Murdo Fraser

3 Jun 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Scottish Fiscal Commission prediction of a £1 billion shortfall in income tax receipts affecting the Scottish budget in the period 2020-23.

15 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the ISD statistic for 2017-18 that shows 9.4% of patients in Fife with neck and head cancer had access to a specialist speech and language therapist before treatment.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Fife has put a plan in place to improve access to speech and language therapy before treatment by October 2019 through the recruitment and training of additional specialist staff. Patients in NHS Fife can receive treatment through an existing service lev…

24 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities used powers under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to reduce business rates during the 2018-19 financial year, and to what extent.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Provisional data shows that Aberdeenshire and Perth & Kinross have used their Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act powers during 2018-19. The following table sets out the most up to date information on the amount of local discretionary rates relief local aut…

24 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue raised by the business rates incentivisation scheme was retained by each local authority in the (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19 financial years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Following validation of Local Authorities' final audited 2017-18 non-domestic rates income returns the amounts eligible to be retained by individual local authorities under the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme for 2017-18, will be confirmed shortly and p…

18 Apr 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the performance of Scotland's rail services, and what action is being taken to improve provision.

26 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will give to Perth and Kinross Council to assist in dealing with any additional pressure on the area's roads and infrastructure arising from work on the dualling of the A9.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has consulted extensively with Perth and Kinross Council throughout the development and design of the A9 Dualling programme to ensure that any additional pressures on the local road network are kept to a minimum whilst these vital works are…

26 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to alleviate fly tipping.

19 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the tax changes in its Budget will impact on its own employees.

12 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the provision of a care and treatment hub at Pitlochry Community Hospital will improve healthcare for Highland Perthshire residents.

26 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Eurasian beaver will be given protected species status, and, once this is place, (a) whether its release into the wild will be treated as wildlife crime, (b) how farmers and land managers will be able to control destructive activity by the species, and what compensation …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A Scottish Statutory Instrument, granting Eurasian beavers European Protected Species status, was laid before the Scottish Parliament on Friday 22 February 2019. The legislation will come into force on 1 May 2019. a) The release of beavers into the wild is a…

26 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each year since 2001 for illegally releasing beavers into the wild.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There were no prosecutions/convictions for illegally releasing beavers into the wild.

11 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the full reopening of the Pitlochry minor injuries unit.

4 Feb 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what categories of public sector workers will be exempt from the proposed workplace parking levy.

29 Jan 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Tayside and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with representatives of all Health Boards, including NHS Tayside, to discuss matters of importance to local people. I last met the Chair of NHS Tayside at the regular meeting of all NHS Board Chairs o…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Michael Matheson: 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 wh…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is normal practice that Transport Scotland responds given that responsibility to deliver the A9 dualling falls under its remit. However, there are some instances when it may be appropriate for other Scottish Government departments or agencies to contribute…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cairngorms National Park Authority, as a statutory consultee in the A9 dualling project, is responsible for the protection of the interests and assets of the park.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The interests and assets of the Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project are not the sole responsibility of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, or other organisations, but the Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as …

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it conferred sufficient power on Cairngorms National Park Authority to be able to protect the interests and assets of the park in the A9 dualling project to the level expected by the park’s stakeholders.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The powers conferred on the Cairngorms National Park Authority are set in statute in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 and Cairngorms National Park Designation, Transitional and Consequential Provisions (Scotland) Order 2003. The Cairngorms National Park…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: 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 a…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government considers the functions and powers conferred on Historic Environment Scotland by the Parliament are sufficient. Recent consultations by Historic Environment Scotland have not revealed significant or widespread support for increasing t…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is responsible for the protection of the interests and assets of Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The interests and assets of the Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project are not the sole responsibility of Scottish Ministers or other organisations but the Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any pr…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

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

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: 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 protect…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the A9 dualling process has complied with policies, regulations and standards on protection and enhancement of the historic and natural environment in the planning period up to November 2017, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The process to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness has complied with and will continue to comply with relevant policies, regulations and standards. Compliance with relevant policies and regulations is demonstrated within the Environmental Statements for …

18 Dec 2018 · General Question

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

Answer · Michael Matheson: 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…

4 Dec 2018 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Information on the funding of operations undertaken outside the UK is not held centrally. The decision to part fund operations undertaken outside the UK is made by individual Health Boards.

4 Dec 2018 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: 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 co…

3 Dec 2018 · Topical Question

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

5 Nov 2018 · Topical Question

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

25 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to improve international transport connectivity.

11 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland will announce its preferred route for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the soon-to-be dualled A9.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has been working closely with the local community since Autumn 2016 as part of a co-creative process to identify a preferred option for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 Dualling. Transport Scotland is currently taking f…