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-26277

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all recipients of funding from the Investing in Communities Fund in the current year, also broken down by amount.

The Scottish Government launched the new £11.5m per year Investing in Communities Fund in 2019/20. All applicants were notified of the outcome of the fund on 1 November 2019, following which the Empowering Communities Programme webpage on the Scottish Government’s website was updated on 5 November. This includes a list of the organisations and projects approved by the independent panel.

Our webpage will be updated to include confirmed funding awards for 2019-20 on completion of the technical checks currently underway.

The Empowering Communities Programme webpage can be found at:

Question reference: S5O-03796

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national action plan on neurological conditions, which was first announced on 14 September 2017.

Question reference: S5F-03719

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce levels of diabetes, heart disease and stroke among over 65s.

Question reference: S5W-26141

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when successful applicants to the Investing in Communities Fund will be informed, in light of the extended deadline of 31 October having now passed.

Question reference: S5W-26119

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what improvement work is planned for the A77, and what the (a) cost and (b) timeline is for this.

The Scottish Government is investing £29 million in the A77 Maybole Bypass. The contract was awarded to Wills Bros Civil Engineering Limited on 12 April 2019 and the 5km bypass is expected to be completed in summer 2021.

In the current financial year, the Scottish Government will invest approximately £2 million on road maintenance schemes on the A77. In addition, there are also road safety improvement schemes being progressed. This financial year these include:

A proposed speed limit reduction on the A77 south of Ballantrae at a cost of £30,000.
Introduction of speed management from Shallochpark Roundabout to Knockcushan Street, Girvan at a cost of £45,000
Minor signing improvements at the junction with the A751 with an estimated cost of £10,000.

There is also an investigation into accidents at A77 Doonholm Road junction, Ayr. Remedial measures are to be agreed and these may include traffic signals. If traffic signals are included these are estimated to cost in the order of £100,000.

Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and the South West Scotland Transport Study is also being progressed. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to all modes of transport on key strategic corridors, including that served by the A77. The study will provide recommendations which identify transport interventions to be considered in more detail through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. The output of the review will provide Scottish Ministers with a programme of potential transport investment opportunities over the period 2022 – 2042 and will support the vision, priorities and outcomes of the new National Transport Strategy.

Question reference: S5O-03766

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the delivery of mental health services delivered by third sector organisations.

Question reference: S5O-03714

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address issues regarding pollution management at the Tarbolton landfill site.

Question reference: S5F-03668

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to encourage the uptake of school meals, especially among children eligible for free school meals.

Question reference: S5F-03631

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported staffing shortfalls in psychiatric services, particularly those for children.

Question reference: S5F-03610

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle inequality between men and women in the diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks.