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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-21930

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) timescales and (b) processes it has in place to legislate to end so-called conversion practices in Scotland; what it anticipates such a ban will entail or encompass, and whether it considers there will be adequate time for consultation to allow for all views to be heard on the matter while still being able to legislate within the current parliamentary session, in light of other current legislative pressures.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Bill on ending conversion practices in Scotland. A public consultation containing detailed proposals for legislative change will be published by the end of this calendar year. The consultation will allow us to provide clear and detailed information on our proposed approach in order to obtain views from stakeholders and the broader public.

In developing our proposals we are carefully considering a wide range of evidence and expert advice. This includes the report of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee and the report and recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group set up by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-22173

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government at which stations Scottish Fire and Rescue Service high reach appliances will be located.

Question reference: S6W-22171

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of all Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stations that are planned to be closed in the next year.

Question reference: S6W-22169

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Fire and Rescue Service high reach appliances have been in operation in each of the last five years.

In the last five years, SFRS have had a total of 26 High Reach Appliances in their fleet.

From 4 September this year, as part of the SFRS operational strategy and after careful consideration and scrutiny of Incident Recording System (IRS) data, this number will drop to 16. This is part of a number of operational changes the SFRS have undertaken last month.

The operation of high reach appliances and their commission is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Question reference: S6W-21937

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make it easier for beaches to qualify for bathing water status.

The Bathing Water Directive is implemented in Scotland by the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Under these Regulations Scottish Ministers designate bathing waters where they expect a large number of people to bathe, having regard to past trends and infrastructure and facilities provided, or other measures taken to promote bathing. We have set this figure at around 150 bathers. Across Europe large numbers of bathers can range up to 300 bathers per day.

We have taken a proportionate approach to designating bathing waters and there are no plans to change it. 2023 not only sees the highest number of bathing waters ever in Scotland, but the highest number rated excellent for water quality – and a total of 98% of locations achieving a classification of sufficient or better.

Question reference: S6W-21177

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates would have been raised by a social responsibility levy in each year since the introduction of minimum unit pricing, and whether it plans to introduce a social responsibility levy.

While the Scottish Government keeps legislation under review, we have no current plans to introduce a social responsibility levy.

There are no available estimates on the amount of funds that could be raised on the section 14 provision contained within The Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010, as this provision has not been enacted.

Scottish Ministers would be required to consult on the draft regulations relating to the social responsibility levy if this provision was to be enacted in the future.

Question reference: S6W-22172

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appliances currently in use are more than (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years old.

Question reference: S6W-22038

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding short-term let licensing, what its position is on whether holiday accommodation providers that have multiple similar premises types on the same site should be required to pay a licence fee for each individual accommodation that they provide.

Question reference: S6W-22049

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work towards finalising its plans for the Air Departure Tax, and what the anticipated timeframe is for its implementation.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) was deferred due to state aid issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption. In January 2023, the UK Government replaced EU state aid rules with its own subsidy control regime.

We continue to explore all options to implement ADT in a way that protects Highlands & Islands connectivity and complies with the UK Government’s subsidy control regime.

The Scottish Government recognises the critical role air connectivity plays in the lives of residents and communities in the Highlands and Islands, and in the promotion of sustainable economic growth across the region.

Once a solution to the Highland & Islands exemption has been identified, we will review the rates and bands of ADT prior to the implementation of the tax, to ensure they are aligned with our world-leading climate ambitions.

The UK-wide Air Passenger Duty will continue to apply in Scotland until ADT is implemented.

Question reference: S6W-22281

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13820 by Christina McKelvie on 24 January 2023, whether it will provide an update on how long the current waiting list is for rape survivors at each rape crisis centre.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12962 on 22 December 2022. The Scottish Government does not hold this level of service detail for Rape Crisis Centres. Rape Crisis Centres are independent charitable organisations which hold their own information on their waiting lists. It is for individual local centres, or Rape Crisis Scotland as the umbrella organisation, to provide this information.

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