Questions and answers

Question reference: S4F-02325

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to tackle overcrowding and understaffing in accident and emergency departments.

Question reference: S4W-22600

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 3 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it plans to prevent riders of motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 50cc from using the Forth Road Bridge once the Queensferry Crossing is open if they have only a compulsory basic training certificate.

Vehicles permitted to utilise the Forth Road Bridge once the Queensferry Crossing opens were considered during the passage of the Forth Crossing Bill and is set out in the Policy Memorandum.

The Queensferry Crossing and existing Forth Road Bridge will be maintained and operated as part of a managed crossing strategy to ensure the existing Forth Road Bridge infrastructure is retained and continues to provide public benefit.

As the Queensferry Crossing is to be a motorway, the policy for the Forth Road Bridge set out in the Policy Memorandum, in particular paragraph 26, supporting the Forth Crossing Bill was that it would become a dedicated public transport corridor for buses and taxis, together with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles less than 50cc, that class of motorcycle not being permitted on motorways. Other motorcycles are permitted on motorways. In setting the policy, it was considered that to make particular exception for other motorcycles and vehicles displaying a learner driver plate would open the Forth Road Bridge to wider use, not in keeping with its proposed designation as a public transport corridor. No objections to the Forth crossing Bill were received in relation to the proposed policy regarding motorcycles and the Forth Crossing Bill was passed in full view of the policy set out in the Policy Memorandum.

Question reference: S4F-02290

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to capitalise on the legacy of the Ryder Cup.

Question reference: S4W-22448

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 18 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what plans the NHS has to introduce the anti-pneumonia drug, Solithromycin.

There is no marketing authorisation in the UK for solithromycin.

It is a decision for a manufacturer whether to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority or to the European Medicines Agency for a marketing authorisation providing evidence of safety, quality and efficacy. If a marketing authorisation is granted the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) would consider a submission from the company for this medicine.

In addition, subject to marketing authorisation, SMC’s Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group may consider solithromycin within its framework for making the best use of antimicrobials in the management of infection.

Question reference: S4O-03524

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how frontline services would be affected if the reported £400 million reduction in NHS funding is implemented.

Question reference: S4W-22206

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, following the European Court of Justice ruling in the case, Alands Vindkraft AB v Energimyndigheten [the Swedish Energy Agency], how an independent Scotland will fund (a) existing and (b) planned renewable energy schemes and what impact this will have on consumers.

As detailed in the answer to question S4W-22205 on 26 August 2014, this decision does not affect the proposals for funding renewables set out in Scotland’s Future.

The report by the independent Expert Commission on Energy Regulation argues that the market arrangements which support renewable generation currently operating, or financially committed at the point of independence, should be grandfathered and the commercial arrangements honoured with the historic costs spread across all UK consumers as at present.

The UK Government’s binding renewables targets and legislation mean that suppliers across the rest of the UK will still need to buy Scottish power after independence, while Scottish renewables projects will be very well placed to compete for support under the new Contracts for Difference mechanism.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-22205

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the European Court of Justice ruling in the case, Alands Vindkraft AB v Energimyndigheten [the Swedish Energy Agency] will have on the Scottish Government's plans for renewable energy in an independent Scotland.

The European Court of Justice ruling in this case does not prohibit EU member states from paying subsidies for renewables generated in other member states, if they choose to do so.

The UK Government has already indicated, in a document published on 4 August 2014, that it is considering subsidising lower cost renewables generation located outside the UK under its new Contract for Difference mechanism, the introduction of which was enabled by the 2013 Energy Act. Indeed, the UK has previously explored the option of sourcing renewable electricity from Ireland.

We believe that the extremely competitive renewable energy projects situated in an independent Scotland will continue to play a vital part in helping the rest of the UK to meet its legally binding EU targets.

Question reference: S4W-22207

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 21 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it received for the Welfare Reform Resilience Fund 2014-15.

The Welfare Reform Resilience Fund received 33 applications from 29 local authorities. These applications were considered by a panel of representatives from the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Improvement Service, with 11 projects selected for funding in 2014-15. A list of the successful projects can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/WRRF2014-15Update

Question reference: S4T-00779

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Bank of England in relation to a currency union.

Question reference: S4W-21776

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 24 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government which of the books recommended by Stonewall Scotland for use in primary schools (a) it and (b) Education Scotland has approved since the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force.

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