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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: S6O-00894

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the future of the COVID-19 certification scheme.

Question reference: S6W-07044

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 16 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to require homeowners to improve their property's energy performance certificate (EPC) rating.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C, or an equivalent standard, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. We plan to consult over the next year on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions including those linked to cost and availability of finance, clarity on the burden of responsibility, and matters relating to compliance and enforcement.

Question reference: S6F-00901

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

Question reference: S6W-07027

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 14 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the system under which council tax bandings are designated.

The valuation bands for council tax are part of the wider council tax system set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and associated secondary legislation. We are committed to reforming council tax to make it fairer, working with the Scottish Green Party and COSLA to oversee the development of effective deliberative engagement on sources of local government funding, including Council Tax, that will culminate in a Citizens’ Assembly. This will be established and completed in this Parliament, with a response to its recommendations debated and agreed within 6 months of them being provided.

Question reference: S6W-06691

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of (a) oil and (b) gas imports to Scotland from Russia, and what its position is on how much Scotland's economy relies on these imports.

Using official statistics, which are at a UK level, in 2020 indigenous gas production met more than half of UK demand with the remainder supplied via imports of gas, of which 5% came from Russia. In 2020, UK demand was met by imports of approximately 80% of crude oil and 47% of Petroleum products. Russian imports met an estimated 7.8% and 7.7% of UK demand.

In 2020, of the Petroleum products, Russian imports were predominately diesel, accounting for 33% of total UK Diesel imports.

In 2020, total gross trade in goods in 2020 (Imports and Exports) between the UK and Russia was £10.3 billion, which included the following imported from Russia: Refined oil (£2.3 Billion), Crude oil (£1 Billion) and Gas (£0.5 Billion).

Question reference: S6W-06535

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the trial in nine schools in North Ayrshire in October 2021, and the answer to question S6F-00388 on 28 October 2021, during which the First Minister stated that the use of such technology in schools "does not appear to be proportionate or necessary”, whether it is aware of any further plans to use facial recognition technology in schools in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any further plans to use facial recognition technology in schools in Scotland however, as the First Minister stated in her response question S6F-00388 on 28 October 2021, she is clear that the use of facial recognition in schools to be neither a proportionate nor a necessary measure. I can confirm this remains the position, although the decision on whether to introduce biometric identification systems into schools is ultimately a matter for local authorities and individual schools to consider for themselves. I also understand that North Ayrshire Council no longer use facial recognition technology and have reverted back to using Personal Identification Numbers for pupils to collect their school lunches.

I would like to be clear in stating our position, which is that prior to introducing biometric systems education authorities should carry out a privacy impact assessment, or a proportionate equivalent, and consult with pupils and parents. Information should also be provided on data protection; how to opt out; consent; and about alternative systems that can be used. Schools and education authorities will also pay due attention to the Information Commissioner’s Office requirements that organisations that are using facial recognition technology should comply with data protection law before, during and after its use.

Question reference: S6W-06692

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any plans to receive any refugees from Ukraine.

Question reference: S6O-00836

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to resettle Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06534

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) can and (b) has any plans to widen the remit of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner to include oversight of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner was created through legislation introduced by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Parliament in 2019. The first Commissioner, Dr Brian Plastow, was appointed by Parliament and took up post in April 2021. The Commissioner’s main function is to support and promote the adoption of lawful, effective and ethical practices in relation to the collection, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes.

The scope of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act 2020 allows for the Commissioner’s oversight role to be extended to cover other bodies that have criminal justice or policing functions. Therefore, additional legislation would be required in order to broaden the Commissioner’s remit to include the use of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places. Consultation with the bodies affected and proper reflection would be required before any such legislation could be considered.

Question reference: S6W-06533

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to extend the use of facial recognition technology within Police Scotland.

The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws. The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they have no plans to use live facial recognition technology at this time.

In line with Scottish Government's commitment to the legal, ethical and proportionate use of technologies in policing, an Independent Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies, whose membership includes policing, human rights and data protection stakeholders, is currently developing recommendations and is due to report to Ministers later this year.