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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.

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Question reference: S6W-28903

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Transport Scotland's Aviation Statement, which was published on 24 July 2024, and in relation to the Highlands and Islands Air Discount Scheme, what process it will pursue when it states that it will "consider how it could be made fairer and more effective, and to ensure it is providing value for money".

Question reference: S6W-28795

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 December 2024.

Question reference: S6W-28552

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 31 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the General Teaching Council for Scotland regarding the establishment of a national standardised system for disciplinary or investigative procedures regarding teachers.

The Scottish Government has not held any discussions with the General Teaching Council for Scotland regarding the establishment of a national standardised system for disciplinary or investigative procedures regarding teachers.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), as the Independent Professional and Regulatory Body for teachers in Scotland, has a published Fitness to Teach process at https://www.gtcs.org.uk/fitness-to-teach which sets out how the GTCS will investigate serious concerns about teachers.

Question reference: S6W-28669

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 22 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 30 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has banned use of all pesticides known to be damaging to bee health, including neonicotinoid pesticide Cruiser SB.

The Scottish Government takes the potential impact of use of chemicals on public health and the environment very seriously. We continue to support the regulatory decisions taken to restrict the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, including thiamethoxam which is used in Cruiser SB, due to their environmental effects, particularly on bees and pollinators.

Pesticide products authorised for use in Scotland are tightly regulated and are subject to thorough analysis by the Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive before authorisation to demonstrate that the product is effective and poses no unacceptable risks to people, animals or the environment.

Question reference: S6W-28258

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish economic link licence condition will be kept under review, and when it will share the findings of any review of the policy.

The Scottish Government is analysing landings and liaising with industry in order to understand the impact of the new economic link licence conditions and keep the policy under review.

It is our intention to produce an update on the impact of the changes later this year. However, analysis of provisional landings data for 2023 indicates that the policy change has succeeded in driving up the share of landings for pelagic stocks into Scotland and Shetland in particular.

Question reference: S6W-28228

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 9 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to the managing agent of the Warmer Homes Scotland programme, Warmworks, in light of reports that applicants in island areas, where levels of fuel poverty can be highest, are being advised that they may have to wait up to 12 weeks, increased from six weeks, for their assessment.

The Scottish Government monitors Warmworks' delivery across Scotland against key performance indicators including 'referral to completion' split by region. There had been delays in providing assessments due to high demand following launch of the scheme’s new phase in October 2023. Warmworks have now significantly increased their assessor capacity and the current expected wait time for a Warmer Homes Scotland assessment for a customer in the Islands is now six weeks.

Question reference: S6W-26216

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on what the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average duration was in the academic year 2022-23 that (i) a teacher and (ii) an educational worker was suspended from their duties following allegations made against them and pending investigation.

Question reference: S6W-25984

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on rural GP training of the reported decision by NHS Education for Scotland to withdraw funding for face-to-face GP Educator Supervisors’ workshops and conferences in the north of Scotland.

In November 2023, the NHS Scotland Chief Executive wrote to all Health Boards, requesting that they review their financial forecast for the remainder of the 2023-24 financial year and minimise any discretionary spend.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) play a critical role in supporting the education, training and wider development of the NHS Scotland workforce and is responsible for ensuring best use of available resources to support delivery of services and strategic objectives.

NES will continue to provide training and education, taking a flexible approach to its delivery across Scotland, while ensuring quality is maintained.

Question reference: S6W-25931

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the results of the Seabirds Count census in 2023, whether it can provide an update on the progress of the Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy.

The results of the latest seabird census, Seabird Count, show that many of Scotland’s intentionally important seabird populations are suffering from a range of pressures, including climate change.

The Scottish Government is committed to the development of a Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy in partnership with stakeholders, to drive forward and prioritise action aimed at improving the conservation prospects of our internationally important seabird populations. Work on the strategy is moving at pace, with targeted stakeholder engagement planned for spring/summer 2024, followed by consultation later in the year.

Question reference: S6W-25294

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the medical provision that is available to those living with renal vascular compression, what treatments are available; how many consultants there are in Scotland who can treat this condition, and what the average timescale for treatment is.

The treatments available for those living with renal vascular compression depend on the underlying cause. There are many potential causes of renal vascular compression which all have specific treatment options. Treatments available range from surveillance (in less severe cases), medication such as ACE inhibitors and aspirin, and various types of surgery.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on consultant specialties.

Waiting time information is available from Public Health Scotland and is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. However, as treatment pathways vary, specific information is not available on the timescales for treatment for those living with renal vascular compression.