Colin Beattie

19 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to put age restrictions in place for buying over-the-counter medicines.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government have no plans to introduce age restrictions for purchasing over the counter medicines (OTC). There are no legal age restrictions for buying OTC medicines. OTC medicines can be bought from a range of retail outlets without the supervisi…

10 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its planning policy and guidance to local authorities on takeaway food outlets take account of its policies on healthy eating.

4 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes rural tourism, and how much it invests in this work.

26 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with plant passporting.

13 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with young people regarding the design and implementation of its proposed deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has been keen to hear the views of young people on its proposals for a deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers, with Young Scot participating in a workshop prior to the public consultation. That organisation also contrib…

1 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been on the number of EU tourists coming to Scotland this year of any uncertainty caused by Brexit.

17 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact UK Government welfare reforms have had on Scottish social security spending.

2 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a golden eagle found with an illegal trap on its legs, what action it is taking to protect wild birds as a matter of urgency ahead of the publication of the findings of the Grouse Moor Management Group (the Werritty report).

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is strongly committed to safeguarding the welfare of all animals, including wild birds such as raptors. The illegal persecution of our birds of prey is an extremely serious issue and, as we announced in our Programme for Government fo…

18 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on SEPA classifying the sea water at Fisherrow in Musselburgh as poor in 2018-19, and the potential impact that this has on tourism, and the health of people bathing, in the area.

10 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported 5% increase in crime in the area, what its position is on whether Midlothian Council’s disbandment of its community safety teams is in the public interest and appropriate.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government remains committed to tackling crime across Scotland. Over the last decade official statistics show that recorded crime in Scotland has fallen by more than a third, with a 43% decrease in violent crime. While there was a small increase…

20 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report on the fact-finding visit to the UK by the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being offered to former employees of Hutchinson Networks in Danderhall who have been made redundant following the company entering administration.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is saddened to learn that Hutchison Networks, based in Danderhall, entered administration on 13 May and that 94 of the 109 employees have been made redundant with immediate effect. I know this will be a very difficult time for the staf…

30 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to celebrate International Museum Day on 18 May.

19 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ageing population, how it encourages more community engagement with older people.

12 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how staffing levels in the tourism industry are being impacted by Brexit.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The tourism industry is vital to communities across Scotland, and EU nationals form a significant and highly valued part of its workforce – accounting for 11.6% of those working in the sector. Exiting the EU will create major difficulties for the sector, with…

26 Feb 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on non-medically qualified practitioners providing Botox and other similar treatments.

8 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on local authorities introducing a charge for bags used to recycle food waste.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has set a target to reduce food waste by at least a third by 2025 and is committed to promoting the recycling of food waste, where this cannot be prevented. Since 2011, Zero Waste Scotland has provided £25.2m to local authorities to su…

18 Dec 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the rail network.

13 Nov 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of pupils learning a musical instrument fell by over 1,000 between 2016-17 and 2017-18.

15 Oct 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local communities where nearby rivers have been polluted by waste overflows from detritus flushed down toilets

2 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the social care workforce is properly resourced so that people with neurological conditions can be cared for in their own home or other alternative care settings to hospital.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care that meets their needs and respects their rights and preferences for support and how it is delivered. Over the past decade a significant amount of work and investment has gone into supporting olde…

2 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent Sue Ryder report that suggests that providing proactive and planned care to a person with MND could lead to savings of between 30-50% annually.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: During 2018 we have engaged extensively with the neurological community to develop Scotland’s first ever National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions, which will be published in draft form for consultation shortly. The plan sets out our vision that everyon…

3 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its support for the infrastructure required for more housing.

28 Aug 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its investment in the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal will help deliver inclusive economic growth across the region and benefit residents in Midlothian and Musselburgh.

5 Jun 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information the UK Government shares with it regarding the possible outcomes of a so-called hard Brexit, and what input it has into the scenario planning.

Answer · Michael Russell: Many reports show that a hard Brexit would be disastrous for the Scottish economy but the UK Government has not shared with us its assessment of the impact of such an outcome. Indeed throughout the Brexit process the UK Government has failed to involve the de…

21 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on farming of Brexit.

24 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Newbattle High School Digital Centre of Excellence.

29 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of Brexit on Scotland's finances, in light of the recent analysis by the UK Government, which reportedly suggests that, regardless of the terms of departure, Brexit will have a negative impact across all sectors.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government published Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment on 15 January 2018 which assesses the implications for Scotland’s economy if the UK exits the European Union. The analysis in this document indicates that a hard Brexit …

23 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that there is independent scrutiny of the new social security system and that it meets its aims and expectations.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has been clear for some time that it wishes to have independent scrutiny of the devolved Scottish social security system. That is why I asked the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group to consider what would be the most a…

15 Jan 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in establishing local micro energy generation across Scotland.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that small scale renewable technologies can play in meeting energy demand at a local and community level. Our recently published Scottish Energy Strategy highlights the increasingly important role and pote…