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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-27216

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently being held in Scotland's prison estate for non-violent offences, broken down by offence type.

The prison population on the morning of 6 May 2024 was 8,203 in custody. Excluding people held for index offences in Group 1 (Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence) or where the index offence could not be classified or originated outwith Scotland, provides a population of 3,927 people.

Further excluding Group 2 (Sexual Crimes) index offences of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault this population totals 2,466.

The full prison population is broken down by index offence type in the following table.

Where individuals in custody are accused or convicted of multiple offences, these are summarised by index offence. This is the offence for which they have received the longest sentence or, where they are on remand, which would on average receive the longest sentence. Each may have other associated offences for which they have received shorter sentences, or for which they have not yet been convicted, which may include acts of violence. Some offences cannot be classified in this way because the charges originate in other jurisdictions or because the data required were not available at the time the snapshot was taken.

Index Offence Group	Total
Group 1: Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence	3,935
Group 2: Sexual Crimes	1,686
- Rape, Attempted Rape and Sexual Assault	1,461
- Sexual Crimes excluding Rape, Attempted Rape and Sexual Assault	225
Group 3: Crimes of dishonesty	462
Group 4: Damage and reckless behaviour	107
Group 5: Crimes against society	1,206
Group 6: Antisocial offences	233
Group 7: Miscellaneous offences	132
Group 8: Road traffic offences	101
Other Jurisdiction Charge	47
Could not be classified	294

Question reference: S6W-27132

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its timeline for the introduction of free ferry travel for island residents under 22 years old.

Question reference: S6W-27131

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects island residents under 22 years old to have access to free ferry travel to the mainland.

The draft Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach, published for consultation on 1 February 2024, said that we would take forward detailed consideration of proposals for under 22 year old island residents to provide free foot passenger travel on inter-island ferries within the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland Island groups and extend the existing National Ferry Concessionary Scheme.

The online consultation concluded on 6 May 2024 and responses will now be collated and analysed. Further detail on next steps and timescales will be confirmed in due course.

Question reference: S6O-03435

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with stakeholders in the legal sector regarding the provision of legal aid.

Question reference: S6W-27081

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide any modelling, or other assessment undertaken, to estimate any reduction in (a) car kilometres travelled and (b) CO2-equivalent emissions as a result of the extension of free bus travel to (i) under-22s, (ii) over-60s and (iii) disabled people.

As outlined in the draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030, achieving this commitment relies on a package of over 30 interventions.

The route map does not apportion a specific reduction in car kilometres, nor in CO2-equivalent emissions, to any single intervention such as the extension of the concessionary travel scheme, which is one of a number of route map interventions which aim to encourage the use of public transport and reduce car use.

Question reference: S6W-27080

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what degree of impact it expects the extension of free bus travel to (a) under-22s, (b) over-60s and (c) disabled people to have on its emissions reductions targets.

The Scotland-wide free bus travel schemes aim to make sustainable travel more available, affordable and accessible to those aged 60 and above, aged under 22 and eligible disabled people.

As set out in our report on proposals and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions following annual target for 2019 not being met ( www.gov.scot ) , published in 2021, the Scottish Government committed to building upon our commitment in the updated Climate Change Plan to extend National Concessionary Travel Schemes to include under 22s as part of our additional policies and proposals to deliver the amount of emissions reduction required. However, it does not apportion emissions reduction to any single additional policy.

Question reference: S6W-26908

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an up-to-date assessment of the ecological condition of species-rich grasslands (a) within and (b) outside of Special Sites of Scientific Interest.

The 2023 Official Statistic ‘The Proportion of Scotland’s Protected Areas in Favourable Condition 2023’ reported that, of 161 species rich grassland natural features on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 73% were in favourable condition or had recent management put in place to recover to favourable condition, and 27% were unfavourable.

The data for the condition of species rich grassland outside of protected areas is limited. The condition of species-rich grasslands forms part of six yearly reports which NatureScot compile to meet the requirements of the Habitats Regulations – the next report is due in late 2024. In the 2019 report, NatureScot estimate that 17% of species rich grassland types were in good condition, 31% were in poor condition and the condition of the remainder is unknown. The most common pressure on species rich grassland which causes poor condition are invasive species and under-grazing. The draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan contains commitments to restore degraded habitats, including species rich grassland.

Question reference: S6W-26811

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether its final response to the Review of the Effectiveness of Environmental Governance will incorporate evidence recently submitted to the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee by Environmental Standards Scotland, the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland and the Law Society of Scotland, specifically regarding whether an environmental court could enhance governance arrangements.

The final Scottish Government response will take into account the views provided by stakeholders in their written consultation responses on the main issues of the report, including an environment court, which reflects the evidence that was provided to the Net Zero, Energy, and Transport Committee. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders on environmental governance and environmental justice.

Question reference: S6O-03367

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the ferries task force with Orkney Islands Council, including when it expects new ferries to be procured.

Question reference: S6W-26907

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made estimates of the carbon sequestration rates per hectare in species-rich grassland compared with (a) improved grassland and (b) arable land, and, if so, at what soil depth this has been measured.

Estimating carbon sequestration rates for different land uses falls under the remit of the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Scottish Government does not make these kinds of estimates.

The Scottish Government has commissioned research through the ClimateXChange which considers how grassland management can impact carbon stocks. “ Understanding carbon sequestration from nature-based solutions ” concluded that further evidence is needed on the impact of the restoration of species-rich grassland on carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions, and “ Managing permanent grasslands for carbon sequestration in Scottish soils ” found that grazing rates, grass species, application of fertiliser, and tillage affect sequestration potential.