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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: S6F-01719

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to encourage people to become foster carers, following reports that only 40 of 400 children referred to Barnardo’s fostering service in Glasgow and Edinburgh have been placed with families in the last year.

Question reference: S6O-01757

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be the educational impact of open plan classrooms on primary school children.

Question reference: S6O-01718

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of air pollution is on mental health.

Question reference: S6W-12563

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the potential impact on Scotland will be of the closure of the UK Office of Tax Simplification.

Whilst the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) is a UK Government body, many of the taxes within its remit apply across the whole of the UK, including Scotland. The OTS provides an independent and objective perspective on taxes such as Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax, which apply in Scotland and are widely considered to be complex and in need of reform.

One of the principles of good tax policy making set out in the Scottish Government's Framework for Tax is ‘convenience’, which states that "tax policy should be as simple, clear and straightforward as possible and opportunities to streamline the tax system should be taken where they arise." The UK Government's decision to close the OTS contrasts with this principle and the Scottish Government's approach to tax policy. The closure was announced without consultation or notice and has led to bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Taxation to call for the decision to be reversed – a call the Scottish Government agrees with.

Question reference: S6W-12540

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether infrared-sensitive cameras placed in hospital patients’ rooms to measure pulse and breathing rates remotely are being rolled out across NHS Scotland.

Scottish Government is not aware of any plans to roll out the use of infrared-sensitive cameras placed in patients’ rooms to measure pulse and breathing rates remotely across NHSScotland.

It is ultimately for the 14 Territorial Health Boards across Scotland to decide whether to procure and apply this technology as part of their treatment for patients.

The Scottish Government is committed to achieving a consistent approach to NHS Board consideration of health technologies, via a system based upon the clinical and cost effectiveness of technologies to the NHS and to people in Scotland.

Health Technologies play a critical role in the delivery of clinical and cost effective healthcare which meets the needs of patients to deliver excellent healthcare and patient outcomes.

Question reference: S6O-01700

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any changes to the current devolution settlement should only be implemented with the explicit democratic consent of the Scottish people.

Question reference: S6W-12776

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 December 2022

To ask Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the 2023 revaluation of non-domestic properties.

The next non-domestic property revaluation will take effect on‎ 1 April 2023. The draft valuation roll was published on 30 November and draft valuation notices will be issued by Assessors from then. Final valuation notices in respect of 1 April 2023 will be issued from that date.

We accepted the independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates recommendation to move to three yearly revaluations and a one-year tone date to ensure that property values more closely align with current market conditions. The 2023 revaluation will therefore be based on rental values as at 1 April 2022.

The functions of Valuation Appeal Committees are scheduled to transfer to the Scottish Tribunals on 1 April 2023 in the new Local Taxation Chamber. The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 provides the framework for a two-stage non-domestic rating appeals system which is also scheduled for introduction on 1 April 2023. Subordinate legislation covering the detail of the changes to appeals process is due to be laid before the Parliament in December.

These changes will deliver greater transparency and fairness in the non-domestic rates system.

Question reference: S6O-01622

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to integrate gender identity and mental health services.

Question reference: S6F-01522

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government anticipates the impact will be on Scotland of today’s Autumn Statement.

Question reference: S6O-01525

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact inflation is having on its affordable housing programme.