period.

Following the end of the EU implementation period, any ongoing infringement cases will remain within the jurisdiction of the EU. Infringement proceedings can be brought against the UK with respect to actions before the end of the transition period, for up to 4 years, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. The number of cases indicated by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment Climate Change and Land Reform are subject to change and can be searched for on the following database of EU infringements: .

Question reference: S5W-27711

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 17 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding streams it makes available for refugee support organisations, and what the timescale is for (a) applying for funding from these and (b) their delivery.

Question reference: S5W-27713

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many (a) farmed salmon and (b) cleaner fish have been killed because of the use of (i) thermolicers, (ii) optilicers and (iii) hydrolicers in each year since 2016.

The figures recorded as involving thermal treatments in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are shown in the following table.

	2016	2017	2018	2019
Hydrolicer	89,466	115,445	7,516	57,247
Thermolicer	47,982	52,798	35,841	40,980
Optilicer	-	-	15,610	59,817

There is no record of mortality kept for cleaner fish.

Please find a link to the published mortality information submitted to Marine Scotland.

The published mortality information relates to voluntary mortality reporting arrangements agreed between Scottish Government and industry stakeholders. The data is comprised of industry reporting and Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) surveillance and is used to support wider aquatic animal health surveillance and investigations as required. The information presented is not a comprehensive record of fish farm mortality. The published reasons for mortality are those supplied by the industry.

Marine Scotland does not hold information on why there is a particular rate of deaths in relation to each of the husbandry operations. The reasons for mortality are complex and may be related to the health of individual animals within the population, the husbandry methods employed or the environmental conditions encountered prior to, during or after the husbandry operation.

Question reference: S5W-27712

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of thermolicers on salmon farms and, in light of recent scientific evidence, including from the Director of Bioveterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, which suggests that welfare problems can arise from their operation, whether it will consider banning these devices.

The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously, including that of farmed salmon. We are supporting a research project to explore the impact of the use of thermal treatments for sea lice which is being undertaken by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre. Once we have the findings from that research, we will consider what more, if anything, should be done in relation to thermal treatments to ensure the welfare of farmed salmon.

Question reference: S5W-27708

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to remain aligned to EU environmental regulations at the end of the EU transition period, whether it plans to continue to play a role in the Natura 2000 network for protected areas.

The question of continued alignment with the Natura 2000 network (and any other European Union policy mechanisms) has yet to be determined, pending the outcome of negotiations between the EU and the UK Government. The Scottish Government’s position remains that we would prefer to stay as closely aligned with EU environmental policy as possible.

Whilst EU exit was not Scotland’s choice, the Scottish Government has committed to maintain or exceed EU environmental standards and to carry forward the EU environmental principles.

We have taken steps to ensure that the current level of legal protection afforded to Scotland’s Natura sites will be maintained as part of a UK site network even if, in legal terms, these sites can no longer be considered a part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 network.

Question reference: S5O-04277

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-27411

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 6 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the establishment of free ports could have on alignment with the EU.

The Scottish Government wants to align with EU standards given our shared values and the socio-economic benefits that membership brings. This approach protects environmental standards and working conditions, and it also makes it easier for Scottish businesses to export to the EU. We are considering the UK Government’s Freeport consultation but there is a lack of clarity on what the UK hopes to achieve with Freeports. We need more clarity on how they will operate and the rules that will apply.

While we are interested in any proposal that can stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth, the consultation lacks detail and underpinning analysis in key areas. From the information set out, it is difficult to assess the potential benefits that freeports could bring to Scotland’s economy. We are seeking further clarity from the UK Government on its proposition, including detailed insight into envisaged economic and social impact, and the impact on climate change and inclusive growth. Key to our consideration of the efficacy of freeports in the Scottish context will be whether they complement our aim to enable a high productivity, high wage and technology-based economy.

We are clear that freeports should not become deregulatory zones in which protections for the environment, workers and consumers can be weakened. To boost trade, rather than only focussing on Freeports the UK should look to the benefits the EU’s single market and customs union provide. The Scottish Government believes that returning to EU membership is the best outcome for Scotland. The Scottish Government will use its devolved powers to maintain, as far as it is able, the closest possible ties with the EU. Despite repeated calls from the Scottish Government, the UK Government continues to pursue trade agreements with other countries at the expense of a close relationship with the EU. This approach poses significant risk to food and environmental standards that will have a negative impact on Scottish consumers, producers and businesses.

The Scottish Government has recently announced that a new Continuity Bill will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament which will make it easier to align with future EU standards. We will press for continued participation in EU research and student programmes and seek replacements for security initiatives including the EU arrest warrant.