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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-19697

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review future fares for ferries, and whether it will publish any feedback that it receives on this.

The Scottish Government is progressing the Fair Fares Review to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the future long term viability of a public transport system that is accessible, available and affordable for people throughout Scotland – including our ferry services. The Fair Fares Review will report by the end of 2023 and we will continue a meaningful and constructive approach to engaging with stakeholders throughout the process.

Question reference: S6W-19733

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-19736

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Development International since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed.

Scottish Government Officials from the Directorate for International Trade and Investment have regularly met with the SDI since May 2021 as key partners to showcase Scotland’s strengths globally, boost inward investment and to achieve our export growth ambition. In addition, officials across a range of portfolios engage with the SDI as part of the policy development process and this will continue.

Question reference: S6W-19440

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to provide to organisations to help support and expand services for children with disabilities and their families.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role organisations across the third sector play in improving outcomes for disabled children and is providing core funding to a number of third sector organisations which provide services for disabled children and their families.

Despite facing one of the most challenging fiscal environments since devolution, we are maintaining the level of funding through the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund (CYPFEI & ALEC). All organisations in receipt of these funds received a 5% uplift in 2022-23. This has been continued in 2023-24 and committed to in 2024-25.

The Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learners (CYPFAL) third sector fund is also providing core funding to a number of organisations which support disabled children and their families.

Question reference: S6W-19397

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18367 by Angus Robertson on 8 June 2023, which states that "Ministerial Engagements, travel and gifts are published within 3 months in line with the Scottish Ministerial Code", in light of this information reportedly not being published as stated, meaning it is not available for MSPs to view, what its position is on whether the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has breached the Scottish Ministerial Code, and whether it will provide the information requested in relation to the full costs of the cabinet secretary's visit, and those of all ministerial travel costs.

As set out in the Ministerial Code, the Scottish Government publishes ministerial engagements, travel and gifts three months in arrears, and publishes the whole month at one time, taken from the end of the relevant month. The Scottish Government plans to publish the information relating to April's ministerial engagements, travel and gifts by the end of July 2023. No breach of the Scottish Ministerial Code has occurred.

Question reference: S6W-19324

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Adoption UK report, The Adoption Barometer: A stocktake of adoption in the UK, which was published in May 2023, whether it has any plans to improve adoption support services for children and young people up to at least age 26.

Under The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, local authorities have a duty to assess someone’s needs for adoption support services and then provide that support. This applies to a wide range of people affected by adoption, including all adoptees irrespective of their age.

As part of our commitment to Keep the Promise, the Scottish Government is looking at the package of support available to all care experienced people, regardless of their age. We recognise that the impact of care experience can be lifelong and we are working to ensure that all care experienced people, including adoptees, irrespective of their age, are given the support they need to realise their full potential.

Question reference: S6W-19337

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many intermediaries are involved in disbursing public funding to third sector organisations, and whether it will provide a list of any such intermediaries.

Question reference: S6W-19531

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to update the business and regulatory impact assessment for the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill, in light of its intention to afford enhanced powers to the Scottish SPCA in relation to wildlife crime.

Question reference: S6W-19536

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a cat being caught and injured in a snare in St Cyrus, whether it has considered banning snares to reduce the incidence of non-target capture of species, for example, cats, dogs or badgers, in snares.

Question reference: S6W-19533

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which independent body will be responsible for overseeing the Scottish SPCA's use of enhanced powers in relation to wildlife crime.

As with the powers Scottish SPCA inspectors currently have under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, powers will be authorised by Scottish Ministers. Scottish Ministers will also have the ability to remove powers from a Scottish SPCA inspector if necessary.

There are no plans to appoint an independent body to oversee the Scottish SPCA’s use of enhanced powers in relation to wildlife crime.