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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.

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Question reference: S6W-23273

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the provision of micro-grants to support and promote volunteering via Creative Scotland.

The Scottish Government appreciates the contribution volunteers make to society. Volunteering at creative and cultural events offers unique opportunities to gain new skills, get experience and to be part of something special. While there are currently no plans to increase the provision of microgrants to support and promote volunteering via Creative Scotland, direct funding to national and local intermediaries supports the national and local volunteering infrastructure. For example, Creative Lives, a Creative Scotland Regularly Funded Organisation, supports volunteer-led and community-focused activity through microgrant schemes. They have worked closely with Creative Scotland to develop Cash for Culture, a fundraising guide for voluntary arts and community-led creative groups seeking funding for activity.

We provide Volunteer Scotland with a core grant of £832,000 (2023-24) and Third Sector Interfaces receive £8,481,200. In addition, the Volunteering Support Fund (£3.3m over 2021-24 period) delivered by Impact Funding Partners on behalf of the Scottish Government, is helping people overcome barriers to volunteering. The funding is for local community grass-roots organisations to support and promote volunteering among a variety of groups who experience disadvantage or barriers to volunteering.

Question reference: S6W-23068

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which she was responsible in her former role as (a) Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People between January 2020 and May 2021 and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Education between May 2021 and February 2022; whether the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

Question reference: S6W-23138

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Kidney Care UK report, Home Dialysis Energy Reimbursement in Scotland, that, while there are more people with kidney disease on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) than home haemodialysis (HHD), "only four of the 14 Health Boards in Scotland currently have an APD energy reimbursement policy".

Question reference: S6W-23271

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported warnings from the National Trust for Scotland that the provision of stonemasonry apprenticeships is currently in crisis and requires action immediately.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with key skills stakeholders and Historic Environment Scotland on this matter to ensure that Scotland has the required traditional skills to meet the demands of the historic environment sector.

We deliver our support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland which continues to champion traditional skills and is working with stakeholders to address heritage skills gaps to help ensure Scotland’s historic buildings can thrive as part of the country’s sustainable future.

The Scottish Government is also working with Skills Development Scotland to promote careers in construction and heritage skills as part of our Youth Employment Strategy, Developing the Young Workforce.

Question reference: S6W-23270

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the refresh of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector is still on track to be published in February 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23119

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter to the COVID-19 Recovery Committee from the then Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, dated 28 March 2023, whether it will set out the ways in which it has taken forward the aims of the Centre for Workplace Transformation through (a) the National Strategy for Economic Transformation projects, (b) other initiatives and (c) discussions with partners.

The CfWT was intended to be a “centre of expertise” to test new ideas around post-pandemic ways of working, providing research and advice to support innovative solutions to improve workplace productivity and wellbeing as well as being the support mechanism for the 4DWW pilot. There are a number of institutions and programmes dedicated to improving workplace productivity and wellbeing and engaging with businesses at scale.

The work of the enterprise and skills agencies is closely aligned to the aims of the CfWT. For example, Scottish Enterprise’s Workplace Innovation service helps businesses to implement fair and innovative people practices that have positive impacts on performance, productivity, engagement and wellbeing. Likewise, Highland and Islands Enterprise Innovation Programme helps organisations to improve productivity by increasing sales through the development of new products or services, or making process improvements through adopting technologies or new working practices. These initiatives play an important role in promoting ‘what works’ in improving workplace productivity and wellbeing, and proactively communicating these messages to businesses.

Just Transition Plans for sectors, sites and regions will be a key vehicle for managing our rapid transformation to a net zero, climate resilient economy. Plans are outcome-focused and our national just transition outcomes explicitly call for climate action that helps businesses thrive, supports fair work and good, green jobs and enhances wellbeing. We began with our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (JTP) and will be followed by JTPs for Agriculture and Land Use, the Built Environment and Construction, and Transport, as well as a site-based plan for the Grangemouth industrial cluster.

There are also synergies with the CFWT concept’s focus on the future of work and our commitment to explore ways of promoting and encouraging flexible and inclusive workplaces that benefit all workers. We are currently providing £153,575 in funding to flexible working experts, Flexibility Works, to promote and support employers across Scotland to adopt flexible workplaces.

Question reference: S6T-01678

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect local authorities from the risk of bankruptcy.

Question reference: S6T-01673

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the declaration by more than 20 countries from four continents at COP28 to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, recognising the key role of nuclear energy in reaching net zero, for what reason it is reportedly discounting nuclear power.

Question reference: S6F-02619

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the impacts of obesity and excess weight on the Scottish economy and NHS.

Question reference: S6F-02622

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.