- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 19 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve Scotland’s GDP growth rate, in light of reported figures stating that it has grown less than that of the rest of the UK.
Answer
Scotland’s economy remains one of the best performing parts of the UK with GDP per person in Scotland growing by 10.3%, compared to 6.1% in the UK and productivity has grown at an average rate of 1.1% per year compared to the UK average of 0.4% since 2007. Despite figures in Quarter 1 of 2025 showing GDP to be lower in Scotland compared to the UK, the pace of growth increased from 0.1% in the last quarter of 2024 to 0.4%.
The Scottish Government published its National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) in 2022, setting out a ten year transformation plan with the objective of creating a fair, green and growing economy and establishing Scotland as a world-class entrepreneurial nation and ensuring that our businesses, industries, regions, communities and public services are more innovative and productive than they have ever been. This year’s Programme for Government sets out specific actions that we will take to grow the economy over the remainder of this parliamentary term.
However, reserved powers on crucial issues such as trade and migration, and the damage of Brexit, all impact Scotland’s economic growth and can create challenging conditions for Scottish businesses. With our limited powers, we are maximising opportunities for economic growth in Scotland.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the consultation by Alexander Dennis on the future of its facilities in Falkirk and Larbert.
Answer
This will be a hugely worrying time for the workforce at ADL, their families and the wider community. We have engaged extensively with Alexander Dennis and its parent company NFI to ensure that every possible avenue is explored to mitigate the need for redundancies. This has included discussions with myself, the First Minister, leadership within Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland, trade unions, and the UK Government.
The Scottish Government will continue to explore any and all options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Armed Forces Covenant obligation on NHS boards to have due regard for the unique challenges faced by service children, what discussions the veterans minister has had with ministerial colleagues in relation to ensuring that relocations for military postings do not lead to service children being reprioritised to the back of NHS waiting lists, including through the provision of guidance to clinical teams to ensure that this does not happen.
Answer
Access to NHS treatment is based on clinical need, however we recognise that service children should not be disadvantaged when accessing the NHS as a result of their parent’s service in the Armed Forces.
We regularly communicate the Covenant legal duty and paying ‘due regard’ to all NHS Boards via the NHS Armed Forces and Veterans Champions, who are responsible for ensuring its implementation.
Additionally, the General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme aims to raise awareness of the health challenges that veterans and Armed Forces families face as a result of military service.
- Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to undertake a regulatory check of existing Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 powers to allow local authorities and regional transport partnerships to implement local road user charging schemes.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what health policies it has in place to support the neurodevelopment of children born prematurely through their early years and adolescence.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
- Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Forth Valley regarding access to health services for communities that rely on local bus links.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review planning laws regarding the provision of private purpose-built student accommodation, in light of reported concerns over the concentration of student accommodation in certain localities and objections from local residents.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
- Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the aim under action 20 of the Housing to 2040 strategy to streamline and accelerate the adaptations system.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local stakeholders regarding the protection of wild goats in the Scottish Borders.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
- Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to meet the demand for ADHD and autism assessments.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025