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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-17981

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17015 by Neil Gray on 10 May 2023, what strategic economic and industrial assessment it has made of the potential impact that the loss of another FTSE 250-listed company's operational headquarters from Scotland would have, and what action it can take with the company to prevent this.

Capricorn Energy announced in February the intention to carry out a strategic review of its wider operations, which has culminated in the company citing a strong case for its rationalisation activities across the business.

Whilst Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) was offered to the company to support those individuals affected by the company’s decision to reduce their workforce, the company advised that this support was not required.

This is ultimately a matter for the company and no specific analysis has been undertaken by the Scottish Government in this instance but we know that some of the benefits of headquarters include quality jobs with higher wages, beneficial supply chain impacts and knowledge exchange, as well as contributing to a healthy labour market in senior management roles.

Scottish Government and our agencies continue to promote Scotland’s strength and capabilities to attract and retain those overseas owned businesses and organisations Headquartered in Scotland, as well as supporting existing Scottish domiciled businesses, making Scotland an attractive location for companies to innovate, grow and invest for the future.

Question reference: S6W-18657

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17995 by Neil Gray on 30 May 2023, for what reason it remains committed to returning the airport to private ownership, in light of it having "performed well in a highly competitive aviation market and is now a profitable business".

Scottish Ministers' stated objective since purchasing Glasgow Prestwick Airport in 2013 has been to return the business to the private sector when the time and circumstances are right for the business and for the Scottish Government as shareholder.

That means we must be confident that any sale would not only represent value for the taxpayer but would put the business on a firm footing going forward and secure wider economic benefit to build on the foundations we have put in place.

Any purchase offer from a private operator will be evaluated against these objectives and will only proceed if they are met.

Question reference: S6W-18576

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider adopting universal salt iodisation (USI) as a public health measure to address any iodine deficiency in the population.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to adopt universal salt iodisation.

Food Standards Scotland advises that adults need 140 micrograms (µg) of iodine a day and most people should be able to get all the iodine they need by eating a varied and balanced diet. Children need proportionally less depending on their age group.

Good food sources of iodine include cows' milk and dairy products, eggs, sea fish and shellfish. Iodine can also be found in varying levels in plant foods, such as cereals and grains.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) considered ‘Maternal iodine status, birth outcomes and child development’ at its horizon scanning meeting in June 2022. Members agreed that this would be added to the SACN work programme. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor this work as it progresses.

Question reference: S6W-18612

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the free bus travel pilot for people seeking asylum in Glasgow, which is funded by the Paths for All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) Open Fund, is expected to conclude.

A short-term pilot led by the Refugee Survival Trust and third sector partners in Glasgow commenced on Monday 30 January and will run until July.

The pilot provides free bus travel to people seeking asylum living in Glasgow for three months, along with information and digital support to access and use the pass.

The information gathered from this pilot will help inform options on how to deliver our Programme for Government commitment to consider how best to provide free bus travel to people seeking asylum in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18609

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the successful tender was for the ScotRail Class 170 sander project, and in what location this project will be carried out.

Question reference: S6O-02414

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the level of child poverty in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18577

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote population growth in Glasgow, and whether it has a target rate of population growth for the city relative to other cities in the UK of a similar size, such as Manchester.

The Scottish Government’s 2021 Population Strategy contains a focus on ensuring our population is sustainably distributed; however, it does not set explicit population targets.

A range of work is ongoing across government to achieve this, for example the National Planning Framework 4, which reflects the need for planning to identify the amount of land required for future homes and to enable more balanced demographic change.

Additionally, Scottish Government is a full partner in the Glasgow City Region Deal, which seeks to deliver key regeneration and development projects across employability and transport, with aims to boost to the city region's economy.

Question reference: S6W-18580

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of junior doctors in Scotland, on completion of their foundation programme, have (i) remained in UK-based specialty training and (ii) left to pursue other careers or overseas opportunities, in each of the last 10 years.

We are unable to provide the information requested as we do not have access to data on doctors entering training in parts of the UK other than Scotland, or who have left to pursue other careers or overseas opportunities.

From 2010 to 2019 the UK Foundation programme carried out a career destination survey of all F2 doctors. The UK F2 Career Destinations Reports used data collated from an annual UK-wide survey of outgoing F2 doctors. These reports helped to understand career aspirations and career destinations if known. This report was discontinued in 2020 due to Covid-19.

Question reference: S6W-18523

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail the planned (a) scope, (b) cost and (c) duration of the repair and maintenance works currently being carried out on the historic central tower and spire of Glasgow Cathedral.

Question reference: S6W-18177

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17557 by Maree Todd on 15 May 2023, when its programme of stakeholder engagement (a) began and (b) ended, and what stakeholders it met with as part of that engagement.

The Scottish Government launched a public consultation on 29 June 2022, seeking views on what a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Scotland should look like. The consultation included a section on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce.

As part of our stakeholder engagement programme, we held five virtual engagement events over August and September 2022. These events were open to anyone with an interest in helping to shape the new Strategy and Workforce Action Plan. Participants included those with lived experience as well as representatives from organisations including the NHS, local government, mental health charities and equality advocacy groups.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Advisory Group, which first met on 25 July 2022 and includes a wide range of key stakeholders, have been actively involved in the development of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Action Plan. This includes representatives from NHS boards, public bodies, local government, social work, third sector organisations, trade unions and professional bodies such as the Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists and Nursing.

Engagement with key stakeholders, including with the Advisory Group, is ongoing over the summer to support the finalising of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Action Plan.