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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-16882

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the budget allocated to the planning of a preferred (a) medium- and (b) long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful will change, in light of the appointment of a new Minister for Transport.

Delivery of medium-term improvements along with a permanent and resilient solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful is a priority and we continue to seek ways to achieve these as quickly as possible, noting that all of the options require complex civil engineering. Budget has been allocated for the 2023-24 financial year, through the annual Scottish Budget exercise, and this will fund commencing the delivery of the medium-term improvements, which are expected to start later this year in a phased manner, along with taking forward preparatory work on the long-term solution.

Question reference: S6W-15640

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.

Question reference: S6W-16823

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, following the First Minister's appointment, whether it plans to continue publishing its Building a New Scotland series.

Question reference: S6W-16746

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of homes included in the original R100 plans are now connected with fibre broadband.

Ofcom’s Connected Nations report for 2022 – published on 15th December – indicates that over 99% of all properties across Scotland can access a reliable broadband connection.

Original plans for the R100 contracts were expected to see over 112,000 properties connected to superfast broadband speeds of 30 Megabits per second (Mbps). However, in August 2022, we announced additional investment of £36 million to extend build to a further 2,637 properties – taking the total expected to receive connections to over 114,000.

As of 28 February 2023, the contracts had delivered 20,277 connections, with the vast majority being full-fibre and gigabit-capable – up to 30 times faster than our original superfast commitment.

Our R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) also continues to support those not included within contract build or commercial coverage plans. As of 1 April 2023, 3,076 connections have been delivered through the use of vouchers.

Question reference: S6W-16929

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that planning authorities are able to recover financial contributions from developers in a timely and efficient manner.

Subject to the tests in Circular 3/2012 being met, planning obligations entered into under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 can be used to secure contributions from those carrying out development. Planning obligations are enforceable, including against successors in title where an obligation is registered in the Land Register of Scotland or the General Register of Sasines.

Question reference: S6W-16688

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a Cabinet-level ministerial position focused on housing and tackling homelessness.

There is already a Cabinet-level ministerial position focused on housing and tackling homelessness: the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice.

In addition, the appointment of a dedicated minister for housing demonstrates the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to delivering good, safe, secure and warm homes. The Minister for Housing will work alongside the new Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to achieve ambitions set out in the Housing to 2040 strategy and in our Ending Homelessness Together action plan.

Question reference: S6W-16376

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which of its (a) ministers and (b) officials will give evidence to the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, and within what timeframe.

Question reference: S6W-16691

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the section of the M8 that passes through central Glasgow, between Junction 15 (Townhead) and Junction 19 (Anderston), generates noise levels in excess of 80 decibels, which is similar to the noise generated by the runway at Glasgow Airport, whether it will consider revising the M8/M73/M74 Motorways (30mph, 40mph and 50mph Speed Limit) Regulations 2022, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to pilot a 30mph speed limit on this section of the M8 in order to assess its impact on noise pollution.

Question reference: S6W-16712

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister plans to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.

The Coronation is a significant moment and a range of community led events will take place across Scotland to mark the occasion.

The Scottish Government is supporting the Lord Lyon King of Arms to ensure that Scottish Lord Lieutenants and Local Authorities are kept informed of opportunities to be involved in and offer support to those celebrations.

In addition, the Scottish Government has ensured that the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to mark the Coronation by the proclamation of an additional bank holiday which falls on the 8 May.

The First Minister will also represent the people of Scotland when he attends the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

The Scottish Government is also supporting the Lord Lyon’s plan to hold a Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for The King to be held in Edinburgh later in the year.

Question reference: S6W-16874

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to "carry out cross-portfolio engagement to scope where culture may be able to link in to the Place Standard tool", as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.

The Scottish Government will outline our ambitions around culture and creativity in learning via the Culture Strategy Action Plan refresh, which we will publish later this year. This will include our plans for cross-portfolio engagement in order to scope where culture may link in with other policy initiatives, such as the Place Standard Tool, as outlined in the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.