Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 486 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6O-04336

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact that the UK Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions will have on Scottish public services and the economy of Scotland.

Question reference: S6T-02326

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that mental health absences among ambulance crews have risen in Aberdeen and other parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-33843

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maggie Chapman (on behalf of the SPCB) on 31 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it plans to take to improve Chamber Desk processing times.

The Chamber Desk processes all items that it receives in as timely a manner as possible. However, a number of factors can impact Chamber Desk processing times in any given week. Priority has to be given to Chamber Business, and to the processing of oral questions, motions and amendments for debate. The demand on Chamber Desk services can also vary, and the volume of items submitted for processing can fluctuate. In recent weeks, relatively high numbers of written questions have been submitted, which may have affected the turnaround time for some items. However, members are reminded that, if they have a motion that may be time sensitive, they can request that Chamber Desk expedite it. Where possible, Chamber Desk will endeavour to do this.

Work volumes and workflows are kept under review and adjustments are made to resource allocation where necessary.

Question reference: S6F-03764

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the recent CBI report, which reportedly suggests that businesses are preparing to “cut staff and raise prices”.

Question reference: S6W-32843

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the potential cost to the public sector in Scotland of the UK Government's decision to raise employer national insurance contributions.

The Scottish Government published estimates of the impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions on the public sector in Scotland on 20 November. While the information is incomplete, these estimates indicate the combined impact on the public sector and commissioned services could be well over £700 million.

If the UK Government’s reported allocation is all that is provided, that will mean the Chancellor will be short-changing services the public depend on by over £400 million.

We will continue to work with His Majesty’s Treasury, Local Government and portfolios to support an evidence-based approach and will update Parliament when new information is available.

Question reference: S6W-32838

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many Early Learning Payment Best Start Grants have been awarded in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Scotland since their introduction.

Social Security Scotland routinely releases information on Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods applications and payments.

Since the introduction of the Early Learning Payment in April 2019, 126,840 payments with a combined value of £34,465,468 were paid to eligible clients throughout Scotland by 30 September 2024.

Whilst the latest statistics do not contain the number of payments issued broken down by local authority area, the total value of payments issued to clients in Aberdeen City was £1,099,329 over the same period.

The next Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods publication, covering the period to the end of December 2024, will be published on 25 February 2025.

Question reference: S6W-32844

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the potential cost to the third sector in Scotland of the UK Government's decision to raise employer national insurance contributions.

The diverse nature of the third sector means that the impacts of the increase to employers National Insurance contributions will vary by size and industry sector. However, SCVO has estimated that the cost to voluntary sector employers in Scotland is in the region of £75 million per year, plus inflation.

We will continue to work with His Majesty’s Treasury, portfolios and the sector to support an evidence-based approach and will update Parliament when new information is available.

Scottish Ministers continue to amplify the concerns of the third sector to the UK Government regarding the change to Employer National Insurance Contributions.

Question reference: S6W-32842

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many children have received support through the Scottish Child Payment in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Scotland since its introduction.

Social Security Scotland routinely publishes information on Scottish Child Payment applications, payments and the number of children actively in receipt of the payment by local authority area.

While the latest statistics do not currently include information on the total number of children who have benefitted from Scottish Child Payment, they show that for Scotland, as of 30 September 2024, 325,790 children aged 0-15 years were actively benefitting from Scottish Child Payment. Of those children, 10,335 resided in Aberdeen City.

The next Scottish Child Payment publication, covering the period to the end of December 2024, will be published on 25 February 2025.

Question reference: S6W-32865

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider proposing amendments to legislation to extend the right of on-duty healthcare professionals carrying out home visits to park on double yellow lines and in areas with waiting restrictions, while they are tending to patients.

In Scotland, responsibility for all traffic management on local roads including the provision of parking lies with local authorities. Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local authorities have a general duty to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

Transport Scotland are aware of parking permit schemes run by some local authorities, such as The City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Council which offer assistance to Health Care professionals whilst they are working in their community.

Given that local authorities already have the powers to introduce such schemes should they see fit, we have no current plans to introduce new Scotland wide legislation.

Question reference: S6W-32839

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many School Age Payment Best Start Grants have been awarded in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Scotland since their introduction.

Social Security Scotland routinely releases information on Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods applications and payments.

Since the introduction of the School Age Payment in June 2019, 123,140 payments with a combined value of £34,086,106 were paid to eligible clients throughout Scotland by 30 September 2024.

The next Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods publication, covering the period to the end of December 2024, will be published on 25 February 2025.