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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-03588

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ambition set out in its Suicide Prevention Action Plan to reduce suicide rates by 20% by 2022.

The Scottish Government launched its Suicide Prevention Action Plan (SPAP) ‘Every Life Matters’ in 2018. It contains a target to “reduce the rate of suicide by 20% by 2022 (from a 2017 baseline)” and outlines 10 actions to help achieve that goal.

The baseline rate of suicide in 2017 was based on a five-year average (2013-2017). The equivalent rate for the period ending in 2022 will be calculated in the same way, using data for the whole period 2018-2022, which will be available from National Records of Scotland (NRS) in mid to late 2023.

The National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) reports annually on progress in taking forward actions in the SPAP and on supplementary recommendations agreed since publication. Its most recent annual report was issued in September 2021.

Many of the key deliverables of the Action Plan have been achieved to date, including the launch of Scotland’s social movement: ‘United to Prevent Suicide’; production of learning resources on suicide prevention, mental health and self-harm; guidance to encourage, inform, and support local suicide prevention approaches; and the launch of a pilot service to support those bereaved by suicide.

We have accepted recent recommendations made by the NSPLG in its report on improving support for suicidal crisis. These recommendations will be taken forward by a new National Lead and a dedicated Suicidal Crisis Support Action Group.

Furthermore we are working with COSLA and stakeholders to develop a new long-term suicide prevention strategy for Scotland. The strategy will be published in September 2022, supported by a clear delivery plan, and underpinned by a commitment to double suicide prevention spending by the end of this Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-03583

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to South Ayrshire Council, including from any emergency funds, to tackle the reported increase in applications from people presenting as homeless in the area.

In 2021-22, South Ayrshire Council has been allocated £176,000 from the Ending Homelessness Together Fund. To date, South Ayrshire Council has been allocated an additional £30 million to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic over and above its regular grant payments. It is the responsibility of individual councils to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities.

However, South Ayrshire Council has reported that there has not been an increase in homelessness applications and that they are continuing to support people through the system and into settled accommodation as quickly as possible.

Question reference: S6W-03572

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to create a Peace Institute by 2022, including its (a) location, (b) cost and (c) remit.

Question reference: S6O-00281

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated for the upgrade of the A77 in its Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-2026.

Question reference: S6W-02753

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timetable of operations regarding the fulfilment of SEPA's environmental obligations relating to Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site.

Question reference: S6W-02754

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the situation at Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site, and what plans it has to clean up the site.

Although not responsible for the site, the Scottish Government has agreed to fund the first phase of work at the Tarbolton landfill site, which will begin to reduce the environmental and amenity impact of the site. As part of this first phase, work to remove giant hogweed from the site was successfully completed in July.

SEPA is currently procuring the bulk of the first phase of work and I am grateful to SEPA for offering to undertake this procurement.

While the Scottish Government is not responsible for the site, we continue to work with our public partners to consider further actions for its longer-term restoration.

Question reference: S6W-02554

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 September 2021

Question reference: S6F-00271

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2021

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the Scottish Government's work with the UK Government to create freeports in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-02289

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the construction of the Maybole bypass, and what the estimated opening date is for it.

The construction of the A77 Maybole Bypass project is progressing well and recently achieved a significant milestone on 23 July 2021, as Contractor Wills Bros Civil Engineering completed the beam installation of the third, and final, bridge on the project. A link to the news article on the Transport Scotland website is as follows:

Bridging the gap for the Maybole Bypass (transport.gov.scot)

The project is anticipated to be complete in winter 2021 as confirmed in the Infrastructure Investment Plan update published in February 2021. This date is subject to any unforeseen circumstances such as the effects of exceptional weather.

Question reference: S6W-02279

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the future use of rubber granulate as infill in artificial sports pitches.

The Scottish Government is aware of the paper published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on the use of rubber granulates in artificial sports pitches. Also that ECHA, through its EU REACH process, has placed some restrictions on the use of rubber granules in the EU.

We recognise the impact the deliberate introduction of these granules has on the natural environment and that the EU restrictions might have an impact on the supply of rubber granules.

Our National Agency for Sport, sport scotland, will be participating in a UK Sports Agency meeting in September where the use of the infill will be discussed.

Year	Number
1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019	3
1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020	5
1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021	5
1 April 2021 – present	3