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-14537

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for how many hours (a) minor injury units and (b) urgent care centres have had to close due to staff shortages in the last three months, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) unit or centre.

Question reference: S5O-01848

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported problems at Raigmore Hospital, how many operating theatres in Scotland have wooden doors and plaster walls.

Question reference: S5W-14365

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government on which date the Forestry Devolution Programme began its work on the rebranding of the Forestry Commission in Scotland; how much has been spent to date on the rebranding process; what the projected costs are for the whole rebranding process, and what proportion of the rebranding budget is staffing costs.

I also refer the member to the information provided on 5 February 2018 () to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee which advised that the costs for rebranding have been substantially reduced in scope from £4.25 million to £1.12 million.

Work has recently begun by filling the design graduate placement post. The budget for this post is £49,500 over 18 months, approximately 4.5% of the total revised projected costs.

Question reference: S5W-14189

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools Education Scotland and NHS Health Scotland will deliver mental health first aid training to in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19.

We take child and adolescent mental health very seriously. We know that prevention and early intervention make a big difference in reducing the risk of developing mental health problems.

Since 2014, Education Scotland has been delivering Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid Training for Children and Young People to secondary school staff across 18 local authorities.

In 2017-18 the Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training (SMHFA) has been delivered to 67 secondary schools across Scotland. 33 of the practitioners who attended the training went on to attend an additional element of the programme called ‘Training for Trainers’. This allows these practitioners to train local staff to deliver the training in their schools.

The numbers of schools to be trained in 2018-19 has still to be confirmed. The SHMFA programme will continue to be offered to schools across Scotland. This training complements a range of mental health strategies that are already in place within schools and local authorities.

Question reference: S5F-01948

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2018

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports that two-thirds of teachers do not feel that they have been sufficiently trained in supporting the mental health needs of pupils.

Question reference: S5O-01672

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet with local health groups to discuss palliative care in the Highlands.

I am meeting with local campaigners, Caithness Health Action Team & locally elected representatives, on 7 February to listen to their concerns regarding care provision, including Palliative Care. NHS Highland have also confirmed that palliative care patients will remain in Caithness.

In addition Scottish Government Ministers and officials meet regularly with a wide range of organisations, including the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (SPPC) the umbrella organisation for palliative care charities, to discuss palliative care across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-13546

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering rebranding the Forestry Commission in Scotland and, if so, how many staff are employed with this; what their terms of reference and remit are, and when they will report their conclusions to ministers.

As set out in the Policy Memorandum (paragraph 66) and the Financial Memorandum (paragraphs 44 and 45) for the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill, there will need to be some rebranding of Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Enterprise Scotland assets on completion of the devolution of forestry.

The approach will be proportionate and low-cost, the activity will be spread over a period of time and it will make maximum use of existing allocated budgets for the usual replacement of assets such as vehicles and signage on the National Forest Estate. It is anticipated that any additional costs can be subsumed within the overall budget provision.

Three existing members of staff in Forest Enterprise Scotland are, as part of their current responsibilities, contributing to this work. A design graduate placement has also been established in Forest Enterprise Scotland, to provide an opportunity for a new entrant to gain first-hand experience in the development process of a new visual brand.

This work falls under the auspices of the Forestry Devolution Programme, which has been established to oversee all work related to completing the devolution of forestry.

Question reference: S5O-01613

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that patients who require prosthetic limb replacements are treated locally.

Question reference: S5W-13221

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many business reference numbers (BRN) have been issued with correct payment and reduction letters in each year since 2015, and how this compares with the number of BRN claims each year under the Basic Payments Scheme.

The following tables set out the number of claims for the Basic Payment Scheme for 2015 and 2016, the number of claims paid, and the number of claims still to be paid.

All businesses that have received their Basic Payment Scheme payment have also received their Basic Payment Scheme payment letter.

In any claim year not all Businesses that submit an application will be found to be eligible for a Basic Payment Scheme Payment, and some ineligible claims will not be formally withdrawn.

SAF 2015

Claims Received for BPS that haven't been withdrawn or deleted	18,935
Total BPS payments made and letters issued	18,418
Eligible BPS Balance payments left to make	0

Figures accurate as of 12 December 2017 13:00

SAF 2016

Claims Received for BPS that haven't been withdrawn or deleted	18,496
Total BPS payments made and letters issued	17,834
Eligible BPS Balance payments left to make	5

Figures accurate as of 12 December 2017 13:00

As mentioned in response to S5W-11154 on 21 September 2017, we have not yet issued any reduction and exclusion letters for Basic Payment Scheme. Final testing and development of the functionality required to issue the letters is close to completion. We expect to be able to start distributing Reduction and Exclusion letters for 2015 and 2016 in the near future. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at

Question reference: S5F-01852

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2017

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government takes to acknowledge seasonal workers and companies that operate over the festive season.