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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-27949

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy on 18 April 2024, what measures will be included in its timeline for implementing demand management as part of its route map to 20% reduction in car km; whether road pricing will be included as one of these measures, and what discussions it has had with the UK (i) Government and (ii) Office of the Leader of the Opposition regarding the implementation of such measures across the UK.

The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy confirmed to the Scottish Parliament on 18 April 2024 that we will deliver the commitment made to publish by autumn the route map for reduction in car use by 20% produced in partnership with CoSLA. It will include a timeline for implementing demand management and within the context of our commitment to a just transition.

As outlined in the draft route map, published in January 2022, the Scottish Government recognises that powers for local authorities to introduce potential road charging schemes were established in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 and that Local Authorities are best placed to determine whether a local road user charging scheme supports the objectives set out in their local transport strategy.

The finalised route map will also ask the UK Government to reform motoring taxes, given that they are the most direct levers on the cost of buying or running a petrol or diesel car. Fuel duty and vehicle excise duty are reserved matters. We have made a number of attempts at both ministerial and official level to engage the UK Government on these issues, without any meaningful response. The Scottish Government has not had discussions with the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-27970

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland will be represented at the 60th Sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is taking place in Bonn, Germany, in June 2024.

Scottish Government International Climate Change Officials are attending the 60th Sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Scottish Ministers are not in attendance.

Although Scotland is not a UN member state, the Scottish Government is resolute in our commitment to utilise our convening and influencing powers wherever possible in order to drive forward climate action internationally.

Question reference: S6W-27535

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much was paid out from the Marine Fund in the financial year 2023-24, and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of this spend.

The Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has paid £11.63m to applicants who were awarded total funding of £14m in 2023-24. Individual awards are published here - https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotland-grants-awarded/ . The Scottish Government publishes all payments over £25k here - https://www.gov.scot/collections/government-spend-over-gbp25000-monthly-reports/ .

The remaining £2.37m funding supported data collection on stocks in the North Sea and the West of Scotland. This information is combined with data from other European nations who fish in these waters and is then considered by the International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES).

Question reference: S6O-03599

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will proceed with its reported plans to downgrade the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Wishaw.

Question reference: S6W-27827

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of how its loss and damage funding assists communities in Central Africa with the preservation of endangered megafauna populations.

Scottish Government loss and damage funding is not currently assisting communities in Central Africa, with the preservation of endangered megafauna populations.

Our loss and damage funding for the rest of this Parliamentary term is focused on two multi-year Programmes: Climate Just Communities and our Non-Economic Loss and Damage Programme. Both programmes are multi-year and community-led, responding to their specific needs.

Our £24 million Climate Just Communities programme operates in our partner countries of Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia, to help build inclusive and climate resilient communities. This includes projects that addresses the impacts of climate induced loss and damage. Our £5 million Non-Economic Loss and Damage programme is delivering interventions throughout East Africa, the Pacific and Bay of Bengal, with a specific emphasis on supporting women and girls to address loss and damage.

Question reference: S6W-27971

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 10 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Water Safety Scotland finding that 39 suicide suspected fatalities at or near water occurred in 2023, which is an increase from previous years.

Every life lost to suicide is an enormous tragedy and while we welcome figures showing water related fatalities are at their lowest since 2018, we are not complacent. We are taking a whole of Government and societal approach towards suicide, focusing on addressing the social determinants, whilst ensuring we incorporate suicide prevention across our policy development and service delivery. To support this approach the Scottish Government published the Suicide Prevention Strategy in September 2022. It prioritises action on people with higher risk of suicide, and high risk settings which include locations which provide access to open water.

Question reference: S6W-27760

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider seeking to amend section 7 of the Crown Estate Scotland Act 2019 to require Crown Estate Scotland to take into account social and environmental wellbeing activities outside Scotland for procurement and leasing purposes.

Section 7 of the Scottish Crown Estate Act 2019 requires management of Crown Estate Scotland assets to be undertaken in a manner that is likely to contribute to the promotion or the improvement of social and environmental wellbeing in Scotland.

Section 9 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 describes the sustainable procurement duty requires the contracting authority to consider how it conducts the procurement process to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the authority's area.

In addition to this, for the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds, CES required a statement of commitment which requires a company to abide by the law in Scotland and relevant domestic law, safeguarding against a company that has been convicted of unlawful conduct in relation to sustainability from being able to operate in Scotland.

We will continue to review the leasing requirements for future leasing rounds informed by best practice to deliver the best outcomes for Scotland and in line with our social, economic and environmental principles, including the need for any legislative changes to support the updated leasing conditions.

Question reference: S6W-27758

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether any companies involved in human rights abuses, or their subsidiaries, will be eligible to participate in future renewables leasing rounds, including subsequent ScotWind leasing rounds.

Question reference: S6W-27757

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider seeking to amend the conditions for future renewables leasing rounds, including subsequent ScotWind leasing rounds, regarding group companies and supply chain partners, in line with the conditions set for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) project bidders.

Seabed leasing for offshore wind is administered by Crown Estate Scotland (CES), which sets the terms of lease. CES keeps the terms of lease under regular review to reflect any legislative updates or changes to CES or Scottish government policy. Leasing terms will therefore vary between leasing rounds to ensure that such agreements remain fit for purpose and reflect the latest statutory requirements and policy positions, as demonstrated by changes between the ScotWind and INTOG leasing terms.

CES appraise lease applications as part of a rigorous internal assessment and due diligence process to confirm developer suitability, and only make awards to organisations that satisfy this assessment process. As part of this process companies provide a written statement to CES to confirm they have not been convicted of unlawful activity in relation to a range of requirements, including corruption, bribery, fraud, and human trafficking and exploitation, within the last five years. Only companies providing such assurances could proceed with bids. Five years was chosen by CES as a practical timeframe that balanced the need for the required statement to be robust, pragmatic and timely.

The criteria underpinning this assessment process is published for the purposes of transparency and accountability. CES also considers the impact of developments with regards to social and environmental wellbeing in Scotland.

In both the Scotwind and INTOG leasing rounds, CES required a statement of commitment from each applicant and any project partners confirming that they were not in contravention of a range of legislation. This requirement safeguarded against the successful participation of companies convicted of unlawful conduct either within the UK or internationally, including unlawful conduct in relation to ecologically damaging developments.

CES also have responsibilities under the Scottish Government’s Slavery and Human trafficking statement and follow guidance on due diligence in relation to human rights.

CES are committed to taking all appropriate action to prevent the Scottish seabed from being used by any company that does not meet its terms of lease.

CES reserves the right to void any application in relation to ScotWind, INTOG or other developments which is found to have provided false information.

In addition, all offshore wind developments in Scotland are subject to strict environmental assessment processes for the purposes of preserving our natural environment and mitigating any damage.

Question reference: S6W-27762

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider seeking to amend the conditions for future renewables leasing rounds, including subsequent ScotWind leasing rounds, regarding human rights obligations, in line with the conditions set for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) project bidders.