Parliamentary questions
Colin Smyth
990 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns raised by Colleges Scotland that the role of colleges is being damaged by relentlessly falling budgets.
15 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed plans with NHS Lanarkshire to ensure that neurodivergent children and young people receive the right treatment and support.
8 Jan 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed plans to reduce delayed discharge with NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported call from UK campaign group, Wild Justice, to (a) return Brodifacoum to its pre-April 2016 approval status, so that it can be used in strict "internal areas" within buildings, and (b) limit its use to professional pest control companies.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government continues to work with UK Government and the Welsh Government on the regulation of biocides, including rodenticides, under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation. A Government Oversight Group, that includes Scottish Government representat…
18 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the data from the Pupils Census Supplementary Statistics, which reportedly shows that the number of pupils with additional support needs in Dumfries and Galloway increased by over 1,000 between 2019 and 2023.
9 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been to NatureScot of removing invasive Sitka spruce growing on peat bogs and within mixed native woodlands in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you to provide the information requested.
4 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the request from the A77Action Group for the establishment of a task force to consider issues relatingto the impact of the reported increased use of full road closures on the A77.
27 Nov 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Public Health Scotland’s recent NHS dental monitoring report, which indicates that almost 40% of adults in Dumfries and Galloway are not registered with an NHS dentist.
18 Nov 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported calls to widen access to Scotland’s Redress Scheme to allow survivors of abuse at Fornethy House to seek redress.
30 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported decision by members of the Integration Joint Board of Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership to reject the recommendations of an independent review to re-open the Clenoch Birthing Centre at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranrae…
24 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported calls from community groups for a pause on processing planning applications for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), in light of reports that there is currently 100GW of energy storage in the National Grid connection "queue" but the Electricity Systems …
Answer · Gillian Martin: The National Energy System Operator (NESO) provides modelling of the projected amount of (short duration) battery storage that could be required in the GB system and Scotland. On 5 November NESO published advice to the UK Government on how to achieve Clean Po…
23 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to fully implement the recommendations of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review in relation to the A77.
17 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for improved regulation of non-healthcare professionals who carry out medical aesthetic treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government officials have been undertaking scoping work with a variety of stakeholders including healthcare professionals (representatives from British College of Aesthetic Medicine and British Association of Cosmetic Nurses), hair and beauty industr…
17 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to increase rail services from Carstairs railway station.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail advises, it currently has no plans to increase service levels at Carstairs. ScotRail monitors passenger demand closely and wherever possible, adjusts service levels where it is required.
17 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with rail companies whose trains pass through Carstairs railway station but do not stop there about increasing the frequency of rail services from Carstairs.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Whilst I understand that both cross border operators and ScotRail have no current plans to increase calls at Carstairs railway station, my officials will raise this issue at future meetings.
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what planning guidance it issues in relation to the proximity of large-scale solar farms to housing.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) states that, when considering development proposals for renewable energy generation, potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations in the decision-makin…
2 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that those delivering Scotland’s Winter Festivals will be involved in the planned strategic partnership for Scotland’s festivals.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £10 million that the UK Government reportedly committed to providing in 2023 to carry out a feasibility study on the Borders Railway has been allocated to that project.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal includes a commitment of up to £5m from both the Scottish Government and the UK Government to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle. This includes the undertaking of associa…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the junction improvements on the A75 at Haugh of Urr will be completed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Casualty Reduction programme of works, is delivering improvements at the A75 Haugh of Urr junction. Construction of static sign improvements, relating to advanced direction signage and rat…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £8 million that the UK Government reportedly committed to providing to carry out a feasibility study on the A75 it has received.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The previous UK Government had committed £8m of Union Connectivity funding for the Scottish Government to take forward design development and assessment of options for the realignment of the A75 around the settlements of Springholm and Crocketford. This…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the proposed feasibility study on the upgrade of the A75.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30089 on 7 October 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when signalisation will be introduced on the A75 at the Cuckoo Bridge Roundabout.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Casualty Reduction programme of works, is delivering signalisation works on the A75 at the Cuckoo Bridge Roundabout. The works are currently programmed to start on site in January 2025.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the planned trunk road safety investigations on the A75 by Mouswald, Glenluce and Twynholm will be completed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Casualty Reduction programme of works, is undertaking road safety investigations on the A75 by Mouswald, Glenluce and Twynholm. These investigations are programmed to be completed by the e…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the proposed speed management scheme on the A75 at Crocketford will be introduced.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Casualty Reduction programme of works, is delivering a speed management scheme on the A75 at Crocketford. Construction is programmed to commence by November 2024 through the delivery of an…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has given scallop effort quota to any of the group of companies referred to in the BBC’s recent reporting on slavery in the Scottish fishing industry at any point during 2024.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not give scallop effort quota to any fishing vessel within the Scottish fleet. Unlike many fish quotas, scallop effort is not allocated by the UK government to the devolved fisheries administrations, instead, a common effort regim…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was aware that there were ongoing police investigations into the companies referred to in the BBC’s recent reporting on slavery in the Scottish fishing sector when it awarded any funding to those companies.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is continuing to look into this matter and awards to TN Trawlers or associated companies over the periods of time covered in the BBC’s recent reporting.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence was carried out prior to it providing any funding to the group of companies referred to in the BBC’s recent reporting on modern slavery in the Scottish fishing sector.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is continuing to look into this matter and awards to TN Trawlers or associated companies over the periods of time covered in the BBC’s recent reporting.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was aware that workers at companies referred to in the BBC’s recent reporting on slavery in the Scottish fishing sector had been recognised by the Home Office as victims of trafficking when it awarded any funding to those companies.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is continuing to look into this matter and awards to TN Trawlers or associated companies over the periods of time covered in the BBC’s recent reporting.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much direct subsidy it has given to the group of companies referred to in the BBC’s recent reporting on slavery in the Scottish fishing sector since 2019.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is continuing to look into this matter and awards to TN Trawlers or associated companies over the periods of time covered in the BBC’s recent reporting.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its current position is on funding for the Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme in Dumfries.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Funding for flood resilience is distributed to local authorities through the general capital grant. The allocation mechanism is agreed by Ministers and COSLA Leaders on a national basis.The current distribution agreement is that 80% of available funding is al…