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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-36295

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the outcome of the Project Willow study will benefit industry and workers in Scotland.

As you know, Project Willow has identified nine alternative projects that could be developed at Grangemouth including plastics recycling, bio-refining, sustainable aviation fuel and low carbon hydrogen production, demonstrating that a long term, new industrial future at Grangemouth is achievable if the public and private sector work together in the coming months to deliver.

If all nine potential projects identified in the base case were taken forward, Project Willow could create up to 800 jobs by 2040 and contribute £600-£700m in Gross Value Added, demonstrating the transformative impact Project Willow could bring to Grangemouth.

I am committed to realising as many of these opportunities as possible which is why Scottish Enterprise and the UK Office for Investment have established an Investor Taskforce to identify and attract investors with an interest in progressing the Project Willow proposals. Protecting and promoting the interests of the workers, businesses and wider Grangemouth community, remains this Government’s absolute priority.

Question reference: S6W-36296

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that workers in Scotland will benefit from a domestic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry in the long term.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the recommendations of Project Willow, which shortlisted nine potential viable alternatives for the Grangemouth refinery site including two projects aligned to the production of SAF, demonstrating that a long term, new industrial future is achievable there. We continue to work closely with Scottish Enterprise, UK Office for Investment and the UK Government to realise these opportunities. Our enterprise agency, Scottish Enterprise, stands ready to support inward investors looking to progress any of these potential projects.

Ministers have previously sought assurances from the UK Government that all efforts are being made to secure for Scotland a share of the jobs and economic benefits that SAF could provide. We are pleased that the UK Government will now introduce a revenue certainty mechanism bill, which should encourage SAF production.

Question reference: S6O-04526

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to improve GP retention.

Question reference: S6O-04510

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to grow the offshore wind industry.

Question reference: S6O-04401

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Action 20 of the Housing to 2040 strategy to "streamline and accelerate the adaptations system".

Question reference: S6O-04348

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to maintain arts and cultural programmes.

Question reference: S6O-04266

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on relaxing any conservation area restrictions that prevent the installation of solar panels and other energy saving initiatives.

Question reference: S6O-04245

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Carer Support Payment should be classed as income by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Question reference: S6W-31919

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 16 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to independent businesses in (a) rural and (b) small communities.

The Scottish Government is committed to building a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive rural economy that meets the goals of achieving a nature-positive and wellbeing economy for future generations.

Our enterprise agencies help businesses across Scotland to start and scale, be more productive, access finance and attract investment, develop new products and services, enter new markets and positively impact on their communities.

We have allocated over £321 million to the enterprise agencies in 2025-26 to support their work and help them unlock the full economic potential of their regions.

Question reference: S6O-04095

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to independent businesses in rural and small communities.