Joan McAlpine

14 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish social security system will support people seeking to appeal decisions. 

12 Mar 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the outcome was of her meeting with the Prime Minister.

27 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has carried out of how the Scottish Studies strand of the curriculum is operating.

22 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK and Welsh governments regarding the EU withdrawal bill, following the recent meeting of the joint ministerial committee, JMC-EN.

Answer · Michael Russell: There was a further meeting of the JMC(EN) on 8 March. At that meeting the UK Government did not bring forward any new proposal acceptable to the Scottish and Welsh Governments. Their proposals would still allow the UK Government to decide unilaterally to tak…

31 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the financial services industries.

30 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a draft EU exit analysis paper by the UK Government concludes that the UK would be worse off outside the EU under every scenario modelled and that every UK region and nation will be worse off.

Answer · Keith Brown: Reports of the results of the UK Government’s draft EU exit analysis paper confirm the findings detailed in Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment, published by the Scottish Government on 15 January. That publication was clear that leaving th…

16 Jan 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Erasmus+ scheme on the third sector, the further education sector and youth work in Scotland.

12 Jan 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the latest analysis on the implications for Scotland’s economy of the UK leaving the EU.

Answer · Michael Russell: On 10 January the First Minister announced the publication of ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs, and Investment’. This paper presents the latest analysis by the Scottish Government of the implications for Scotland’s economy if the UK exits the Europea…

20 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the European arrest warrant.

28 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Irish Government regarding continuing free trade and the free movement of people between Scotland and Ireland after Brexit.

8 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the National Transport Strategy and Strategic Transport Projects reviews.

1 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact could be on Scotland of the reported proposals in the EU withdrawal bill to abandon the principles that the polluter pays and that preventative action should be taken to avert environmental damage.

18 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that two-thirds of people with epilepsy have had their PIP benefits downgraded or denied, with some consequently reporting suicidal feelings.

25 Sep 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update following yesterday's meeting with the UK Government to discuss Brexit.

12 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of rural schools.

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the European Investment Bank has effectively imposed a moratorium on new long-term loans to the UK due to the triggering of article 50, and what information it has been given on this issue.

Answer · Michael Russell: The European Investment Bank (EIB) has been an important source of funding for major non-profit distributing projects within Scotland and, since 2006, has provided more than £3 billion for direct investment, with additional investment from UK-wide programmes.…

21 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made during Phase 2 of the Enterprise and Skills Review, and when the report covering this phase will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: Significant progress has been recorded across the nine projects within the Review, with plans now in place to establish a new Strategic Board to drive a step-change in Scotland’s economic performance, and for the creation of an enterprise agency for the South…

19 Jun 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what recent discussions have been held between the Scottish Government and the Scotland Office regarding opportunities for future intergovernmental cooperation and the new UK ministerial appointments.

22 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding how the interests of farmers in Scotland who receive less favoured area support will be represented in negotiations on leaving the EU.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: LFASS is vital for our rural economy and remote communities throughout Scotland, providing support to over 11,000 farmers and crofters. I will robustly represent their interests, and those of the wider Scottish agriculture sector when the UK Government are wi…

10 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has received from the third sector to the comment by the Minister for Social Security that "the private sector should not be involved in assessments for Scotland’s benefits".

2 May 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to mitigate the cumulative effect of UK Government benefit reductions in Dumfries and Galloway.

22 Mar 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the licensing of medicines in Scotland could be of the UK Government’s decision to leave the European Medical Agency.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) who operate on a UK wide basis. The MHRA advise that the UK …

13 Mar 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding triggering Article 50.

8 Mar 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to help with the regeneration of town centres.

9 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what costs were incurred by its involvement in the case of R (on the application of Miller and another) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and (Agnew v HM Government and McCord's Application).

Answer · Michael Russell: Following the referendum in June 2016, separate cases were brought in the High Court in England & Wales (R (Miller) v. Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union) and the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland (Agnew v. HM Government and McCord's Ap…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what transport infrastructure projects in the South Scotland region there have been since 1997 where the spend exceeded £3 million.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Trunk Roads – Improvement Schemes Scheme Contract Value A75 Overtaking Opportunities (Including A75 Newton Stewart, A75 Planting End to Drumflower, A75 Barfil to Bettyknowes) £9.2m A68 Dalkeith Bypass £30m A77 Haggstone and Glen App £18.7m A76 …

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of spending on completed infrastructure improvements to the (a) A75, (b) A76 and (c) A77 since 1997 in the South Scotland region.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information relating to projects completed between 1997 and 2007 is not available. The following table details infrastructure improvement projects on the A75, A76 and A77 which have been completed since 2007. Scheme Contract Value A75 Overtaking Oppor…

25 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the second allocation of money from the Fair Food Transformation Fund will impact on communities and organisations in South Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: All four organisations from the South Scotland region that applied in the second round were successful and will receive funding for a range of activities, including establishing a Community Food Hub and café, practical cooking, budgeting and growing skills, a…

11 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposal by Dumfries and Galloway Council to further reduce the number of classroom assistants in the region's schools despite a reported 60% increase in the number of children assessed as needing additional support.

Answer · John Swinney: Under the Additional Support for Learning Act it is for education authorities to identify and provide for the additional support needs of their pupils. Authorities must ensure that they have appropriate resources in place to meet their statutory requirements,…

19 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its proposals to protect Scotland’s place in Europe.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has always made clear that our preferred option would be to remain in membership of the European Union. However, we acknowledge that the outcome of the EU Referendum was that England and Wales voted to leave. The Scottish Government, …