Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 43394 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-20409

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use the opportunity of the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow to announce capital funding for the Scottish Event Campus expansion.

As set out in the answer to question S6W-17996 on 30 May 2023, due to budgetary pressures we are unable to provide a capital funding package to support the SEC’s proposed expansion package. To date there have also been no further approaches nor discussion with the SEC management team on this issue since it was raised with the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture in April 2022. However, we continue to engage with the SEC and others on how the national event strategy review can build on the industry’s success, and deliver on government priorities. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-20397

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been distributed through the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for renewable systems, including energy storage systems and district heating scheme connections, in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) system type and (b) local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-20398

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan funding for renewable systems, including energy storage systems and district heating scheme connections, in each of the last five years, broken down by system type.

Question reference: S6W-20401

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been distributed through the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for energy efficiency measures in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-20827

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local communities are aware of their rights in terms of community land ownership, and are better supported to access those rights.

Communities have a number of rights in terms of community ownership. There are four separate community rights to buy, most of which are compulsory purchase rights, as well as the right to request an asset transfer of an asset from a public body.

In addition, the Scottish Land Fund, which was increased to £11m this year, is available to community groups across Scotland, whether they are acquiring an asset through any of these rights, or entering into a negotiated sale with a willing seller. We have committed to increasing this to £20m by the end of 2026.

The Scottish Government Community Land Team regularly assist community groups with guidance on the rights to buy, whilst the Community Empowerment Team can help with asset transfer rights.

The Scottish Government also provides grants to Community Land Scotland to promote and educate community groups on all aspects of community ownership. This includes the annual Community Land Week which allows anyone to go along to a participating community group and see for themselves the benefits that ownership can bring.

Question reference: S6W-20727

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many times during harvesting operations machine operators have contacted Forestry and Land Scotland Environment Foresters to report a suspected drey structure since derogated licensing provisions were granted by NatureScot to Forestry and Land Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-20726

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many forestry operations were moved outwith the breeding season for red squirrels, following surveys, since derogated licensing provisions were granted by NatureScot to Forestry and Land Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-20687

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish the national service specification for secure transport.

The responsibility for the provision of secure transport lies with local authorities, and the development of this specification is being led by COSLA.

Discussions with key partners around the use of the specification are ongoing and will be discussed at the national Secure Care Group Meeting on 2 October. The Secure Transport Working Group aim to introduce the specification as soon as possible to assist local authorities in commissioning these services.

Question reference: S6W-20137

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a need to review Freedom of Information legislation, in light of recent reported comments by the incoming Scottish Information Commissioner.

The Scottish Government considers FOI law in Scotland to be sound in its underpinning principles. However, the Scottish Government has always been clear that it is open to using the powers available to it to adjust the regime, where there is scope to improve its operation.

The Scottish Government welcomed the post-legislative scrutiny of FOISA undertaken in the last session of the Parliament. Following this the Scottish Government has consulted on Access to Information Rights in Scotland. An analysis of responses was published on 30 June and we intend to publish our substantive response to that analysis later in the year.

Question reference: S6W-20725

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many forestry operations were stalled due to the presence of red squirrels since derogated licensing provisions were granted by NatureScot to Forestry and Land Scotland.