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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: S6W-12094

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland following reports of the existence of a branch of the Chinese police service in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-12097

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the number of any attacks that have taken place in Scotland on former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland by members of the Chinese Communist Party.

Question reference: S6W-12096

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with former members of the Hong Kong community in Scotland to gain knowledge and understanding of their experiences since resettling in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-12026

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to re-categorise mid-market rental properties owned by registered social landlords as social housing for the purposes of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 in the next financial year.

Mid-Market homes are let under private tenancy arrangements, mostly Private Residential Tenancies. There are therefore no plans to re-categorise mid-market rental properties owned by registered social landlords as social housing, and no decision has been taken about the use of the emergency measures beyond 31 March 2023. Any decision regarding the emergency measures will take into consideration the cost of living situation as it develops, and will be also be informed by our engagement with tenants, landlords and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-12089

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from the Chinese police service that is reportedly operating in Glasgow.

As the First Minister acknowledged in Parliament on 27 October, the allegations of the existence of such establishments are concerning and she made clear any foreign country that operates in Scotland must abide by Scottish law.

In your questions, you rightly use “reportedly”. As the FM also made clear in her answer, these are matters for the police to consider in terms of any investigation or action. Police Scotland has said they are currently reviewing these reports to assess any criminality in conjunction with local and national partners.

If anyone feels that they have been the victim of unlawful activity, they should report the matter to Police Scotland. Equally if anyone feels threatened, they should report the matter to Police Scotland.

Beyond that, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. We have not engaged with the Chinese Consulate on this issue. This would not be appropriate while a Police review is underway.

You have asked what whether Scottish Government has met with former members of the Hong Kong community in Scotland to gain knowledge and understanding of their experiences since resettling in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to upholding and advancing the rights of those that choose to make their life here in Scotland, including former Hong Kong residents.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government, COSLA, Police Scotland and third sector partners to understand the needs and requirements of former Hong Kong residents to support their integration into our communities.

You ask what assessment has been made of the number of any attacks that have taken place in Scotland on former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland by members of the Chinese Communist Party.

You also ask whether a policing assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from individuals acting in the interests of the Chinese state. These are also matters for the police and it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

Question reference: S6W-12090

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Glasgow feel safe and protected, in light of the reported existence of a branch of the Chinese police service in the city.

Question reference: S6W-12098

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether a policing assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from individuals acting in the interests of the Chinese state.

Question reference: S6W-12091

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Chinese Consulate regarding the reported existence of a branch of the Chinese police service in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-11799

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of (a) how many households have installed interlinked fire alarms since being required to, (b) the total number of households which now have interlinked fire alarms, and how much it has spent on financial support for the installation of interlinked fire alarms since requiring their installation.

An estimate of the number of households with legislation compliant alarms will only be available when the results of the 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey are published. This is expected to be by early 2024. For social housing, the Scottish Housing Regulator will publish its annual Social Housing Charter report for 2022-2023, which will set out the information for this sector, in August 2023.

Scottish Government has provided a total of £2.1 million between Care & Repair and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support those in greatest need or at greatest risk of fire, to meet the new standard.

Question reference: S6W-11556

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many P1 children it expects will undertake a Scottish National Standardised Assessment by the end of the 2022-23 school year.

The national standardised assessments are designed to be age and stage appropriate, and as inclusive as possible: there is no time limit for their completion; learners can undertake the assessments in more than one session; the system is compatible with a range of devices and assistive technologies; and teachers have the flexibility to decide how and when assessments are administered. As such, we expect most primary one learners to undertake the assessments, as has been the case in previous years*. As always, teachers’ presentation decisions should be made after considering the individual needs and wellbeing of children, the diagnostic purpose of national standardised assessment and the way in which teachers and schools intend to use information.

* 2019/20 exception, due to COVID-19 related school closures.