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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-29086

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce gambling clinics to help people with gambling problems.

The Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland as co-leads of the Gambling Related Harms Working group to explore how people experiencing gambling-related harms are able to access the right support, and treatment, across health and social care services.

Treatment Clinics are one avenue of treatment which this work will consider, but we also understand the need for a trauma informed, person-centred approach with more localised options.

The working group is expected to report on the first stage of this work by Spring 2025.

Question reference: S6W-29087

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact in Scotland, whether it has had any discussions with the UK Government about including video game loot boxes in gambling legislation and regulation.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government at both official and Ministerial level in relation to the development of gambling policy across Great Britain.

The Digital Strategy 2021 “A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world”, set out actions for how Scotland can develop as an ethical digital nation. which commits the Scottish Government to developing and embedding an agreed ethical framework and principles into the way we design and build digital public.

We recognise that the law has struggled to keep up with the pace of change on the internet and acceleration of digital technologies and by setting the example in the public sector through ethical and transparent digital services we would seek to lead the way in fair and ethical practice.

In July 2023 the games industry trade body UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) developed and published UK games industry guidance on loot boxes in response to a UK Government call for evidence.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK Government and Wales on this issue.

Question reference: S6W-29085

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the new UK administration regarding the status of gambling levy legislation.

Engagement on the development of the gambling levy has continued at official level with UK Government and Welsh officials since the UK General Election on 4 July 2024.

The formal consultation process has concluded; we are currently awaiting publication of the consultation response to facilitate further discussions on the structure of the levy. The next steps will include how a levy could be implemented across GB and we will continue to work with UK Government and Welsh Government on this issue.

Question reference: S6F-03302

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2024

To ask the First Minister what analysis the Scottish Government is undertaking of any impact that reductions to winter fuel payments will have on people in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-29084

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many premises with gambling licences have breached regulations in each year since 2010.

Betting, gaming and lotteries are generally reserved matters and their regulation is primarily the responsibility of the UK Government. The UK Government regulates gambling through the operation of the Gambling Commission which has responsibility for regulating commercial gambling. The Gambling Commission works in partnership with local licensing authorities to regulate gambling in Scotland.

As such, this is a matter for the Gambling Commission and local licensing authorities (i.e. the 32 Scottish local authorities) and the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-29088

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many premises in Scotland currently have gambling licences.

Question reference: S6W-29090

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of test purchases, to prevent access by under-18s, have been carried out in premises in Scotland with gambling licences in each year since 2010.

Question reference: S6W-29089

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections of premises in Scotland with gambling licences have been carried out in each year since 2010.

Question reference: S6O-03627

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its humanitarian aid funding, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza, in light of recent developments, including Ireland, Spain and Norway’s recognition of the state of Palestine.

Question reference: S6O-03592

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to consider the impact that Brexit has had on Scottish food and drink exports.