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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: S6O-00978

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the findings of the HM Inspectors of Education review of foundation apprenticeship provision.

Question reference: S6O-00963

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it is taking in response to the reported growing threat of cyber crime.

Question reference: S6W-07561

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07058 by Neil Gray on 14 March 2022, whether it will provide further details of the steps that it has taken to ensure that Hong Kong residents coming to the UK through the British National (Overseas) visa scheme are encouraged to resettle in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-07501

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture plans to meet with (a) local MSPs and (b) other stakeholders to discuss the future of Kisimul Castle.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters relating to Kisimul Castle are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland who have delegated responsibility for managing the properties in care. I have been informed that Historic Environment Scotland are able to offer the Member a site visit to Kisimul Castle to discuss the conservation works directly with Historic Environment Scotland experts. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to contact the Member about this and to keep me informed of developments.

Question reference: S6W-07770

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm how many Historic Environment Scotland properties are currently (a) open to the public at full-capacity, (b) partly open and (c) closed.

Question reference: S6W-07539

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the comment of the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, on 13 March 2022, that “it’s a no” in response to the request made by NFU Scotland to relax rules to enable land to be brought back into use for food production, whether the Minister, prior to making her comment, had (a) spoken with, met or otherwise engaged with, NFU Scotland and (b) consulted with the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for farming on the topic of the NFU Scotland request.

As Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Islands, I made the decision not to suspend the greening rules on Ecological Focus Areas relating to fallow land and field margins following the request from the NFUS. I remain clear in my commitment to supporting farmers and crofters to produce more of our food more sustainably, nevertheless we must continue to acknowledge to ensure agriculture continues to play its part in cutting emissions, mitigating climate change and restoring and enhancing nature and biodiversity.

Question reference: S6W-07547

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals exceeding (a) 2.2, (b) 10 and (c) 100 nanograms per litre (ng/l) have been found in drinking water in the last 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-07537

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (On behalf of the SPCB) on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether there are any Hikvision cameras in or around the Scottish Parliament building, and whether any such cameras have been installed since the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report was published in July 2021 recommending that they not be used in the UK.

A project to deliver an essential upgrade of the Parliament’s security system was completed in 2019. Part of that project involved the upgrade of the Parliament’s CCTV system.

The specification required that all components, including CCTV cameras, successfully passed a security evaluation prior to installation. Careful consideration was also given to information handling and storage of CCTV images.

The SPCB can confirm that the Hikvision brand of CCTV camera has never been used at Holyrood. They were not used prior to 2019 and are not a component part of the current system.

Question reference: S6W-07502

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when Kisimul Castle in Barra will reopen to the public, and whether it has had any discussions with Historic Environment Scotland regarding this issue.

Question reference: S6W-07418

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to ensure the safeguarding of Ukranians living in Scotland who experienced domestic abuse in Ukraine and are concerned that their former partner or family member may be given leave to remain in the UK as a result of the Russian invasion.

Asylum and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes decisions relating to leave to enter and remain in the UK. The Scottish Government has no control of these processes.

However, the Scottish Government is clear that all forms of gender based violence are completely unacceptable. We are committed to eradicating it within Scotland. We work to protect all women who flee abusive partners within Scotland and those who come here seeking refuge can expect the same level of protection that we provide to all women.

Police Scotland is committed to working with local authorities and partners to support the individuals and families who are fleeing the atrocities caused by the conflict in Ukraine. Where a report of domestic abuse is made, it will be taken seriously, victims will be listened to and it will be thoroughly investigated. This is a developing situation that requires a flexible approach, with examples of ongoing engagement including the:

Creation and circulation of a Scots Law booklet translated to the Ukrainian language to advise on how, why and when to call the Police;
Review of translation provisions to ensure we have Ukrainian language coverage;
Participation in key strategic groups to ensure delivery of a coordinated response;
Engagement with the Scottish Refugee Council to understand specific needs of displaced Ukrainians.

Within the first 100 days of this government we provided £5 million to rape crisis centres and domestic abuse services to help them cut waiting times, on top of £5.75 million we allocated in 2020-21 to help redesign frontline services. In addition, our Delivering Equally Safe (DES) Fund is providing £38 million over the next two years to organisations helping to prevent abuse and to aid recovery where it does happen. This includes funding to front line services across Scotland who provide a range of counselling, outreach and peer support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse.