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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-22546

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will promote the development of a marina at the former Prince's Dock basin in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-22547

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it will undertake to promote the growth of workboat, small passenger vessel and recreational boat use on the upper Clyde at Glasgow.

This year leadership of the Clyde Mission migrated from Scottish Government to Glasgow City Region through the transfer of £40m. Clyde Mission was launched in 2020 with a focus on the unique opportunities and competitive advantage of the river, incorporated in five missions, one of which is creating better places for people and communities along the river. At present there are no dedicated initiatives that promote the growth of workboat, small passenger vessel and recreation boat use on the upper Clyde at Glasgow, however if a proposal was submitted then both Scottish Government and Regional Partners would be able to consider.

Question reference: S6W-22536

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's announcement of an additional £100 million for the arts and culture sector on 17 October 2023, how this figure was arrived at; how the funding will be distributed over the next five years, and whether it will be attributed on an annual rolling basis, or using a multi-year approach.

Ministers will take decisions about where the funding is allocated in 2024-25 and future years subject to the outcome of the Scottish Budget process and associated approval by the Scottish Parliament.

The draft budget will be published later this year and will be the subject of Parliamentary scrutiny in early 2024. The Scottish Government intends to present the Draft Budget 2024-25 to Parliament on 19 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22430

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many times and (b) for how long on average the (i) A8, (ii) A78, (iii) A737, (iv) A71, (v) A77, (vi) A82 and (vii) M8 has been closed as a result of a crime scene investigation due to an accident in the last 10 years, and what factors affect the time that it takes to reopen roads for managed traffic flow.

Roads can be closed for a variety of reasons and we don’t hold specific data on the frequency or average duration of road closures for the purpose of crime scene investigation. The closure of a road in the aftermath of an accident is a matter for Police Scotland, who liaise with NHS colleagues as appropriate to understand if accident investigation is merited. The decision to reopen a road after an investigation is also a matter for the Police in their operational capacity.

Question reference: S6W-22446

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any additional financial assistance to Argyll and Bute Council to assist with the permanent replacement of the A816 Kilmelford Bridge, following the recent demolition of the old bridge due to flood damage.

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.

However, I can confirm that the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance activated the Bellwin Scheme on 23 October 2023. The Bellwin Scheme is a discretionary scheme to give special financial assistance to local authorities as a result of providing relief and carrying out immediate work due to large-scale emergencies.

Argyll and Bute Council is one of six local authorities to have notified the Scottish Government of a potential claim relating to Storm Babet.

Question reference: S6W-22431

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support the work of Police Scotland in light of a reported decline in policing numbers.

The Scottish Government continue to invest in policing, investing £1.45 billion in policing in 2023/24, increasing the resource budget of Police Scotland by an additional £80m.

Police Scotland have utilised this additional funding to invest in their workforce - recruiting around 600 new officers this year alone and around 1,480 since the beginning of 2022. A 7% pay increase for 23/24 recognises the hard work and valuable contribution that officers and staff make each day and means that our officers remain the best paid in the UK, with the minimum and maximum salary higher for all ranks compared to their counterparts in England and Wales.

Question reference: S6W-22408

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there currently are that fall under the remit of the Social Justice portfolio.

A total of 9 active working groups sit under the remit of the Social Justice portfolio. This includes the following:

Building Standards Futures Board Working Group
Disability Equality Immediate Priorities Plan Short Life Working Group
Housing Affordability Working Group
Human Rights Bill Implementation Working Group
Managing Cost Pressures Working Group
Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Cross Sector Working Group
Section 3.3 Flooding and Groundwater Working Group
Social Security Independent Advocacy Short Life Working Group

Question reference: S6W-22409

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people in energy arrears who are undergoing high energy use intensity NHS treatment at home.

Question reference: S6W-22443

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that more than half of people in Scotland with chest, heart and stroke conditions and long COVID do not get referred for the rehabilitation that they should receive under national standards and guidelines.

Question reference: S6W-22444

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to improve access to support for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions and long COVID in (a) general and (b) rural and remote areas.

Our Heart Disease Action Plan, Respiratory Care Action Plan and Stroke Improvement Plans recognise the importance of timely and equitable access to care for people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions. We are working closely with NHS Boards and people with lived experience, as well as our national advisory groups as we implement these strategies. We have also established a £10 million long COVID Support Fund to support NHS boards to increase the capacity of existing services, develop these into more clearly defined local pathways and provide a more co-ordinated experience for people living with long COVID.

We are aware that people living in remote and rural areas may face disparities in access to health care. To address this we are committed to publishing a Remote and Rural Workforce Strategy and have recently established a National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Social Care.