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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-08032

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Grampian could take nine months to set out the timescales and milestones to deliver model 6 (consultant-led maternity unit) at Dr Gray's in Elgin.

Since announcing my response to the Moray Maternity Services Review I have written to both NHS Highland and NHS Grampian outlining my expectation of planning towards the networked Raigmore option (Model 4 in the report) and the full Consultant-led Maternity Unit at Dr Gray’s to begin immediately. I indicated in my statement my expectation that planning for Model 4 will conclude by the Summer and Model 6 soon after and I expect this to be no later than the end of this year. I will meet with NHS Grampian soon to discuss their implementation plans including timescales. I indicated on 30 March that I would be happy to keep the Scottish Parliament updated when I have more detail on milestones and timescales.

Question reference: S6W-08287

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its employment policy is for determining the length of notice period for civil servants.

The resignation notice periods for civil servants in Scottish Government Core Directorates is as follows:

Senior Civil Servants - 3 months, as set by the Civil Service Management Code
Special Advisers - 5 weeks, as set by contract and stipulated by Cabinet Office
Scottish Government delegated grades:
Band C - 3 months
All other staff - 1 month

The notice periods for delegated grades have been in place for many years, and pre-date the delegation of terms and conditions of employment to civil service employers.

Question reference: S6W-08283

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its total potential liability is if civil servants on employment contracts with notice periods of (a) between three and six, (b) six and (c) more than six months are paid in lieu of working their notice period.

Within Scottish Government Core Directorates no civil servants have a contractual notice period that is excess of 3 months following their resignation from employment and therefore no liability exists in that regard. The Civil Service Management Code, published by the UK Government, sets out the notice arrangements that we must give our employees in relation to the termination of their employment.

Question reference: S6W-08330

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff will be recruited for the Scottish Council on Global Affairs; where it will be located, and what its remit will be.

The Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA) is a fully independent international relations institute which was founded by the University of Edinburgh, the University of St Andrews and the University of Glasgow.

Staffing plans, location and its remit, including its overall management are the responsibility of the SCGA. Further information can be found on their website: The Scottish Council on Global Affairs (scga.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-08284

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants in Scotland have employment contracts with a notice period of (a) between three and six, (b) six and (c) more than six months.

Question reference: S6W-07966

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has regarding NHS staff rest and leave, and whether it plans to develop a strategy to prevent staff burnout.

It is critical staff wellbeing is looked after and they are able to take the rest breaks and leave to which they are entitled, as well as being given time to access national and local wellbeing resources at work. That is why we made £12 million available in 2021-22 to support the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce.

Our National Workforce Strategy, published on 11 March 2022, highlights that the wellbeing of our health and social care workforce, wherever they work, remains an essential priority.

Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government have emphasised to Boards, Health and Social Care Partners and Local Authorities the on-going need to promote both the physical and the psychological wellbeing of everyone working in health and social care.

Question reference: S6W-08340

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07520 by Michael Matheson on 25 April 2022, whether it will provide the information requested in the final part of the question regarding by when it plans to replace the 20.3% of nuclear-generated energy in Scotland with energy generated by renewables in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08329

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it anticipates will be made available for the Scottish Council on Global Affairs in addition to the £27,000 secured for its first year.

Question reference: S6W-08334

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to consult on amending permitted development rights in relation to hill tracks, and what the scope of its consultation will be.

The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of its wider planning reform programme. The review is being taken forward on a phased basis, with each phase focussing on specific types of development.

We intend to consult on proposals relating to private ways (sometimes referred to as ‘hill tracks’) through phase 3 of the review. The detailed scope and timing of the phase 3 consultation is currently under review.

Question reference: S6W-08335

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions between 2014 and 2021 (a) prior notification has been submitted, (b) prior approval has been granted and (c) planning authorities have required full applications to be made for the construction of hill tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes.