Parliamentary questions
Oliver Mundell
1,091 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding Dumfries and Galloway has received from the Schools for the Future programme.
Answer · John Swinney: Through the Scotland's Schools for the Future Programme, the Scottish Government has awarded Dumfries and Galloway Council with funding of £24.5 million towards three school projects.
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the process for (a) identifying and (b) investigating the use of dirty or damaged equipment in hospitals.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) carries out safety and cleanliness inspections across NHSScotland hospitals and services and they will undertake announced and unannounced inspections to each acute hospital in NHSScotland at least once every 3 ye…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent consideration it has made of whether there is a need to modernise schools in rural areas.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to improving Scotland’s school estate. However, the 1980 Education (Scotland) Act places a statutory responsibility on local authorities to provide and maintain the school estate in their respective areas. Under the Scotl…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) improve stability and (b) encourage exports in the livestock sector.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is no instability in the exports of red meat, however Quality meat Scotland are still carrying out promotional activities in Benelux, the Nordics and Germany. We continue to work on emerging markets out with the EU, including USA and China, where we ar…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing (a) sectarian behaviour and (b) hate crime.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to preventing and eradicating prejudice and discrimination, doing so through direct community engagement which is focussed on prevention, education and changing attitudes. Coupled with a strong Justice response to supporti…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase (a) employment opportunities and (b) the provision of specialist mental health care for veterans.
Answer · Keith Brown: There are a number of initiatives across the Scottish Government relating to employment opportunities for veterans. These include encouraging the private sector Scotland-wide to consider employing Service leavers and veterans; help for Early Service leavers; …
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the provision of disability-friendly housing stock (a) in Dumfries and Galloway and (b) across Scotland.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: As part of our promise to build a fairer Scotland, the Scottish Government is committed to increasing the number of accessible homes. All local authorities, including Dumfries and Galloway, are required by law to prepare a local housing strategy supported by …
24 Oct 2016 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it made of the reported level of support for independence ahead of the decision to bring forward the draft Referendum Bill before Article 50 has been invoked.
7 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are contingency plans to retain beds at the current Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary beyond the initial transfer period to the new district general hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Dumfries and Galloway advise that they are currently finalising detailed transfer plans for the migration of patients to the new facility. The Board envisage that this will take a small number of days and that a degree of 'double running' will be necessar…
7 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the new district general hospital in Dumfries and Galloway will have sufficient capacity to cope with an ageing population.
Answer · Shona Robison: The planning of local health care services is a matter for NHS Dumfries and Galloway, in line with national policy, frameworks and guidance. The Board's Business for the new hospital contained activity forecasts based on the region's anticipated changing demo…
7 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cross-border farm businesses are still awaiting balancing payments for 2015 payments, and what the reasons are for the delays.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Of the 93 cases for which the Scottish Government is the paying agency, 87 have been paid in full as of 17 October 2016, and the remaining 6 will be settled by the end of this month. All elements of the business’ application must be confirmed as eligible by e…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the recent timber summit held near Moffat.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The forestry summit at Moffat was attended by a broad cross section of the industry who shared their views on how best the Scottish Government can assist them in growing the £1 billion sector. Topics covered included planting targets, transport, skills and th…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regarding sediment management and extraction in the River Esk.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government is in regular discussion with SEPA with regard to the water environment but has had no discussions regarding sediment management and extraction in the River Esk.
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding potential cross-border arrangements for British Transport Police operations between (a) Lockerbie and (b) Gretna Green and Carlisle.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government's approach is to ensure cross border arrangements for railway policing offer a seamless service to all operators, passengers, goods and staff. We continue to work with the UK Government, BTP, BTPA, Police Scotland and other key stakeho…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support local authorities in providing educational support for children with additional learning needs.
Answer · John Swinney: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 was put in place to ensure that all children and young people with additional support needs receive the support they require to achieve their potential. The Act places strict duties on local…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what best practice it issues to local authorities regarding assessment of support for children with additional learning needs.
Answer · John Swinney: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 places strict duties on local authorities to meet the additional support needs for all children for whose school education they are responsible, and to tailor provision according to their ind…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff it employs, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Figures on Scottish Government staff headcount are collated regularly for the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey published by the Office for National Statistics, at Scotland level. The same Scotland-level headcount data are also published as part of th…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cross-border farmers have received their full CAP payment.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Of the 93 cases for which the Scottish Government is the paying agency, 87 have been paid in full as at 17 October 2016, and the remaining 6 payments are expected to be made by the end of this month.
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help meet the needs of children with autism.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to meeting the needs of children with autism. We want all children and young people to reach their full potential. Education authorities and other agencies have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to attract GPs to rural communities in Dumfriesshire.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting primary care, including GPs, and ensuring that all communities in Scotland, including remote and rural areas, receive safe, reliable and sustainable health care services. Over three years, the Scottish…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any potential benefits associated with leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Russell: Following the outcome of the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, the Scottish Government has been undertaking extensive work to assess the implications of leaving the EU. This includes internal analysis, advice from the First Minister's Standing Coun…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it is making to the UK Government regarding state aid rules as part of Brexit negotiations.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to protecting Scotland’s relationship with the EU, including state aid rules, following Scotland’s unequivocal vote to retain the wide range of economic and social benefits membership provides. We are considering all possi…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many miles of the A75 are dual carriageway.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Approximately 4.3 miles of the A75 trunk road is dual carriageway in one direction.
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many miles of central double-white lines there are on the A75.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There is approximately 11.2 miles of carriageway with central double-white lines on the A75 trunk road.
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many square metres of land in Dumfries and Galloway are owned by Transport Scotland, also broken down by the land adjacent to the A75 between Dumfries and Gretna.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland do not own any land in Dumfries and Galloway. Land required for improvements to the trunk road network is acquired by Scottish Ministers. The full extent of land held by Scottish Ministers in connection with the trunk road network is not c…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many permanent warning signs there are on the A75.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are approximately 3,500 permanent warning signs on the A75 trunk road.
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of transport infrastructure feasibility studies that it has commissioned in each year since 2007, and how many of these were in the Dumfries and Galloway area.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR), commissioned in 2007, gave thorough consideration to the strategic transport infrastructure needs of Dumfries and Galloway. STPR was the first nationwide, multi-modal, objective led and evidence based review of …
26 Sep 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to angling clubs and the rural economy following recent changes to the regulation of wild salmon fishing.
23 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what commitments regarding the (a) cost and (b) timetable for completing the upgrading works on the A7 were given by the Minister for Transport and Islands at his meeting with the A7 Action Group in June 2016.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I met the A7 Action Group in Parliament on 15 June 2016 to discuss their Action Plan, which set out its aspirations for the route. I committed Transport Scotland to undertake a review of the Action Plan and engage directly with the A7 Action Group regarding t…
22 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02448 by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2016, what the costs of the improvements were at (a) Lockerbie, (b) Gretna Green, (c) Annan, (d) Sanquhar and (e) Kirkconnel railway station, and the time periods in which the work took place.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The improvements made were funded from various budgets in the previous and current ScotRail franchise, along with funding from the Department for Transport's Access for All fund. The time period for the works range from 2007 until 2016, with the recent invest…