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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-17233

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Additional Support for Learning Review Action Plan – Update November 2022, when it plans to update existing guidance on the qualifications required to teach children and young people with sensory impairments.

Question reference: S6W-17259

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to identify the skills needed in the agricultural sector to reach net zero targets on a geographical basis.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a Net Zero, Wellbeing economy and a highly skilled workforce is critical to this ambition. Our National Strategy for Economic Transformation is clear that we must adapt our education and skills system to become more responsive and agile so that it can deliver on our key priorities.

Published in 2020, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) also provides a framework for green skills planning and investment across priority sectors directly affected in the transition to net zero: Energy, Construction, Transport, Manufacturing and Agriculture and land-use.

The Scottish Government Independent Commission to review land-based learning published their report (January 2023) with 22 recommendations on how to attract and improve the learning pathways to equip more people with the skills and knowledge needed to work in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors, including emerging green occupations that are crucial to our climate and nature targets. The Scottish Government is committed to considering the report and will produce a response in 2023.

This will support the development of a Just Transition Plan for Agriculture and Land Use.

Question reference: S6W-17208

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons for the reportedly high rates of community payback order absences.

Once a Community Payback Order (CPO) has been imposed, its management – including with regard to compliance and attendance – is a matter for the courts and local authority justice social work services. The Scottish Government therefore does not collect or collate this information.

Managing compliance effectively is critical to achievement of the purposes of a CPO. If an individual does not attend any part of their CPO, this will be investigated by justice social work services. If the reason for absence is not acceptable, this will result in the commencement of a formal warning process, which can result in the case being returned to court under breach procedures, where the court will consider the breach.

Seventy-nine per cent of orders which ended during 2021-22 did not involve any breach applications for the duration of the order. It is up to the independent courts to decide the most appropriate outcome where a CPO has been breached, based on all of the circumstances of the case, and ultimately this may include the imposition of a custodial sentence.

Question reference: S6W-17146

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the support provided by each of Scotland's enterprise agencies to the snowsports sector in each of the last six years.

The following table details the support given from the enterprise agencies between 2017 and 2022 to the 5 mountain centres and Snow Factor (currently closed). Please note the drawn down figure can be lower than the overall allocation available from the enterprise agency. This does not include the £7 million in Covid-19 support provided by the Scottish Government.

Enterprise Agency	Calendar Year	Approved Amount	Drawn Down Amount
Highlands and Islands Enterprise	2016-2017	163,925	£406,241
Scottish Enterprise	2016-2017	0	£189,894
Highlands and Islands Enterprise	2017-2018	363,100	£371,600
Scottish Enterprise	2017-2018	0	0
Highlands and Islands Enterprise	2018-2019	3,328,901	£822,126
Scottish Enterprise	2018-2019	138,600	£8,200
Highlands and Islands Enterprise	2019-2020	6,692,638	£3,583,529
Scottish Enterprise	2019-2020	409,400	£162,480
Highlands and Islands Enterprise	2020-2021	8,827,949	£6,445,558
Scottish Enterprise	2020-2021	0	£1,032,739
Highlands and Islands Enterprise	2021-2022	2,673,336.41	£3,918,288
Scottish Enterprise	2021-2022	0	£1,129,185

Question reference: S6W-16790

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its domestic abuse policies are informed by research from the Scottish Sentencing Council.

Several recently published research reports support our understanding of the experiences of those affected by domestic abuse, including 'The sentencing of offences involving domestic abuse’, a literature review published by the Scottish Sentencing Council in June 2022, which can be found at https://www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/media/2231/20220624-domestic-abuse-final-report-as-published.pdf .

These will play a key role as we further develop and assess our policy approach to tackling domestic abuse. Both the research into the implementation of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 which can be viewed at https://www.gov.scot/publications/domestic-abuse-scotland-act-2018-interim-reporting-requirement/ and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of ‘Constabulary for Scotland’s Thematic Review of Domestic Abuse which can be viewed at https://www.hmics.scot/publications/hmics-thematic-inspection-domestic-abuse-phase-1 found that challenges exist in preventing domestic abuse and protecting those who are vulnerable from its harmful effects.

We will continue to take relevant research and information into account as we work with partners to prevent and address domestic abuse.

Question reference: S6W-17142

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022, what action EventScotland is taking to promote the events industry in the islands.

Question reference: S6W-17168

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Training Federation has warned that thousands of young people across Scotland have been “left in limbo” as no new modern apprenticeships will be available “for the foreseeable future”, as a result of delays in Scottish Government funding to Skills Development Scotland, which is reportedly resulting in employers putting their recruitment plans on hold, and training providers looking at laying off staff due to the shortage of work.

Modern Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a skilled workforce set out within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

Our priority is for high quality apprenticeships that provide sustainable jobs and careers, supporting our transition to net zero.

SDS have issued contract awards for new Modern Apprenticeships for this financial year to support up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship starts in 2023-24. SDS previously issued contracts in March for over 39,000 Modern Apprentices in training for 2023-24 supporting businesses and individuals across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17136

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve infrastructure in order to enable all-year access to snowsports venues.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with the Scottish Snowsports sector and our economic agencies to contribute to the sectors financial sustainability.

Independent research commissioned by the Scottish Government ( Snowsports sector - Economic, Social and Cultural Impact: Research - Technical Report) was published in April 2023 and explored ways in which mountain resorts may improve their financial sustainability. In addition to improvements to the winter offer provided at resorts the research highlighted the need to expand the range of activities/sports which could be provided by venues all year round.

Financial support is available to snowsports venues via Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise. Both economic agencies provide support for capital investments with specific intervention rates applied. The necessary due diligence is carried out and all proposed projects are assessed on an individual business case.

Question reference: S6W-16125

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13799 by Kevin Stewart on 19 January 2023, whether it will provide an update on when further details will be available.

Question reference: S6W-17194

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15995 by Christina McKelvie on 11 April 2023, when the working group will next meet.