Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 42583 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-02225

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what research and analysis it has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned to inform its position on whether (i) children’s (ii) social work, (iii) mental health, (iv) alcohol and drugs, (v) justice social work and (vi) elements of prison services should be incorporated into the jurisdiction of a National Care Service.

All of the services highlighted in the question, apart from social care in prisons, must or can currently be delegated to integration authorities. The Independent Review of Adult Social Care recommended the formation of a National Care Service, and the reform of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to take full responsibility for commissioning and procurement of adult social care. Despite the Independent Review’s focus on adult services, it also highlighted integrated arrangements worked especially well where all social care, social work, and community based healthcare were delegated to the greatest extent, and highlighted potential dangers of fragmentation of services if a National Care Service was only developed for adult social care services.

The Review’s recommendations were based on extensive evidence gathering and engagement, as summarised in the evidence paper published alongside the main report. We have carefully analysed the Independent Review, including its evidence and recommendations, in order to develop proposals for the National Care Service.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the scope of the National Care Service. All responses to the consultation and engagement events will be carefully analysed to inform the Government’s position on what services will be included in the remit of the National Care Service.

Question reference: S6W-02207

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will issue regulations and guidance to implement Part 2 of the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Act 2010, which allows local authorities to establish social responsibility levies on alcohol sales to support prevention and treatment of substance misuse.

Our Alcohol Framework 2018: Preventing Harm is in line with the World Health Organization’s recommended approach of reducing the availability, attractiveness and affordability of alcohol. On treatment, our Rights, Respect and Recovery: alcohol and drug treatment strategy clearly sets out that individuals have the right to health and life - free from the harms of alcohol and drugs, are treated with dignity and respect and are fully supported within their communities to find the type of recovery which works for them.

We are undertaking a range of work to improve Alcohol Treatment Services, including implementation of the UK Wide Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Treatment.

While the Scottish Government keeps legislation under review, we have no current plans to introduce a social responsibility levy.

Question reference: S6W-02081

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional trading standards officers local authorities will need to employ in the future to deliver (a) its agenda in response to the impact of Brexit, (b) the recovery from COVID-19 and (c) the standards expected from its environmental agenda.

Any assessment of the number of employees required to carry out future trading standards work is a matter for councils and their national body COSLA to undertake. Trading Standards Officers are employed by Scotland’s local authorities, who are independent corporate bodies, responsible for the management and sustainability of their workforce. Scottish Ministers engage routinely with COSLA which provides an opportunity for areas of concern for local government to be raised should our partners in local government believe this issue requires further discussion in future.

Question reference: S6W-02092

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications from registered social landlords (RSL) seeking consent to waive the Right to Recover Grant it has approved each year, broken down by (a) RSL and (b) amount waived.

The following table contains details of instances over the last five financial years where the Scottish Government has waived the Right to Recover Housing Association Grant on previously grant funded projects and where the grant was not recycled within the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Year	Registered Social Landlord (RSL)	Amount waived (£m)
2018-19	Caledonia Housing Association	0.155
2019-20	Arklet Housing Association	0.029
2019-20	Thenue Housing Association	1.634
2019-20	West of Scotland Housing Association	0.351
2020-21	West of Scotland Housing Association	0.333
2021-22	Caledonia Housing Association	0.625
Total		3.127

Question reference: S6O-00125

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council regarding the procurement of low-emissions ferries to replace the current internal fleet.

Question reference: S6O-00127

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.

Question reference: S6O-00126

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of removing the not proven verdict.

Question reference: S6O-00123

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet COSLA to discuss local authority funding.

Question reference: S6O-00128

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate coastal erosion.

Question reference: S6O-00130

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the impacts of riverbank erosion and what support it provides for those who are affected by the erosion.