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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: S6O-04274

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with local authorities to enable supply teachers to work in and across a number of different local authority areas.

Question reference: S6O-04237

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting and investing in youth work.

Question reference: S6O-04208

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the planned opening of the safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow, whether consideration has been given to opening a similar facility in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6T-02270

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to reported increases in instances of youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Question reference: S6W-32043

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement in its draft Budget 2025-26 of an additional £4.5 million to "deliver new specialist support across the country for Long Covid, ME, Chronic Fatigue, and other similar conditions", whether this will include funding for the implementation of the NICE guideline on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), in the event that the draft Budget is agreed to by the Parliament.

We want everyone living with ME/CFS in Scotland to be able to access the best possible care and support. That is why the Budget includes a new investment of £4.5 million to deliver specialist support for ME/CFS, Long Covid and other similar conditions. We have commenced early work to determine how this funding should be allocated.

This important investment will help support people with ME/CFS across Scotland, and we are asking Parliament to unite behind the Budget to ensure this funding reaches the people who need it.

While the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, it is NHS Boards and healthcare professionals locally who have responsibility for both service delivery and ensuring people receive the right care for them, taking into account relevant guidance and the needs of patients. The Health and Social Care Standards, issued in 2017, also set out the expectation that care should be provided by health and social care professionals based on the most relevant evidence, guidance and best practice, as is appropriate to their profession and patient group.

We have already taken a number of steps to demonstrate our support for the NICE guidelines. Most recently in November 2024 we published an analysis of data from all NHS boards about their arrangements for ME/CFS care and their awareness and implementation of the NICE guidelines: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836019923.

Question reference: S6W-31803

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will review the number of events and meetings that take place after Decision Time in the Scottish Parliament building.

In order to manage resources across parliamentary staff teams and the campus on busy business nights – as well as the impact on Members’ diaries – agreement was given by the Corporate Body to limit the number of Member-sponsored events accordingly. The Events and Exhibitions Team currently deliver and support a maximum of between nine and ten Member-sponsored events weekly on behalf of Members, with two of those slots being for Thursday lunchtime events.

Question reference: S6W-30947

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 8 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned review of Creative Scotland, and wider funding streams for the arts and culture sector.

The Scottish Government announced in the Programme for Government that we would undertake a review of Creative Scotland as part of a wider review of how the sector is supported. My officials are currently undertaking preparatory work and I will provide a further update in due course. In the meantime, I would refer you to the update I provided to the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 18 September: https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2024/letter--cab-sec-to-ceeac--creative-scotland--cs-open-fund-18-sep-2024.pdf.

Question reference: S6O-03858

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues, City of Edinburgh Council and other relevant stakeholders regarding how its financial planning can support the delivery of affordable housing in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6W-30110

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 8 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 earlier than April 2025.

I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

Implementation of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 was initially to be April 2024. Following the onset of the cost crisis in the public sector, Disclosure Scotland advised its Ministers that a one-year delay would be more cost effective in the context of the worsening financial climate. This delay would allow Disclosure Scotland to build the required technology at reduced expense and deliver a better product in terms of quality.

Disclosure Scotland advised Ministers that the longer delivery period would also allow our stakeholders more time to get ready for the coming changes and that the delay would not diminish the child and adult protection services that are the number one priority for Scottish Ministers in operating the PVG Scheme.

Ministers decided to agree a one-year delay in Act implementation but asked that appropriate elements of the new legislation should be commenced sooner, where possible.

Accordingly, parts of the Act and the policy intent of the Act have commenced earlier than the substantive implementation date, specifically:

On 10 December 2021, the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No.1 and Transitory Provision) Regulations 2021 came into force. These related to sections 83-85 of the 2020 Act which enabled individuals to withdraw from the PVG Scheme, to apply for removal from the barred list(s), permitted Scottish Ministers powers to obtain information to assess whether an individual is no longer unsuitable and to remove an individual from the list(s).
On 19 December 2022,The Police Act 1997 (Offences in Schedules 8A and 8B) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2022 updated the offence lists in the Police Act 1997 to reflect the changes listed in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.
On 01 April 2023,the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No.2) Regulations 2023 came into force. These related to section 89 of the 2020 Act and provided Scottish Ministers must issue guidance to the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland relating to disclosure of ‘other relevant information’.
On 30 September 2024, Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No.3) Regulations 2024 brought into force provisions of the 2020 Act including section 82 which amended the PVG Act to give local authorities and integration joint boards referral powers.

Question reference: S6O-03770

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its heat in buildings strategy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government on consumer protection, in light of reported concerns that customers currently using heat networks are not protected by Ofgem's price cap.