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-21034

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the planning process followed in the A9 dualling project adequately protects the interests of local communities and wider communities concerned with the historic and natural environments, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The projects that make up the A9 dualling programme are being promoted through the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations which protects the interest of those who have concerns, including concerns relating to the historic and natural environments.

The environmental impact assessment process has informed decision-making throughout the design development process to address potentially significant effects where practicable, such as by refinement of the route alignment or by the incorporation of measures to avoid or prevent, reduce, remedy or offset any potential adverse environmental effects.

Working with those affected by the A9 dualling programme is at the heart of our planning and we have been engaging extensively since 2012. This has included undertaking numerous engagement events on each project to consult local communities, road users, businesses and individuals, and take into account feedback received as plans are developed.

As part of the statutory process Transport Scotland has published an Environmental Statement for each project which presents the findings of the environmental impact assessment and also includes the approach taken to consultation. A copy of each Environmental Statement published to date on the A9 dualling programme is available from the Transport Scotland website at: .

Question reference: S5W-21031

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland, as a statutory consultee in the A9 dualling project, is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the (a) historic environment and (b) inventory battlefield at Killiecrankie.

The responsibilities of Historic Environment Scotland as a statutory consultee are limited to the provision of advice and comment on historic environment matters relating to the proposals that are required by law to be put before them.

HES have a dual role as both statutory consultee in the planning system and as a Consultation Body under various Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations in respect of inventory historic battlefields. This means that planning authorities and other public bodies are required to consult them where any non-householder development proposals may affect a site on the Inventory of Historic Battlefields or where a development proposal is a qualifying project under the relevant EIA regulations. Their advice is a material consideration which planning authorities and other decision makers, including the Scottish Ministers, are required to take into account as part of the decision-making process.

Question reference: S5W-21033

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is established protocol that Transport Scotland answers all questions from the public regarding the A9 dualling project, even when the subject relates to an area that is not within the transport ministerial portfolio.

Question reference: S5W-21030

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the country’s historic environment.

The Scottish Government recognises the economic, social and cultural importance of our rich historic environment and is keen to ensure that this hugely important asset is protected appropriately and proportionately. However, the responsibility for the protection of that resource is shared.

For example, while the Scottish Government is responsible for setting the legislative and policy framework which governs the protection of certain aspects of our historic environment through the planning system, and through the work of Historic Environment Scotland, much of the front line protection of our heritage assets has been statutorily delegated to local government (in its role within the planning and development process) and to Historic Environment Scotland.

Under the terms of the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014 the general function of investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment has been delegated by the Parliament to Historic Environment Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-21032

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it conferred sufficient power on Historic Environment Scotland to be able to protect and enhance the (a) historic environment and (b) inventory battlefield at Killiecrankie.

Question reference: S5W-20374

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many operations undertaken outside the UK in each of the last five years have been part funded by the NHS as a result of NHS boards not meeting the 12-week treatment target.

Question reference: S5O-02758

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the regulation of private parking.

In June 2018, the Scottish Parliament approved a Legislative Consent Motion(LCM) to enable the Rt. Hon. Sir Greg Knight MP private member's Bill entitled the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill to extend to Scotland. The Bill aims to regulate the practices of the private parking industry by seeking to provide motorists with a fairer, more transparent and consistent parking with an appeals service that operates across the UK by imposing a single code of practice on the industry. The Scottish Government is continuing to work with the UK Government and the private parking industry to ensure that Scotland's interests are fully represented in the development of the proposed Code of Practice.

Question reference: S5W-20375

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by each NHS board in each of the last five years on reimbursing patients who have had operations abroad as a result of waiting list delays.

Under the European Cross-border Healthcare Directive (“The Directive”), UK citizens, including Scots, have a right to travel in the European Economic Area (EEA) for planned healthcare.

Patients may choose to travel using the Directive for treatment in EEA countries that is the same as or equivalent to state treatment available at home. They must pay the costs upfront to the healthcare provider in the country concerned and are reimbursed by their local healthcare provider (in Scotland their local NHS Board) up to the amount the treatment would have cost the NHS.

Around 30 people a year travel from Scotland to other EEA countries for treatment using the provisions in the Directive. The cost of reimbursements will vary depending on the procedures received and is a matter for local NHS Boards.

Individuals are exercising their EU rights and do not have to indicate why they have chosen to be treated elsewhere in the EEA.

There are no arrangements whereby patients who choose to travel outside the EEA for treatment can be reimbursed by the NHS on their return to Scotland.

Question reference: S5T-01371

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ScotRail's performance.

Question reference: S5T-01299

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside regarding staff numbers and future workforce planning.