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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-35713

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the impact of funded early learning and childcare on children's (a) development, (b) family wellbeing and (c) parental employment.

As outlined in the Scottish Government’s Evaluation Strategy, published in 2022, we have robust plans in place to evaluate the impact of the ELC expansion to 1140 hours on outcomes for children, parents and families. This includes an economic evaluation that will analyse parental employment outcomes.

We are ensuring that individual components of the evaluation are made available as they are ready and that the learning from these is used to inform policy development and delivery. In August 2024 the Scottish Government drew together existing findings to publish the ELC Expansion to 1140 hours: Interim Evaluation report.

The interim evaluation found promising signs that the expansion is delivering improvements for families across Scotland. For example, in 2022, 88% of parents with a 3 to 5 year old were satisfied with the flexibility they have been offered to use their funded hours in a way that meets their family’s needs.

We expect to publish the Final Evaluation Report on the 1140 ELC expansion in December 2025.

Question reference: S6W-35738

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of absenteeism has been for teachers in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-35717

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin its process to recruit a new chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and whether it will publish details of this.

The process to appoint the new chair of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise agency, began on 4 March, when I received Alistair Dodds' letter, confirming his retirement.

Once the selection panel's appointment plan has been approved, the vacancy will be published online at Public appointments - Scottish Government Jobs. There will also be an extensive outreach programme to ensure we attract a strong field of applicants.

The appointment process will follow the Ethical Standards Commissioner’s Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland. Once the process is complete, the appointment decision will also be published, in line with this Code.

Question reference: S6W-35616

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any review of workforce planning within the Scottish civil service to ensure that staffing levels are appropriate and offer value for money to taxpayers.

Our workforce plans remain under regular review as we deploy the workforce in line with Ministerial priorities, providing public services as efficiently and effectively as possible, and operating within the direction set out in the Budget.

Since 2022 enhanced recruitment controls have been in place to manage total workforce numbers. From March 2022 to December 2024, the total workforce has reduced by 4%.

Question reference: S6O-04535

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure adequate provision of teaching staff in secondary schools in Dundee.

Question reference: S6O-04529

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme, including the most recent data for the number of registered persons with PVG certificates.

Question reference: S6O-04532

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.

Question reference: S6O-04534

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the potential impact of the UK Government’s Spring Statement on the Scottish Budget.

Question reference: S6O-04533

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the reported rising childcare costs on families, particularly those on low and middle incomes, in light of recent research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity.

Question reference: S6O-04528

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported prevalence and trend of crimes committed where the perpetrator was wearing a disguise, particularly in relation to antisocial behaviour.