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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-23237

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any examples of environmental harm caused by the appropriate use of Asulox for the control of bracken in the last 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-23319

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve West Coast Main Line (WCML) (a) line speeds and (b) capacity from Glasgow Central, through grade separation of Rutherglen junction to deconflict local train movements.

Question reference: S6W-23282

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have published a climate change adaptation plan, as required by the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022-2026.

Paragraphs 77 and 78 of the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022-2026 outline adaptation requirements for NHS Scotland Health Boards. In particular paragraph 77 requires that Health Boards will prepare and implement climate change adaptations plan to ensure resilience of service under changing climate conditions.

As of today, 16 NHS Scotland Health Boards have completed a climate change adaptation plan. Five Health Boards have started but not completed their adaptation plan, and one Health Board will begin work on its adaptation plan before the end of the year.

Question reference: S6W-23241

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware of Petroineos’s proposal to cease oil refinery operations at its Grangemouth site.

Given the importance of this strategic asset to Grangemouth and Scotland, the Scottish Government has been working closely with the business as it explores future options to transition the site, such as bio-refining.

Petroineos notified the Scottish Government on 21 November 2023 that senior management were to make a formal internal announcement of the business’ plans to commence preparatory work for new import terminal infrastructure at Finnart Terminal and Grangemouth.

Question reference: S6W-23521

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its publication dates, which months it uses to define (a) spring, (b) summer, (c) autumn and (d) winter.

Question reference: S6W-23430

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what projections it has made on the likely number of pubs and hospitality-related businesses that there will be in Scotland in (a) one (b) three and (c) five year(s).

Question reference: S6W-23266

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that bus gates, such as those in Aberdeen, do not penalise coach drivers servicing trade and tourism locations by them incurring fines.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. These duties include the making of Traffic Regulation Orders for such things as restricting access on roads to certain types of vehicles as they see fit, such as bus gates.

It is therefore for local authorities to determine what vehicles should be permitted depending on the local specific circumstances and not an area where Scottish Ministers would intervene. Notwithstanding this, Aberdeen City Council has confirmed that the recently opened bus gates in Aberdeen City Centre, supported by Transport Scotland’s Bus Partnership Fund, do permit coaches.

Question reference: S6W-23397

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set up a committee to examine the reported rising excess death rate in Scotland, in light of data from the National Records of Scotland showing that 3,255 excess deaths have taken place in 2023 so far.

A Mortality Special Interest Group (SIG) currently exists with a remit to monitor and analyse mortality trends in Scotland. This is a collaborative group chaired by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and includes representation from key organisations including the Scottish Government, National Records of Scotland and representation from Directors of Public Health.

More information on the Mortality SIG can be found on the PHS website .

There are currently no plans for the Scottish Government to set up any further committees or groups on excess deaths.

Question reference: S6W-23306

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21689 by Lorna Slater on 3 October 2023, whether (a) Palladium, (b) Lombard Odier or (c) Hampden and Co Bank is contracted by (i) Forestry and Land Scotland, (ii) Scottish Water, (iii) Cairngorms National Park and (iv) Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park to provide support in delivering peatland restoration works or in mobilising private finance into nature; what payments have been made to any of those parties in the (A) last financial year and (B) current financial year to date; what the (aa) value and (ab) duration is of any extant contracts, and what procurement process was followed to secure any such contractual arrangements that are in place.

No payments have been made to Lombard, Hampdens or Palladium from Forestry and Land Scotland or Scottish Water over the last two years. Both Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority have made payments to Palladium during this period.

Your question regarding what contracts are in place, their value, duration and procurement processes is on operational matters so I have asked the Chief Executives of the National Park Authorities to write to you addressing these points .

Question reference: S6W-23307

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support the Scottish night time industry.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hospitality and night-time industry, having been the hardest hit of all sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic and cost crises.

The Scottish Budget 2023-24 ensures the lowest poundage in the UK for the fifth year in a row and supports a package of rates relief worth an estimated £749 million, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are eligible for 100% relief this financial year. Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2024-25 will be made as part of the Scottish Budget, which will be published on 19 December.

The Scottish Government is also supporting the sector through the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and through the New Deal for Business Group. In addition, the Town Centre Action Plan aims to revitalise our towns and town centres, which contributes to supporting the night-time economy.

Our recent request of the UK Government for a reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality sector was rejected.