Parliamentary questions
Joan McAlpine
270 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland and the Scottish courts service record incidents according to the alleged perpetrator's birth sex, or by self declaration.
27 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government which parts of the economy and areas of employment are most at risk from a no deal Brexit.
20 Feb 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the issue of land banking in town centres.
19 Feb 2019 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the opening of the Scottish Government Innovation and Investment Hub in Paris.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to advise of the opening of our Hub in Paris on 18 February. The Hub is located in rue d’Anjou, where Scottish Development International has recently relocated its offices. The purpose of the Hub is to promote Scotland’s interests in France. Th…
13 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has enhanced the role of clinical nurse specialists in the NHS and what the benefits have been.
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been invited to join discussions regarding alternative arrangements to the Irish backstop.
Answer · Michael Russell: No we have not. There have been no invitations to join the alternative arrangements working group. Indeed, it is no secret that we have been generally frustrated with the quality of engagement that there has been to date. The First Minister met with the Prim…
30 Jan 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Tenant Farming Commissioner.
15 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports victims of crime.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In 2018-19 we are providing £17.9 million to support victims of crime, including to third sector organisations who provide practical and emotional support to victims and their families. We will provide £18 million in 2019-20 to continue this work, increasing …
19 Dec 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to ensure that all public bodies are fulfilling their public sector equality duty with regard specifically to the protected characteristic of “sex” as represented in the Equality Act 2010.
17 Dec 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the outcome of the recent European Council summit.
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to educate people on the risks of being “catfished”, the act of luring a person into a relationship through using a fake identity online.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Internet safety is largely a reserved matter and any decisions on the regulation of the internet is currently made by the UK Government. Scottish Ministers are, however, developing and implement policy relating to child internet safety using their devolved re…
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the Child Protection Improvement Programme to include strategies to prevent children from being victims of “catfishing”.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer given for S5W-20477, S5W-20481 and S5W-20482 on 20 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.…
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to protect children and adults from being “catfished”.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer given for S5W-20477, S5W-20481 and S5W-20482 on 20 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.s…
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how “catfishing” could be appropriately punished as a crime.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: While there is no specific criminal offence of ‘catfishing’, there are a number of offences that may be used to prosecute someone who engages in the practice of ‘catfishing’, depending on the individual facts and circumstances of each case. For example, our …
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are taken to support victims of “catfishing”.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer given for S5W-20477, S5W-20481 and S5W-20482 on 20 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.s…
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make “catfishing” illegal.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We will monitor the effectiveness of legislation on an on-going basis in conjunction with criminal justice partners. While there is no specific criminal offence of ‘catfishing’, there are a number of offences that may be used to prosecute someone who engages…
7 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken on how “catfishing” takes place.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer given for S5W-20477, S5W-20481 and S5W-20482 on 20 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.s…
5 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the financial implications would be for the NHS in Scotland of a no deal Brexit.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The ongoing uncertainty around the UK’s departure from the EU continues to constrain our ability to fully assess the potential cost implications to NHS Scotland. Indeed the Chancellor of the Exchequer has raised the prospect of a new UK Budget in the event of…
7 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the Rural Parliament, which is being held in Stranraer.
5 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government has engaged with it regarding its reported plan to keep the whole of the UK in a temporary customs union.
Answer · Michael Russell: The UK Government has not engaged with the Scottish Government in regards to the reported plan to seek a UK-wide temporary customs union as part of withdrawal negotiations. The Scottish Government put forward compromise proposals in Scotland’s Place in Europ…
24 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support food banks that are struggling to cope with increased demand following the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government provides support to community food organisations – including food banks – to respond to food insecurity. We have increased our Fair Food Fund from £1.5 to £3.5 million this year. However the priority should always be to tackle the cau…
16 Oct 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on legally obliging landowners to formally engage with communities affected by major changes in land use.
10 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to improve the trunk road network in the South Scotland region.
5 Sep 2018 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the latest situation is with the Pinneys site in Annan.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Young’s Seafood confirmed on 3 September that it has now ceased production at the Pinney’s of Annan site and the majority of the workforce has now left the company. A skeleton staff of around 50 are expected to remain on site until November to oversee the clo…
4 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of Brexit negotiations and the impact on Scotland.
Answer · Michael Russell: Despite the overwhelming vote in Scotland to remain in the EU, in less than seven months’ time the UK Government intends to take the UK out of the EU. Negotiations between the UK Government and the EU on the terms of withdrawal are still ongoing, with some c…
4 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what response it has had from the UK Government to calls for the devolution of immigration.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government has published evidence setting out why the UK Government’s approach to immigration does not meet Scotland’s needs. We want a more flexible and sensitive migration system tailored to Scotland’s needs, an approach endorsed by this Parlia…
20 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it is providing in 2018-19 through the Empowering Communities Fund.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: This year the Scottish Government will provide £20 million through the Empowering Communities Fund which is a range of funds that assist communities to identify aspirations and priorities; create solutions and make improvements; and, to tackle inequality and …
6 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation in Dumfries and Galloway of Developing the Young Workforce.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Dumfries and Galloway Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group has helped establish school/employer partnerships, enabling work experience placements and encouraging the development of employability skills within the region. Youth Guarantee Coordinat…
22 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to the food and drink industry in South Scotland.
16 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Borderlands Growth Deal.