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-27993

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the future-proofing of the Whitesands Flood Protection scheme to take account of predicted climate change across the anticipated lifespan of the project, and whether there are any legal implications in progressing with a scheme that is not based on the most recent analysis of future water levels.

Statutory guidance on Sustainable Flood Risk Management ( ) requires that flood management actions being undertaken should stand the test of time and be adaptable to future changes in the climate. However, the Scottish Government does not specify design standards for new flood protection schemes. It is for the local authority to decide on the standard of protection for a proposed scheme based on social, economic and environmental factors. The approach should be risk-based, linking benefits to costs with the aim of maximising the reduction in overall risk.

Climate change was one of the issues considered by Reporters at the Whitesands Public Local Inquiry. The Reporters were content that climate change has been adequately addressed. Consideration has been given to climate change in the modelling and the design of the scheme but it is not intended to be built to a height that includes an allowance for that issue. It is, however, designed to incorporate an element of flexibility to allow for future adaptions to increase the height of the defences if it is determined that this is necessary and appropriate.

After giving full consideration to the complex issues involved, the range of evidence presented and the detailed independent scrutiny by the reporters, the Scottish Ministers decided to confirm the Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme and issued their decision to Dumfries and Galloway Council on 17 March. The council is required to give notice of this final decision and it will be for them to decide whether and when to proceed with the project.

Question reference: S5W-27171

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting time is for cataract removal surgery in the NHS Dumfries and Galloway area.

Question reference: S5O-04122

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, 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 action it is taking to improve road safety around schools in rural areas.

Question reference: S5W-27093

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how a member of the public can contact the Inspector of Funeral Directors.

Should a member of the public wish to contact the Inspector of Funeral Directors they can do so by sending their query to: [email protected]

The former Inspector of Funeral Directors’ appointment ended on 30 June 2019 and Ministers are finalising arrangements for a new Inspector to be appointed under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016. During this transition period, until a new Inspector is appointed, the Burial and Cremation Team will deal with all correspondence.

Question reference: S5W-26693

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what STEM training it plans to put in place for early years practitioners.

We are currently developing an online programme of Continuous Professional Learning that will be widely accessible and freely available to early learning and childcare practitioners across all sectors, including local authorities and private, voluntary, and independent settings?. One of the modules in this programme is designed to increase staff skills, knowledge and confidence in delivering age-appropriate learning in all STEM subjects. This module is due to be available to the sector in early 2020.

The module is expected to help staff develop an understanding of:

How to use inspiring, child-led and play-based approaches to develop children’s early learning in STEM to encourage children’s scientific thinking and enquiry.
How to deliver learning in STEM in a range of environments (including indoors and outdoors);
How to ensure that STEM learning is delivered in a way that challenges gender stereotypes and unconscious bias;
Resources available to support STEM subjects in the early years including through relevant partners.

Question reference: S5W-26692

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre, and what was discussed.

I last met with the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) when I visited the centre on 25 September 2019 to meet with its Chief Executive and members of the Senior Management Team. The visit focused on SSERC’s delivery of “face-to-face” and digital training along with their support for early years practitioners.

In line with the STEM Education and Training Strategy, the Scottish Government provides SSERC with an annual grant to enable the organisation to deliver a programme of professional learning for early years practitioners, teachers in primary and secondary schools and school science technical support staff. My officials meet SSERC on a quarterly basis to discuss progress in delivery of the Scottish Government grant.

Question reference: S5W-26604

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26276 by Fergus Ewing on 25 November 2019, whether the UK Forestry Standard guidance restricts all proposals for planting on peat over 50cm in depth, including re-planting on peatland that had been previously planted, or whether it applies to proposals for new planting only.

The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) guideline referred to in the previous answer states ‘avoid establishing new forests on soils with peat exceeding 50 cm in depth and on sites that would compromise the hydrology of adjacent bog or wetland habitats’.

There is another UKFS guideline that addresses replanting on peatland which states that before making the decision on whether to restock on soils with peat exceeding 50 cm in depth, consideration should be given to the balance of benefits for carbon and other ecosystem services.

The Scottish Forestry Practice Guide, , provides further guidance on this matter. It sets out the circumstances in which replanting is not appropriate and explains how to assess the site for future management options.

When assessing applications for felling and replanting, Scottish Forestry officials ensure that this guidance has been followed.

Question reference: S5W-26509

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26081 by Fergus Ewing on 12 November 2019, how it ensures that the guidance is followed at a local level.

Tree planting applications made to Scottish Forestry must include an ‘issues log’ to explain how the planting design takes into account factors such as the impact on communities and agricultural land. All proposals are carefully assessed by Scottish Forestry staff and checked by a senior manager before approval. For significant projects this includes seeking advice from the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division to check that proposals comply with the Scottish Government guidance for planting woodland on agricultural land.

Question reference: S5W-26285

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that approved noise levels for windfarms should be reviewed.

Question reference: S5W-26280

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision of Wi-Fi in schools.

Improving access to technology, which includes connectivity, is a key objective in the national Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy. However, it is for local authorities themselves to decide on connectivity arrangements in their schools, whether that be wired or wireless. The Scottish Government supports local authorities by offering to fund a high-speed broadband connection to a central point in each local authority for use by education establishments.