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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-15341

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Breathing Space in providing its services to people experiencing mental health difficulties.

In 2022/23, the Scottish Government provided £2.35million to NHS24 for Breathing Space; this forms part of our overall funding package to NHS24 (of almost £10million), to provide a range of advice and support to people experiencing mental health problems.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital service Breathing Space provides and intends to continue funding the service. Our funding enables NHS24 to provide a high quality listening service for people experiencing low mood. It also allows the continued development of the service using user insight and evaluation. For example, the service recently expanded to include a webchat facility which provides support in a way that meets users’ needs whilst also offering a new way to help manage demand for this valuable service.

Question reference: S6W-15293

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with its counterparts in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland regarding a UK-wide strategy to address levels of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders in the UK population.

There are currently no plans to develop a UK-wide Strategy on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). However, Scottish Government officials have made contact with Wales and Northern Ireland, and have met with counterparts in England regarding FASD policy We are also linking into international work and evidence in relation to FASD. We will continue to engage, and share learning and approaches.

The Scottish Government has funded Adoption UK (Scotland) to establish an FASD Hub in Scotland with the aim of providing support, training and advice to families, carers and professionals supporting children affected by FASD. This is the first of its kind within the UK. We also support a research, evidence and training base - the FAAST team at Edinburgh University.

Question reference: S6W-14815

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support maritime apprenticeships and training schemes for people seeking a career in the rapidly expanding sectors of (a) windfarm, (b) aquaculture and (c) marine construction projects.

Question reference: S6W-14818

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of maritime studies apprentices required to support the future demand for maritime industries in Scotland.

The Maritime sector is supported by a range of apprenticeships. Recent employer led developments include a full review of the Aquaculture provision to ensure that skills programmes support current and emerging needs.

There is work ongoing to refresh Engineering apprenticeships to support employers in boat/ship building, wind farm and marine construction across production, maintenance and technical support, which employers have told us are critical skill areas.

Skills Development Scotland work closely with key partners and stakeholders to develop Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs) and Sectoral Skills Assessments (SSAs) across Scotland. RSAs and SSAs provide a coherent evidence base to inform future investment in skills, built up from existing datasets and forecasts, which look at current and future skills demand across Scotland to help plan future skills investment in Scotland’s people and businesses. There are several SSAs that are relevant to maritime industries including Engineering, Construction, Energy and Food and Drink.

Question reference: S6W-14785

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there may be a need for secondary legislation for the Glasgow School of Art reconstruction project, to ensure that the restoration of the building is as faithful to Charles Rennie Mackintosh's original design as possible, and whether (a) it would be possible to introduce and (b) it will give consideration to introducing secondary legislation to this end under (i) the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and (ii) section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans at this stage to introduce secondary legislation under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 or Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, regarding the Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) rebuild of the Mackintosh building.

The Mackintosh building is owned by The Glasgow School of Art, which is an autonomous body with responsibility for its own strategic and operational decision making. The GSA have stated that its plans for a faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh building will take into account the practical constraints of the current regulatory environment. Employers, building owners and managers are responsible for their premises, including duties in relation to fire safety and mitigation.

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) will continue to engage closely with the GSA at senior management and board level on institutional governance, its plans for the delivery of high quality education, and decision making regarding the rebuild of the Mackintosh building. Historic Environment Scotland, as the lead public body for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment, will continue to work with the GSA, Glasgow City Council and other interested parties on the complex issues surrounding the rebuild of the Mackintosh building.

Question reference: S6W-14931

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected timeline is for applications to the 2024-25 round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).

Question reference: S6W-14814

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to ensure that businesses can offer apprenticeships to fulfil future demand for maritime roles, including (a) skilled offshore wind, (b) workboat, (c) aquaculture and (d) marine construction roles.

Question reference: S6W-14817

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have offered a maritime apprenticeship place in Scotland since 2018.

Question reference: S6W-15342

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it (a) allocated in 2022-23 and (b) will allocate in 2023-24 to NHS 24, to support the delivery of the Breathing Space service.

The Scottish Government has invested over £2.354 million to support the delivery of the Breathing Space service for this financial year.

Breathing Space funding is part of wider funding, totalling just under £10 million, which is allocated to NHS 24 to support wider actions to improve mental health and wellbeing. NHS 24 provides a whole systems approach involving a range of services, to ensure people experiencing mental health crisis and distress, can access support close to home, getting the right care at the right time.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital service Breathing Space provides. Funding for 2023-24 has not yet been allocated and will be subject to ongoing discussion with NHS 24.

Question reference: S6O-01983

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the continued repair works to the M8 motorway in Glasgow, including on their financial implications.