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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-26813

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of the use of conversion therapy have been recorded since 2010, and under which bodies.

The Scottish Government does not hold this data. At present, Scots law does not provide for a specific criminal offence relating to conversion practices, nor is there another basis for any bodies to collect such data.

Both the independent Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices and the Equalities, Human Rights & Civil Justice (EHRCJ) Committee heard from people in Scotland with recent lived experience of conversion practices. Each produced reports which provided insight into the prevalence and types of conversion practices used in Scotland.

In their report of 25 January 2022, the EHRCJ Committee concluded that sufficient research and evidence is available in relation to conversion practices in Scotland and recommended that the Scottish Government does not duplicate evidence gathering already undertaken.

The UK Government’s National LGBT Survey, conducted in 2017 identified that, in Scotland, 7% of ‘LGBT’ respondents had either undergone or been offered ‘conversion therapy’.

Question reference: S6W-26814

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a clear definition of the term "conversion therapy practices", which outlines the difference between "quackery" and advice provision.

Question reference: S6W-26816

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with faith leaders regarding its proposed legislation banning conversion practices.

The Scottish Government has undertaken extensive engagement with a range of faith and belief stakeholders throughout the development of proposals on ending conversion practices in Scotland and following the launch of our public consultation document on 9 January. This includes both individual and group meeting with faith-based organisations on at least 14 separate occasions since the launch of our consultation on 9 January 2024. In addition, a roundtable event specifically for faith and belief representatives was held on 3 April 2024, managed by independent, impartial external facilitators to support a free expression of views.

This engagement with faith and belief stakeholders has informed the development of our proposals, and feedback and consultation responses will be analysed and considered to inform future legislation to be introduced into Parliament.

Question reference: S6T-01938

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the LGBT Youth Scotland pilot programme to introduce youth clubs in schools.

Question reference: S6O-03301

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the current model of care for children with gender dysphoria.

Question reference: S6F-02948

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will engage with NHS Scotland on ending the prescription of puberty suppressing hormones to children, following the recent announcement by NHS England.

Question reference: S6W-25816

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 18 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) deliberately hid documents related to its transgender prisoner policy, particularly in light of reports that officials discussed how to avoid having to publish operational guidance through Freedom of Information.

SPS has always been clear it is taking an open and transparent approach to the introduction of this policy which is evident in all they have put in the public domain. The SPS policy for the management of transgender people in custody was published on 5 December 2023, with operational guidance and an evidence paper published on 26 February. As these additional documents were intended for publication, they did not need to be released prior to that under freedom of information requests.

The SPS Chief Executive made this clear at the Criminal Justice Committee on 11 January, where she said: “Implementation will therefore commence from 26 February this year. In addition, at that time, we will publish our operational policy guidance, our gender diversity guidance and an evidence review document, which will all underpin the policy that was published last year”.

Question reference: S6O-03235

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of free digital devices to school pupils.

Question reference: S6W-25413

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 9 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many households have (a) installed interlinked fire alarms since 1 February 2022 and (b) interlinked fire alarms installed in total; how much it has spent on financial support for the installation of interlinked fire alarms since1 February 2022, and when the 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey will be available.

The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) was published on 29 February 2024. In 2022 the Scottish House Condition Survey asked the following new question on fire alarms: Has the dwelling satisfactory equipment for detecting fire and giving warning in the event of fire or suspected fire? Responses were recorded as a yes or no answer, and in order to be recorded as ‘yes’ a dwelling must have interlinked fire alarms installed meeting a number of criteria.

In 2022 around 1.91 million homes in Scotland (75%) have fully compliant interlinked fire alarms, while 25% (around 638,000) were recorded as not having satisfactory equipment for detecting and warning in the event of fire.

While all dwellings meeting the fire alarm criteria have interlinked fire alarms, there may be some dwellings recorded as having insufficient fire detection equipment that do have interlinked fire alarms but failed the fire alarm criteria due to other factors such as insufficient number of alarms, improperly powered alarms, or improper locations of alarms. However, due to the yes/no mode of question this number cannot be quantified from 2022 SHCS data.

From 2023 the SHCS question on fire alarms will provide details as to why a dwelling’s equipment for detecting a fire is unsatisfactory which will allow analysis in this area from 2025.

The Scottish Government provided a total of £2.1 million between Care & Repair and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support those in greatest need or at greatest risk of fire, to meet the new standard. No new funds have been allocated to these schemes since 2022.

Question reference: S6O-03202

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce social housing waiting lists for disabled people.