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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-37678

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has in place with Great British Energy to secure funding to install solar panels on (a) schools and (b) hospitals.

The Scottish Government has secured £4.85m in funding from Great British Energy’s (GBE) Local Power Plan in 2025-26. The Scottish Government will primarily deliver this funding directly through our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), providing support through the ‘Community Energy Generation Growth Fund’ to boost community owned renewable energy across Scotland. The £8 million fund, including £4 million from GB Energy’s Local Power Plan, will support community groups to develop their own renewable energy projects, including wind and solar PV projects.

Last year’s £1.5 million pilot fund supported 23 community energy projects – including solar PV installations on public buildings – at various stages of project development.

Question reference: S6W-37339

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will approach third-party Scottish manufacturers, such as Scotcrest or ScotClans, to authorise them to use the Scottish Parliament Corporate Identity and tartan to retail bespoke parliamentary plaques, which MSPs could purchase at their own expense to use for presentational gift purposes, such as overseas visits, hosting dignitaries, retirements or sporting events.

Question reference: S6W-37805

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has communicated lessons learned from the process of negotiating the end of private finance initiative contracts to NHS boards, as per the recommendations in the NHS in Scotland 2024 report by Audit Scotland.

The challenges that PFI contracts present at their expiry are understood within the NHS and a programme of work is underway to support Health Boards to manage them.

NHS Scotland Assure and the Scottish Futures Trust have a joint Specialist Support Team to assist Health Boards with management of their PPP contracts.

End of contract is a major focus of the team’s work with a role dedicated to this work since 2021.

This includes handback readiness reviews of contracts expiring in 7 to 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-37690

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to (a) address the reported 60% increase in prison deaths in 2024 and (b) improve the safeguards in place to prevent (i) drug deaths and (ii) suicides in prison.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Any loss of life in the care of SPS is tragic no matter the circumstances.

The recently reviewed Death in Prison Learning Audit and Review (DIPLAR) process, supports our ability to improve and identify lessons learned following any death in custody.

We are also reviewing and overhauling our suicide prevention strategy, ‘Talk to Me’, supported by an independent expert review. We have implemented immediate measures identified following recommendations from Fatal Accident Inquires, including but not limited to mandatory observations of young people during their first 72 hours in custody.

Additionally, the implementation of SPS’ Alcohol and Drug Strategy, which was developed with partners, will compliment operational actions by using trauma informed practices to support those in our care who are affected by substance use.

Question reference: S6W-37688

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that prisoners receive adequate access to healthcare, in light of the April 2025 Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research report, which highlighted that 27 of the 64 deaths occurring in prisons in the last year were related to health conditions and incidents.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that those living in prison have access to healthcare that is, as a minimum, equitable to that offered in the community.

Within 24-hours of entering a prison establishment, all individuals have a face-to-face consultation with an NHS healthcare professional to assess their physical and mental health needs, including any addictions. This nationally agreed process helps identify healthcare and medication requirements, and other vulnerabilities. Healthcare plans are then put in place accordingly.

All individuals living in prison can access healthcare appointments with the prison healthcare team via a simple internal self-referral process. Scottish Prison Service staff can also refer individuals for healthcare appointments, where needed.

We are taking forward a range of work to improve access to healthcare. The National Prison Care Network has developed a Target Operating Model for prison healthcare, which aims to ensure nationally consistent healthcare delivery in all prison establishments

Question reference: S6W-36929

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether schools that have been assessed as having “inadequate” means of escape and “intolerable” housekeeping standards should remain open to pupils.

Although, it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, we expect them to provide safe learning environments for all school users.

If there were concerns raised to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) regarding perceived high levels of risk to life from fire, the SFRS would undertake an urgent audit and ultimately could, if necessary, prohibit the use, or parts, of a school until the situation was satisfactorily rectified.

Question reference: S6W-37658

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of end dates for any leases it has issued to operate (a) windfarms, (b) other forms of renewable energy production and (c) energy storage on Forestry and Land Scotland land.

Scotland's national forest estate, managed by Forestry and Land Scotland has 93 lease agreements in place covering renewable energy schemes. There are 29 windfarms, 25 of which are operational and 4 are under construction. There are 62 hydro schemes, 61 of which are operational and 1 is under construction. There are 2 battery storage schemes, 1 of which is operational and 1 is under construction.

The lease end dates vary depending on lease length, whether any variations are applied during the lease period and whether any lease extension rights are exercised.

Scheme	Type	Status	Lease End Date
Milton Glen Burn	Hydro	Operational	23-Feb-56
Inverlael	Hydro	Operational	04-May-51
Shenval - Allt Seannbhaile	Hydro	Operational	18-Sep-56
Maolachy	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-29
Allt Phocachain	Hydro	Operational	09-Jan-55
Douglas Water	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-48
Allt a' Chonais (Strathcarron)	Hydro	Operational	13-Oct-63
Glen Skiach	Hydro	Operational	16-Sep-39
Garbhaig 2	Hydro	Operational	26-Feb-90
Kames - Eas Mor	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-55
Carie	Hydro	Operational	05-Mar-55
Allt Cheanna Mhuir	Hydro	Operational	14-Aug-54
Abhainn Gleann nam Fiadh	Hydro	Operational	31-Mar-56
Allt Choire a' Bhalachain	Hydro	Operational	17-Jul-54
Duror 1	Hydro	Operational	31-Oct-60
Eas a' Ghaill	Hydro	Operational	02-Nov-54
Coire Ealt Burn	Hydro	Operational	22-Jun-54
Abhainn Shalachain	Hydro	Operational	18-Dec-53
Allt Garbh	Hydro	Operational	15-May-56
Allt Ladaidh	Hydro	Operational	19-Mar-55
Allt Lararidh or Lairairidh	Hydro	Operational	05-Oct-54
Allt Luaidhe	Hydro	Operational	20-Jan-55
Inverliever (River Liever) including Cam Loch	Hydro	Operational	11-Jun-49
Allt a Mhuilinn	Hydro	Operational	23-Apr-58
Allt Garaidh Ghualaich (Garry Gualach)	Hydro	Operational	11-Sep-26
Braevallich (Allt Bheallach)	Hydro	Operational	12-Nov-33
Cia Aig	Hydro	Operational	03-Mar-53
Schoolhouse Burn, Loch Long	Hydro	Operational	30-Jun-60
Allt Coire Chaorach	Hydro	Operational	03-Aug-64
Donich Water	Hydro	Operational	02-Feb-56
Bruach Chaorainn Burn	Hydro	Operational	26-Apr-57
Leacann	Hydro	Operational	12-Sep-79
Allt Easach	Hydro	Operational	13-May-59
Balnacarn Burn	Hydro	Operational	08-May-51
Allt Stronyre	Hydro	Operational	21-Jun-51
Benmore Burn Benmore Home Farm	Hydro	Operational	27-Aug-55
River Lochy	Hydro	Operational	10-Feb-55
Allt Beochlich	Hydro	Operational	21-Jan-49
Invernoaden	Hydro	Operational	31-Dec-58
Lephincorrach Burn Torrisdale	Hydro	Operational	31-May-55
Duror Extension	Hydro	Operational	30-Jun-60
Allt na Fearna	Hydro	Operational	31-Aug-57
Glen Righ - Abhainn Righ - Allt Meurach	Hydro	Operational	29-Jan-58
Allt Dearg	Hydro	Operational	03-Sep-57
Cuil Burn, Loch long	Hydro	Operational	24-Oct-59
Feorline Burn	Hydro	Operational	07-Jul-60
Allt a' Chaitchinn or Achlain	Hydro	Operational	26-Mar-59
Allt Coire a'Bhainidh	Hydro	Operational	01-Nov-57
Allt an Laghain	Hydro	Operational	22-Apr-58
Allt nan Cnocan - Glen Finart	Hydro	Operational	17-May-56
Allt Garaidh Ghualaich - Upper	Hydro	Operational	08-Dec-59
Abhainn Achachoish, Corranbuie	Hydro	Operational	15-May-56
Greenfield Burn	Hydro	Operational	08-Dec-59
Burnmakiman Burn Dunoon	Hydro	Operational	02-Jul-57
Littleton Burn	Hydro	Operational	16-Oct-59
Glen Burn - Barbeth	Hydro	Operational	29-Apr-56
Allt Eilidh	Hydro	Operational	28-Oct-59
Allt an t-Sidhein	Hydro	Operational	01-Mar-60
Allt Mhuic	Hydro	Operational	19-Jan-60
Merkland Burn	Hydro	Under Construction	04-May-65
Little Clyde	Wind	Operational	28-Mar-38
An Suidhe	Wind	Operational	07-Dec-33
Whitelee 2	Wind	Operational	19-Sep-38
Mid Hill	Wind	Operational	25-Oct-37
Stroupster	Wind	Operational	30-Nov-37
Myres Hill	Wind	Operational	13-Dec-36
Whitelee 1	Wind	Operational	09-Aug-34
Rothes 2 (Cairn Uish Hill)	Wind	Operational	20-Jun-37
Burn of Whilk	Wind	Operational	25-Apr-38
Cruach Mhor	Wind	Operational	06-Mar-29
Kilgallioch	Wind	Operational	28-Jun-43
Blackcraig	Wind	Operational	29-Nov-43
Black Law	Wind	Operational	31-Mar-32
South Kyle	Wind	Operational	02-Aug-55
Halsary	Wind	Operational	29-Sep-49
Beinn An Tuirc 1	Wind	Operational	02-Jun-30
Beinn An Tuirc 2	Wind	Operational	28-Oct-37
Beinn An Tuirc 3	Wind	Operational	24-Oct-47
Harestanes	Wind	Operational	30-Apr-40
West Benhar	Wind	Operational	29-Feb-48
Camster	Wind	Operational	14-Nov-35
Arecleoch	Wind	Operational	01-Dec-36
A' Chruach	Wind	Operational	06-Nov-42
Clashindarroch	Wind	Operational	10-Jul-41
Deucheran Hill	Wind	Operational	18-Feb-26
North Kyle	Wind	Under Construction	30-May-63
Pencloe	Wind	Under Construction	28-Apr-52
Camster 2	Wind	Under Construction	12-Sep-53
Arecleoch Ext	Wind	Under Construction	14-Apr-55
Whitelee	Battery	Operational	09-Aug-34
Harestanes	Battery	Under Construction	03-Jul-40

Question reference: S6T-02550

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its current investment in youth work is sufficient, in light of reports of an increase in youth violence and the loss of local youth services in recent years.

Question reference: S6T-02545

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that violence against teachers in schools in Aberdeen has risen by 25% in the last year.

Question reference: S6F-04120

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.