Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-13307

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possibility of Scotland’s European Structural Funds budget being reduced as a result of a new allocation formula.

The Scottish Government is particularly concerned with recent reports that Structural Funds allocations for Scotland may drop significantly more than in other parts of the UK.

We had anticipated that Structural Fund budgets would decline for Scotland, and stakeholders had reached similar assessments. However recent calculations by UK Government officials following the EU Budget negotiations suggest that Scotland faces a disproportionate drop.

These funds support jobs, growth and economic investment and the Scottish Government is pursuing a fairer allocation of Structural Funds with the UK Government and the Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations.

Question reference: S4O-01869

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the reserves of oil and gas remaining in Scottish waters.

Question reference: S4O-01775

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the Cumbrae Public Reference Group on reviewing and improving health services on the island.

Question reference: S4T-00229

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether any economic benefits will accrue to Scotland from High Speed 2.

Question reference: S4O-01687

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the University of London regarding the future of the University Marine Biological Station Millport.

Question reference: S4O-01674

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on developing grassroots football.

Question reference: S4W-11777

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-07334 by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2012, whether it will act to ban the training of dogs using electronic shock collars following the review by the Companion Animal Welfare Council on research into banning such collars published in Veterinary Record.

Neither the CAWC report nor the Defra research referred to in SW-07334 have provided clear objective evidence that electronic training aids cause long-term harm to dog welfare when used appropriately. A ban on electronic training aids cannot, therefore, be justified on welfare grounds at this time.

However, we fully support the work that Defra is undertaking with the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association to draw up guidance for dog owners and trainers advising how to use e-collars properly. We also support Defra’s work with the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to develop a manufacturers’ charter to make sure any e-collars on sale are made to high standards.

Question reference: S4O-01618

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the reduction has been in the number of hospital acquired infections in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area since May 2007.

Question reference: S4F-01062

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2012

To ask the First Minister what impact the Scottish Government expects the additional capital resources announced in the Autumn Statement to have on Scottish employment.

Question reference: S4O-01563

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to boost manufacturing employment and output.

Tell us your views

Chamber and committees