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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-09055

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost was for the planned commencement of the three ferries serving Dunoon and Kilcreggan in 2019.

The Gourock – Dunoon ferry service was incorporated into the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network from 21 January 2019 and therefore integrated as part of the monthly subsidy paid to the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL). The subsidy is not split out on a route by route basis.

The Gourock - Kilcreggan service, was operated by Clyde Marine Services (CMS) on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership Transport (SPT) until 31 May 2020 when it transferred into the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) contract.

Question reference: S6W-08944

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is commissioning a £65,000, 18-month study into the “prevalence and impact of vigils/protests that take place outside of abortion clinics within Scotland”.

The Scottish Government is seeking to commission independent research in relation to protests and vigils that take place outside of abortion clinics to collect evidence of both the scale and impact of protest and vigils. The research will provide meaningful insight into the effects of protests and vigils on those who choose to protest, and those who are affected. Whilst the research will not be completed in time for the launch of Gillian Mackay MSP’s Member’s Bill, it will help provide a robust evidence base going forward.

Question reference: S6W-08995

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making the placental growth factor (PIGF) blood test, which can detect those at risk of pre-eclampsia, freely available on the NHS.

Question reference: S6W-08959

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to make regulations under section 9(8) and (9) of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, including in light of the changes regarding trafficking matters and processes in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.

Question reference: S6W-08861

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its plans for Severe Disability Payment.

Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) will continue to be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the Scottish Government, which Parliament were informed of in February 2019. Consultation and survey responses indicated that replacing Severe Disablement Allowance, which has been closed to new applicants since 2001, would cause unnecessary disruption to the approximately 1300 clients in Scotland who continue to receive it.

Question reference: S6W-08882

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to recruit more British Transport Police officers; how many it plans to recruit, and over what time period.

Question reference: S6W-09019

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the support needs of Ukrainian nationals on seasonal work visas in Scotland following the introduction by the UK Government of the Ukraine Extension Scheme on 3 May 2022.

Agricultural workers from Ukraine are critical in the production of soft fruit and vegetables in Scotland. As a result of the conflict, there are significant concerns about the needs of these workers and JustRight Scotland's new Worker Support Centre, supported by £41,000 from the Scottish Government will provide independent outreach and legal support for seasonal workers in Scotland. The Centre follows models used around the world to offer temporary migrant workers advice and support in times of crisis. In addition, The Scottish Government also funds the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) which has long-established connections to the wider agricultural community and related support services in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-09096

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government in which academic year it plans for a new Scottish Education Exchange Programme to be operational for the two-way international exchange of students.

Question reference: S6W-09020

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the seasonal worker employment sponsor agencies in relation to supporting Ukrainian nationals on seasonal work visas in Scotland to access the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

As immigration is reserved to the UK Government, the Home Office is responsible for the operation of visa schemes and application processing. The Home Office has been supporting approved labour providers for the Seasonal Worker Scheme to complete applications to the Ukraine Extension Scheme on behalf of Ukrainian workers, to process the visas as quickly as possible and monitor the process more effectively. The Scottish Government will continue engaging closely with the Home Office and other partners to ensure that workers displaced by the crisis in Ukraine are able to access the support they need while they are here in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08945

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is delaying the introduction of legislation on buffer zones outside abortion clinics.

The Scottish Government is not delaying the introduction of legislation on buffer zones. We have agreed to work constructively with Ms Gillian Mackay MSP on her forthcoming Member’s Bill.

The First Minister is wholeheartedly committed to addressing the issue of protests and vigils that take place outside of abortion clinics, and will therefore be chairing a summit on abortion on 27 June. The summit will primarily focus on buffer zones, but will also look at what measures can be implemented in the short term to ensure women can access abortion without fear of intimidation or harassment.