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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-38494

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revise its Fair Work First Guidance to account for freelancers, in light of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) report, Freelance and Forgotten: a report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s creative industries.

Following the Scottish Government commitment in the December 2023 Culture Strategy Action Plan the short-life Culture Fair Work Task Force was created with an independent Chair appointed in April 2024. The aim of the taskforce is to consider and develop actions to further implement Fair Work in Scotland’s Creative industries to be put forward as recommendations for a sectoral Culture Fair Work Agreement.

The details and narrative in the STUC report "Freelance and forgotten", together with other relevant evidence, will be considered as part of the work of the Task Force. This reflects a commitment to worker participation and consultation - although it is solely the responsibility of the members of the Culture Fair Work Taskforce to shape and agree the final proposed recommendations.

The final report of the Culture Fair Work Task Force will contribute to the current evaluation of Fair Work First by the Scottish Government which will provide another opportunity to look closely at how effectively Fair Work First is delivering our policy intent, and to consider what more we can do to strengthen the Scottish Government approach. The project will provide ample opportunities for stakeholder engagement.

Question reference: S6W-38495

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will give Creative Scotland a role in monitoring and enforcing fair working practices within the sector, in light of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) report, Freelance and Forgotten: a report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s creative industries.

Supporting Fair Work is one of Creative Scotland's current strategic priorities.

The Review of Creative Scotland - which was announced in the Programme for Government last September as part of wider work into how the culture sector is supported - will consider Creative Scotland’s purpose and functions; structure and performance; governance and leadership, finances and distribution of funds; and collaboration, relationships and partnerships

The Review is independent of the Scottish Government and will deliver its recommendations in November 2025.

Question reference: S6W-38493

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage regularly funded organisations to adopt the use of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist within the STUC report, Freelance and Forgotten: a report on worker exploitation in Scotland’s creative industries.

The Scottish Government’s Fair Work First Guidance already explains the Scottish Government approach, provides good practice examples to guide employers’ approaches and, importantly, explains the benefits of fair work for workers and organisations.

This guidance has been developed through engagement with key stakeholders, including trade unions and the STUC, the Fair Work Convention, Flexibility Works, CIPD Scotland, and business, public and third sector partners.

In addition organisations applying for funding from Creative Scotland are already referred to a range of existing best practice as part of Creative Scotland application guidance and are expected to demonstrate how they will meet fair pay requirements.

The current evaluation of Fair Work First by the Scottish Government is providing an opportunity to look closely at how effectively Fair Work First is delivering our policy intent, and to consider what more we can do to shape the future direction of the policy and strengthen our approach.

This includes an examination of appropriate resources and guidance to deliver the intended outcomes together with how Fair Work First conditions could be extended to other forms of support, and to different types of workers, ensuring all have the opportunity to participate in fair and respectful work environments.

Question reference: S6O-04605

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met CMAL and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S6W-36134

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the hospice care sector will be factored into the structural processes around the Agenda for Change and medical pay awards agreed in its Budget for 2025-26 to ensure that they can achieve ongoing pay parity with NHS levels.

Officials are undertaking work with the chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK to fully understand the requirements to provide pay parity to those delivering frontline services in line with NHS Agenda for Change levels. Officials are also continuing to explore the mechanisms for providing this funding, while respecting local commissioning arrangements.

This funding does not bring hospice staff under AfC terms and conditions and is only intended to provide pay parity with NHS Agenda for Change levels. Independent hospices will have their own terms and conditions for the staff they employ.

Question reference: S6W-36133

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider giving hospices £5 million in addition to further funding in its Budget for 2025-26 aligned to the Agenda for Change and medical 2025-26 pay awards once agreed.

The Scottish Budget 2025-26 identified funding of £5 million to help support independent hospices deliver pay parity with Agenda for Change (AfC) levels for 2025-26. Officials continue to work with the chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK to understand the requirements from each hospice. Officials are also undertaking work to explore the mechanisms for providing this funding, while respecting local commissioning arrangements. Funding will be provided in financial year 2025-26.

To note, it is the responsibility of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to commission palliative care services, including independent hospices, to meet the needs of their local populations.

Question reference: S6O-04571

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of three-year-old children receive free early learning and childcare in the week after their third birthday.

Question reference: S6O-04521

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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 the progress of action 42 in the Cancer Action Plan 2023 to 2026 to carry out a clinically led review on cancer waiting times.

Question reference: S6O-04493

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget for revenue and capital funding for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport for 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-35395

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 18 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to implement its policy on taking a feminist approach to international relations.

Since the November 2023 publication of the Scottish Government’s position paper, Taking a Feminist Approach to International Relations, officials have taken forward a range of activities as part of our commitment to mainstream a feminist approach across key policy areas, including international development, climate justice, trade, and peace & security.

This includes working to embed gender equality throughout our international development work as well as developing specific gender equality programmes. In seeking to equalise power in our international development activities, we work directly with organisations in our partner countries of Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia and have established a Global South Advisory Panel. On trade, the Scottish Government is committed to addressing the gender export gap in Scotland, confirmed by the findings in the recent Gender Export Gap research report. We will be working with our delivery agencies and stakeholders in implementing the report’s recommendations, providing tailored advice, assistance, and international market access opportunities to help women-led businesses succeed on the global stage.