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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-16307

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with Heads of Planning Scotland regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Officials meet on a frequent basis with Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS), including through a monthly catch up between the Chief Planner and the HOPS Chair and Vice Chairs to discuss key issues, and by officials attending the HOPS sub-committees on development planning and development management, where NPF4 is a regular agenda item.

The HOPS annual conference is attended by Scottish Government officials and the Minister with responsibility for planning, most recently on 31 st March 2023. HOPS is also part of the High Level Group on planning performance, co-chaired by Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

We are committed to continuing a collaborative approach with a range of key stakeholders in the delivery of NPF4, including HOPS.

Question reference: S6W-16149

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the cost of any future working capital loans for Ferguson Marine, in 2023, in addition to the working capital loan of £25,000, with interest, to support cash flow, as announced by the Deputy First Minister in a statement to the Parliament on 16 March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-16037

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Deposit Return Scheme.

I attended the recent Inter-ministerial group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 March 2023 where Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was discussed. The next meeting of this group is scheduled for 17 April.

Officials also meet regularly with other departments in the UK, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations to discuss DRS. Recently the following meetings have taken place:

30 March – Senior Officials Programme Board
30 March – UK Common Frameworks Project Board
3 April – Scottish Government / Defra bilateral meeting

Officials are also in regular contact with counterparts in the UK Government outwith these engagements.

Question reference: S6W-16276

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Aberdeen to Central Belt rail enhancement project, when it expects to publish the outline business case that it had previously planned to publish in 2022.

Question reference: S6W-16347

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of aluminium materials has been collected for recycling in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-16076

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to collaborating with industry to raise awareness of healthy alternatives in food choices, including in relation to any benefits of whole-grain foods.

Our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out actions to support everyone in Scotland to eat well and be a healthy weight. These include actions in partnership with the food industry to raise awareness of healthier food options.

An example of collaborating with industry to raise awareness of healthy alternatives in food choices is the Healthy Living Programme (HLP). The HLP received £332,000 funding from the Scottish Government in 2022-23 and is administered by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation. Established in 2004, the programme raises awareness of healthier alternatives to convenience retailers and their customers. The HLP also runs Big Breakfast events that bring local schools, businesses and communities together to enjoy a healthier breakfast alternatives. Foods promoted in-store and at these events through the HLP include whole-grain bread and porridge.

A further example of collaboration with industry is the Scottish Government’s engagement with the Out Of Home sector on proposed measures in our 2021 Out of Home Action Plan . The plan sets out a range of commitments such as consulting on mandatory calorie labelling to help advise consumers about healthier options. This consultation was informed through engagement with 15 trade associations including providers and producers of whole-grain foods.

We are also working with food and drink providers to develop a new Eating Out, Eating Well Framework to support people to eat well when eating out of home. Food and drink providers are helping to shape the Framework, including by sharing their experience on how best to prepare, promote and provide healthier alternatives to their customers.

Question reference: S6W-16078

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to work with the food and drink industry to increase the use of healthy ingredients, including whole-grain foods, in light of the passing of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 requires Scottish Ministers to publish a national good food nation plan. The Scottish Government expects to publish a draft of the national good food nation plan for consultation in summer 2023.

Increasing consumer uptake of whole-grain food varieties remains one of our key healthy eating messages.

The Scottish Government collaborates with the food industry on a number of funded programmes that support an increase in the use of healthier ingredients, including, where appropriate, whole-grains.

An example is the Reformulation For Health Programme . The Programme received £105,000 funding from the Scottish Government in 2022-23 and is administered by the Food and Drink Federation Scotland. Established in 2018, the Programme makes small and medium-sized businesses aware of the benefits in reformulating products to be healthier. It provides small grant funding, training and sharing of sector specific expertise. While the overall aim is to reduce calories, the Programme is also generating reductions in salt, saturated fat and sugar and increases in fibre. A key component of the latter can include whole-grains.

Question reference: S6W-16083

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of GP practices in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley that are at risk of closure.

Question reference: S6W-16092

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14660 by Shona Robison on 6 March 2023, whether further steps will be taken to ensure that people who need incontinence pads will be able to afford them, in particular, people who are (a) not eligible for prescription pads or (b) eligible for a limited supply of prescription pads but exceed the amount that they are eligible for.

NHS Boards regularly assess continence patients' needs, with the assessments undertaken by dedicated Bladder and Bowel Teams or community nursing staff. This ensures that patients' needs are met, either through treatment or provision of appropriate containment products. Referrals can also be made by patients' GPs where necessary, and also by a range of other healthcare professionals including pharmacists, consultants and care home staff.

Where a patient has been assessed as requiring continence products, these are provided by their local NHS Board's continence service on prescription. As such, any person that is suffering from incontinence should seek a referral to their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be assessed, treated where appropriate, or managed through the prescription of continence products.

Whilst NHS Boards follow the guidance contained in the Association for Continence Advice Scotland paper 'Guidance for the provision of absorbent pads for adult incontinence - Scotland' that the number of absorbent pads issued in each 24 hour period would not normally exceed 4, it is stressed that provision should meet assessed clinical need. This will include determining the amount of urine being passed daily by the patient, and consequently the appropriate absorbency level for the absorbent pads being prescribed.

There is no expectation for an individual to buy continence products where they have been assessed as requiring them, so any patient that feels that their prescription does not meet their needs should raise their concerns with their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be reassessed and their prescription adjusted if appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-16105

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any funding that it provides to HIV Scotland.