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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-23581

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any assessment of how effectively Scotland’s national parks are being governed.

Scotland’s two iconic national parks were established in 2000 as Non-Departmental Public Bodies and their governance arrangements were set down in Designation orders thereafter.

NDPBs operate at arms lengths from Scottish Government and are wholly accountable to the Scottish Parliament. The relationship with government is set out in a Framework Agreement between the body and Scottish Ministers, both national parks have these agreements in place.

Scottish Ministers regularly meet both National Parks to discuss a range of matters, including governance.

Question reference: S6W-23580

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of new national parks.

On 12 October 2023, I announced the start of the nominations process and invited communities and organisations across the country to develop and submit their proposals for their area to become Scotland’s next National Park. Nominations are due to be submitted by 29 February 2024.

The Scottish Government is aware of at least 10 local groups who are actively engaging with their communities and developing proposals for a new National Park in their area.

Detailed guidance on the nomination and appraisal process for new National Parks has been published, and support is being made available to groups that are exploring or developing a proposal.

In Spring 2024 all nominations received by the deadline will be appraised against the criteria set out in the appraisal framework. This will inform the decision on which area or areas should go forward for designation as a new National Park.

In Summer 2024 the Scottish Government will commission a reporter to carry out a detailed investigation into the area or areas selected to become a new National Park. Based on the outcome of that investigation, secondary legislation is expected to be laid before the Parliament in order to designate at least one new National Park by 2026.

Question reference: S6W-23308

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22468 by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023, whether it plans to provide an update on its consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland by the end of 2023.

Question reference: S6W-23422

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend emergency waiting list funding for Rape Crisis centres beyond March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23309

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for an initial assessment and treatment of hearing loss.

Question reference: S6W-23310

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for first appointments post-hearing aid fitting.

We continue to work closely with NHS Boards to reduce long waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic. This includes targets to address long waits and delivery of the commitments in our £1 billion NHS Recovery Plan to support an increase in inpatient, day-case, and outpatient activity.

While we know there is more to do, we are making progress. The latest Public Health Scotland data shows that in the 12 months to September 2023, almost 1.24 million (1,237,657) New Outpatients were seen across NHS Scotland; 2.5% more than previous 12 months.

We are also working with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) as a third sector partner to promote and deliver community-based support for hearing-aid users. RNID Near You is currently operating in three Board areas, with plans to extend to a further two areas this financial year, and provides after-care support including maintenance, battery replacement and peer support and advice.

Question reference: S6W-23307

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support the Scottish night time industry.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hospitality and night-time industry, having been the hardest hit of all sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic and cost crises.

The Scottish Budget 2023-24 ensures the lowest poundage in the UK for the fifth year in a row and supports a package of rates relief worth an estimated £749 million, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are eligible for 100% relief this financial year. Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2024-25 will be made as part of the Scottish Budget, which will be published on 19 December.

The Scottish Government is also supporting the sector through the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and through the New Deal for Business Group. In addition, the Town Centre Action Plan aims to revitalise our towns and town centres, which contributes to supporting the night-time economy.

Our recent request of the UK Government for a reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality sector was rejected.

Question reference: S6W-23206

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he was responsible in his former role as Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing between January and December 2020; whether he has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

Question reference: S6W-23205

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he was responsible in his role as Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance between May 2021 and February 2022; whether he has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006, and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants.

As a result, the Scottish Government is unable to confirm or comment on the details of any Rule 9 requests to individuals.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed in its cooperation with both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries in their independent work to explore the handling of the pandemic and to identify the vital lessons we all need to learn.

Question reference: S6O-02859

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce waiting times for post-mastectomy breast reconstructive surgery.