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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: S6O-01586

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance ministers have had with ministerial colleagues regarding any plans to investigate the feasibility of a land value tax.

Question reference: S6W-11980

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 16 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is reviewing whether to incorporate provision for “low-noise” or “silent” fireworks into the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 via regulation.

During the development of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 (“the Act”) the possibility of exempting “silent” or “low noise” fireworks from the provisions which aim to address the noise and disturbance associated with fireworks was considered. However engagement with a range of stakeholders, including industry experts, has confirmed that at present there is no recognised standard or specification for identifying, and therefore distinguishing, such fireworks. It is therefore not possible to exempt “low noise” fireworks from provisions within the Act at this time.

The Act does, however, include a regulation making power to enable this to be amended in future should such standards or specifications make this possible. We are continuing to engage with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regarding the results of noise level testing undertaken on common firework products. This will improve our understanding of whether any common firework products can be considered as low noise fireworks, as well as the scope to move towards such recognised standards or specifications.

Question reference: S6W-11295

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to the Member of 7 July 2022, whether it has taken forward discussions with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) officials to ascertain whether there are any concerns in relation to the regulation of private first aid companies which provide medical cover at events across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-11719

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a decarbonisation target for the (a) passenger ferry and (b) maritime freight sector.

The Scottish Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the transport sector in a sustainable way to deliver a just transition. Our Climate Change Plan includes a commitment that by 2032, 30 per cent of Scottish Government owned ferries will be low emission.

With regards to the wider shipping and maritime sectors, we are committed to working with the UK Government and other governments to support decarbonisation proposals at a UK level and those globally significant proposals originating from the International Maritime Organisation such as the potential to introduce a global levy on marine fuel to fund research into cleaner technologies and fuels.

Question reference: S6W-11723

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it had made of (a) crew safety, (b) crew accommodation, (c) crewing levels, (d) catering provision and (e) freight volumes when it reportedly decided against the acquisition of catamaran vessels in the past year for the purposes of public ferry crossings.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment of catamaran vessels in the past year. Any such assessments have been undertaken by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) supported by independent naval architectural consultancy.

As was widely reported at the time, CMAL gave detailed consideration to the opportunity to purchase a catamaran already under construction. This was not pursued primarily due to concerns that the vessel would not meet regulatory requirements for service on the Clyde and Hebrides services, a decision endorsed by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-11725

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times ministers have met with (a) owners and (b) representatives of Hinduja Global Solutions since 2007.

The former First Minister, Alex Salmond, met with Hinduja Global Solutions on 12 October 2010 in New Delhi and the Deputy First Minister met with the company in Bangalore on 28 November 2018.

On 9 February 2016, the former Minister for Youth and Women's Employment, Annabelle Ewing MSP, visited the company’s Selkirk office; the former Minister for Business Fair Work and Skills, Jamie Hepburn MSP visited the Selkirk office on 18 October 2018; and the Deputy First Minister visited the Selkirk office on 12 February 2019.

The First Minister met with Hinduja Global Solutions at the City of London Corporation and Scotland Finance and Investment Partnership Dinner held at Mansion House in London on 19 April 2022.

Question reference: S6W-11716

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions regarding (a) wages and (b) terms and conditions it has had with any (i) owners and (ii) representatives of Hinduja Global Solutions since 2007.

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), the Scottish Government’s dedicated economic agency for the South of Scotland, has had the most recent discussions with Hinduja Global Solutions about its fair work practices, including wages and terms and conditions. These discussions formed part of the work to secure a SOSE grant to support the creation of up to 250 jobs.

SOSE advised in discussions with Hinduja Global Solutions that organisations supported through grant funding would be committing to adopting Fair Work First in the delivery of projects which are funded by SOSE. The terms of grant award included such reference of committing to working on becoming a Fair Work employer, plus working towards achieving the Fair Work First criteria including:

appropriate channels for effective voice, such as trade union recognition.
investment in workforce development.
no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.
action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
payment of the real Living Wage.
offering flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of their employment; and
opposing the use of fire and rehire practices.

Hinduja Global Solutions is also required to work with SOSE, Skills Development Scotland, education and training organisations and/or institutions to recruit “disadvantaged workers” and long-term youth unemployed, and from areas of multiple deprivation.

Prior to the formation of SOSE, Scottish Enterprise (SE) worked with Hinduja Global Solutions to support new inward investment opportunities, and as with all companies it works with, SE encouraged progressive working practices in its discussions with the company.

Question reference: S6W-11721

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is seeking to procure hydrogen-fuelled ferries as part of its long-term plan for public ferries.

Transport Scotland liaises closely with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and other partners regarding future vessel projects. These discussions include appropriate consideration of design and operating options, including alternative fuels. As part of our work on the Islands Connectivity Plan, we will consult on pathways to zero/low-emission ferry transport, learning from experience in other countries.

Question reference: S6W-11718

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether liquified natural gas-fuelled ferries have a role to play as part of its decarbonisation and net zero targets.

Question reference: S6W-11720

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into the viability and effectiveness of hydrogen-fuelled ferries.