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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-17542

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met South Lanarkshire Council to discuss rural housing issues.

Question reference: S6W-17024

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many SME house builders there have there been in Scotland in each year since 1999.

The following table shows a time series for the number of registered private sector businesses in the construction of domestic buildings sector, split into Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises. The construction of domestic buildings sector is defined as Standard Industrial Classification (“SIC”) code 41.202 and is a sub-category within the construction sector, Section F. A SME here is defined as a business with 0 – 249 employees, whilst registered businesses are businesses that are registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE). The data covers the period from 2010 to 2022, earlier data are not readily available and, also not comparable due to changes in SIC definitions and methodology over time.

The number of registered private sector businesses by employee size band in the construction of domestic buildings (SIC 41.202) in Scotland, March 2010 – March 2022.

Calendar Year	SMEs (0-249 Employees)	250+ Employees	Total
2010	1,840	25	1,865
2011	1,740	25	1,765
2012	1,765	25	1,795
2013	1,745	30	1,775
2014	1,735	25	1,760
2015	1,780	25	1,805
2016	1,795	25	1,820
2017	1,850	30	1,880
2018	1,850	30	1,880
2019	1,885	25	1,910
2020	1,905	25	1,930
2021	1,915	30	1,945
2022	2,105	25	2,135

Source: Scottish Government analysis of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR)

Business counts are rounded to the nearest five. Totals may not equal the sum of the constituent parts due to rounding.

Excludes central and local government.

Size band is based on the number of employees that the business employs across the UK.

Question reference: S6W-16965

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Cycling report, Developing A Nation Of Cyclists 2.0, published on 14 March 2023.

Overall, the Scottish Government thinks that this is a well-designed and helpful document which clearly outlines the approach which Scottish Cycling plans to take.

We welcome the focus on improving diversity in cycling participation as well as a pathway for all, regardless of ability.

We are pleased to see references to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, highlighting the significant opportunity to increase cycling participation this provides, including through initiatives such as the Cycling Facilities Fund.

Question reference: S6W-17641

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-02227

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last spoke with COSLA regarding what action local authorities are taking to improve bus service provision.

The Scottish Government is committed, in conjunction with bus operators and local authorities, to looking at ways of improving services to ensure that everyone has accessible public transport. We have increased the tools available to local authorities to revitalise bus networks, through Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, in addition to their existing powers to subsidise services that are not provided on a commercial basis. Transport Scotland discuss bus matters with COSLA on a monthly basis at regular bus stakeholder meetings. In addition, COSLA are members of the Bus Taskforce.

Question reference: S6W-17688

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to taking action to reduce the number of older people living in poverty in Scotland.

Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical and interdependent missions for this government. We recognise the pressure on household budgets which is why last year and this, we have allocated almost £3 billion to support policies which tackle poverty and protect people as far as possible during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

As outlined in ‘A Fairer Scotland for Older People: framework for action’ we are taking a range of actions that directly addresses the financial needs of older people.

Question reference: S6W-17611

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any summaries of its findings from piloting implementation of community wealth building in Clackmannanshire, Fife, the Glasgow City Region, the South of Scotland and the Western Isles.

In collaboration with local and regional partners, the Scottish Government supported the development of Community Wealth Building (CWB) action plans for each area that set out practical actions to maximise the economic benefit realised for local communities, businesses and people.

Clackmannanshire, Glasgow City Region and Tay City region plans have been published on the Scottish Hub for Regional Economic Development website. Western Isles’ plan can be found here . South of Scotland Enterprise published their report on the potential for a CWB approach to adding energy efficient measures to Registered Social Landlord (RSL) housing stock in the South of Scotland, which concluded that 2,200 jobs could be created by 2023. The analysis can be found here: A roadmap to decarbonisation ,

A summary of all learnings from the pilots informed the Economic Development Associations Scotland (EDAs) practical CWB guide, available here: Community Wealth Building Scotland | EDAS

Question reference: S6W-17613

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about incorporating community wealth building into its vision and priorities for local government and communities across Scotland.

Representatives of The Convention Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) participate in the Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill Steering Group, which I chair. This Group has met three times.

In addition, I met with Cllr Gail McGregor, COSLA Environment and Economy Spokesperson on 08 February 2023 regarding CWB and other matters.

Scottish Government officials regularly engage with COSLA officers regarding the development of CWB legislation.

Question reference: S6W-17583

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much money from its Budget has been spent on primary care in each of the last five years.

This information is available in the Scottish Health Service Costs (often referred to as the 'Costs Book'), published annually by Public Health Scotland (previously Information Services Division).

The 2021-22 Costs Book was published in February 2023 and provides a high-level summary of health service costs, including the costs of delivering family health services. The 2022-23 Costs Book will be published in 2024.

Question reference: S6W-17597

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many students (a) applied for and (b) were awarded the paramedic bursary in its first year of operation.