Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-07288

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to encourage farmers and crofters to introduce measures to reduce the risk of dog attacks on livestock.

Any incident of livestock worrying is a concern and that is why we are fully supporting the campaign launched recently by Police Scotland to highlight the importance of dog owners keeping their pets under control when walking in rural areas. This campaign, is being run in conjunction with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, Scottish National Heritage and the representative body Land and Estates, and is timed to coincide with spring lambing season.

The responsibility for the behaviour of dogs lies with the owners, but we encourage all crofters and farmers to consider practical steps to help keep their animals safe including making sure fencing is checked regularly and signs are put up to warn of the dangers of livestock worrying.

Question reference: S5W-07286

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness among dog walkers of the risk of livestock worrying.

We are fully supporting the campaign launched recently by Police Scotland to highlight the importance of dog owners keeping their pets under control when walking in rural areas. This campaign, is being run in conjunction with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, Scottish National Heritage and the representative body Land and Estates, and is timed to coincide with spring lambing season.

Question reference: S5W-07287

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the incidence of dog attacks on farm livestock.

Any incident of livestock worrying is a concern and that is why we are fully supporting the campaign launched recently by Police Scotland to highlight the importance of dog owners keeping their pets under control when walking in rural areas. This campaign, is being run in conjunction with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, Scottish National Heritage and the representative body Land and Estates, and is timed to coincide with spring lambing season.

Question reference: S5W-07285

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures from NFU Mutual suggesting that, in the last year, the number of dog attacks on livestock in the UK increased by 50% and that, in Scotland, the costs of such attacks trebled to £51,296.

Any incident of livestock worrying is a concern and that is why we are fully supporting the campaign launched recently by Police Scotland to highlight the importance of dog owners keeping their pets under control when walking in rural areas. This campaign, is being run in conjunction with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, Scottish National Heritage and the representative body Land and Estates, and is timed to coincide with spring lambing season.

Question reference: S5O-00742

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support and resources it provides to schools to encourage and develop relationships with employers, businesses and further educational establishments in their area.

A wide range of support and resources have been made available through our national education partners to assist schools in working with colleges, employers and other partners as part of implementing the recommendations of Developing the Young Workforce.

We continue to establish employer led DYW Regional Groups, to encourage and support employers to work with their local schools and colleges, the latest group being Argyll & Bute that I launched in Lochgilphead last Wednesday.

Question reference: S5W-07277

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it raises awareness of the danger of (a) ticks and (b) Lyme disease when participating in outdoor pursuits.

The Lyme Borreliosis Group, which is a part of the Scottish Health Protection Network, is developing communications tools to raise awareness of Lyme disease among health professionals and the public. Advice on how to prevent tick bites in the first instance and how to remove them if bitten, are key messages in the Groups communications. I also refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06306 on 31 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-07279

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise public awareness of the types of habitats where ticks can be found.

Question reference: S5W-07276

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much of Scotland's sheep meat abattoirs' annual turnover is made up from sales outside the UK.

Question reference: S5W-07280

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much of Scotland's (a) agricultural and (b) beef exports are with EU member states.

Question reference: S5O-00724

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how it works with rural community councils to develop community empowerment, devolve powers locally and help reform local government.

Chamber and committees