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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-18054

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it can undertake with the UK Government to ensure that Scotland gets a fair allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota.

Our key priority throughout the stocks and negotiations is always to protect Scottish interests by securing sustainable catching opportunities.

Bluefin tuna quota is allocated to the UK via International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and for 2023 the UK Government intends to trial a small-scale commercial fishery for Bluefin tuna in UK waters with 39 tonnes set aside quota for this purpose. All UK vessels, including the Scottish fishing fleet, will be able to apply for the trial this year.

My officials have been fully involved in discussions within the UK to ensure that, upon the opening of the application process, applicants will be assessed in a fair and transparent manner to select who will be issued with one of the 10 Bluefin tuna licences. Each licence will regulate the maximum quota which may be fished for the period of the 2023 trial, and which will also be non-transferrable. Under this scheme, Bluefin tuna quota is therefore currently managed at a UK level, rather than being apportioned between UK Fisheries Administrations.

Prior to the commencement of the trial, it is essential that a precautionary management approach is fully developed to ensure that Bluefin tuna fishing is sustainable, and that vessels are fully compliant with all relevant measures.

Question reference: S6O-02315

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of its plans to bring empty homes back into use as affordable homes for key workers in rural areas.

Question reference: S6W-17920

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the current Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to ensure that it is able to effectively support community renewable projects in Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

The Scottish Government wants to realise as many opportunities as possible for community energy and to maximise the benefits flowing to communities from our energy transition. That is why we continue to invest in CARES, which is currently putting a strong focus on heat decarbonisation while continuing to help communities assess their priorities for net zero activity, which can include potential opportunities for energy generation. Across all projects and technologies, CARES has advised over 900 organisations and offered £60 million in funding to over 680 projects. It has supported the installation of 57.9MW of renewable energy. In Na h-Eileanan an Iar, CARES has supported 44 projects and offered over £2.74 million in funding, which has supported the installation of 13.5MW of renewable energy.

The Scottish Government has commissioned independent research to consider how we create the right policy environment and target support in a way which maximises the contribution of community energy to a just transition. The outputs from this research will be used to inform future policy development and the support provided through CARES.

Question reference: S6W-17921

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it can make to the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) regarding dedicated capacity on the 1.8GW Western Isles HVDC subsea link for local community energy projects.

Electricity policy, including regulation of Great Britain’s electricity networks, is reserved to the UK Government.

According to the terms of their licence, network companies must treat all customers in the same way and cannot ‘ring-fence’ capacity for one group over another.

The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on Ofgem, the UK Government and the Electricity System Operator to ensure that networks are ready to support our just transition to net zero, including connection of community energy projects. Achieving this will require changes to the existing connection queue management processes to ensure that projects that are ready to connect are able to do so.

Question reference: S6O-02238

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle youth antisocial behaviour.

Question reference: S6O-02101

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide to fishers in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency who have reportedly expressed concern about their livelihoods and the future of their communities in light of the potential economic and cultural impact Highly Protected Marine Areas may have on coastal and island communities once designated.

Question reference: S6W-15685

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review its working location policy to consider whether more civil service jobs (a) in general and (b) that impact public services in the Highlands and Islands, can be decentralised.

Workforce numbers and locations are regularly reviewed to ensure that the organisation is delivering for the people of Scotland as efficiently and effectively as possible. We undertake workforce planning in line with Scottish Government priorities.

In addition to considering the location of roles, the Scottish Government is committed to flexible hybrid working for our workforce, enabling staff to work from a range of locations, both within government offices and working from home. Some of these locations are situated within the Highlands and Islands. Managers are asked to establish a flexible hybrid model with their teams that ensure meets business needs are met, which will vary depending on the nature of the roles and requirements.

The Scottish Government website references our ways of working and more information can be found here Ways of working - Work For Scotland (work-for-scotland.org)

Question reference: S6O-02029

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding concerns over the potential impact in Scotland of the proposed Illegal Migration Bill.

Question reference: S6O-01965

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on turnout at future Scottish Parliament and local authority elections of the introduction by the UK Government of voter ID requirements for elections to the UK Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-15366

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the proposed consultation on merging UHI Outer Hebrides College, UHI West Highland College and UHI North Highland College will be published.

The consultation has been published today and is available on the Scottish Government’s Consultation Hub, Citizen Space https://consult.gov.scot/lifelong-learning-and-skills/rural-and-islands-college-merger-proposal

It seeks views on the proposals put forward by the boards of management of North Highland College (UHI North Highland), West Highland College (UHI West Highland) and Lews Castle College (UHI Outer Hebrides) to merge into a single, incorporated college.