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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-26993

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed, or plans to review, any current legislation in light of the UK Government's proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill regarding sexually explicit deepfakes, and what its position is on whether there are any gaps in Scots law in relation to deepfake technology.

Question reference: S6W-26992

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect women and other vulnerable groups from the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images.

Question reference: S6W-26800

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of not meeting its target of creating 18,000 hectares of new woodland in 2024-25.

As a result of the UK Government cutting Scotland’s capital allocation, funding support will not allow us to reach our target, but it will still help create over 9,000 ha of new woodland. The implications of not meeting the 2024-25 woodland creation target will be examined in preparation for the next Climate Change Plan, including modelling the impacts on the capacity of Scotland’s forests to sequester carbon and their longer term contribution to Net Zero in 2045. Even though it will not deliver its very ambitious woodland creation target in 2024-25, Scotland is expected to deliver the large majority of woodland creation across the UK.

Question reference: S6W-26553

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the 62-day cancer treatment standard is met in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

£11.3 million of additional funding has been directed to support Cancer Waiting Times improvements in our NHS across 2023-24, of which NHS Ayrshire & Arran received a share of £838,000.

Funding has been targeted towards the most challenged specialties, including breast, colorectal and urology. This funding includes investment to support extended working days and weekend working to increase capacity and treat patients as timely as possible.

In addition, NHS Ayrshire & Arran have established a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS). The RCDS provides primary care with access to a new referral pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer. The Services are a useful addition to how cancer can be diagnosed in Scotland providing a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue.

Question reference: S6W-26493

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what public information campaigns or actions it will undertake in advance of the proposed increase in alcohol minimum unit pricing in autumn 2024, to minimise the potential of any friction between customers and shop staff.

The Scottish Government laid legislation seeking the agreement of the Scottish Parliament to continue Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), and set the price per unit at 65 pence on 19 February 2024. Members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee voted to approve those orders on 26 March 2024 and I am pleased that there is cross party support for this policy.

The Scottish Government undertook an awareness raising campaign in 2018 before the original implementation of MUP, and we will take learning from that approach.

We are currently considering different options regarding public information campaigns and direct communications with businesses around the proposed changes to the minimum unit price of alcohol. These will be finalised after the sunset clause vote by the Scottish Parliament, which must take place before 30 April 2024.

Question reference: S6W-26826

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many current inmates have Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentences, and whether that figure has risen in the past five years.

Question reference: S6W-26824

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many inmates with Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentences have not had an updated risk assessment within the last year.

Question reference: S6W-26825

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is taking any action to ensure that prisoners with an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentence are provided with courses that will help them reform their behaviour.

Question reference: S6W-26175

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns of the tourism industry regarding the potential impact on travellers to and from Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of both the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and whether it plans to work with the UK Government on a joint awareness campaign.

The tourism and hospitality industry plays a vital role in ensuring visitors enjoy their time in Scotland. Many rural areas of Scotland are particularly reliant on tourism to support the local economy.

Scotland must be able to continue to welcome people from all over the world each year to enjoy our vibrant culture, history, hospitality, and countryside.

Whilst immigration is fully reserved the Scottish Government are willing to work with the UK Government to ensure minimal disruption to travellers when the new EU systems are introduced.

Question reference: S6T-01878

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the cost and impact of the transfer of HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership.