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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-24711

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) original estimated (i) cost and (ii) opening date was and (b) current estimated (A) cost and (B) opening date is for each National Treatment Centre.

Question reference: S6W-24753

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 357 stations that are managed by ScotRail, as at 31 March 2023, have access to Changing Places toilet facilities, and, of these, how many have restricted hours of access to the facilities based on the hours that the station is staffed.

Question reference: S6W-24843

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to reduce the amount of plastic produced by retailers at source.

The Scottish Government is working with the other UK governments to legislate to introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Among other benefits, this will create a strong incentive for producers to reduce their use of packaging and drive more sustainable design choices.

The main legislation for packaging EPR will be a Westminster SI, with supporting legislation in Scotland where required. The draft text of this SI was made available for public consultation from 28 July 2023 to 9 October 2023 and is available online at the following link: Draft producer responsibility obligations (packaging and packaging waste) regulations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

Question reference: S6W-24802

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it has provided to Counselling and Family Mediation - Western Isles since 2019.

The Scottish Government has not provided any funding directly to Counselling and Family Mediation Western Isles since 2019.

Relationships Scotland have received Scottish Government core funding since 2016 which will continue until March 2025 via the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning & Empowering Communities fund (CYPFEI & ALEC). Relationships Scotland operate a network of 21 Member Services across Scotland and Counselling and Family Mediation Western Isles is part of that network.

Question reference: S6W-24815

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the vessels in CalMac's fleet, broken down by the (a) age and (b) recommended timeline for the replacement of each vessel.

The following table provides the answer to :

1. age of each vessel was at the start of 2024

2. total length of service of each vessel has been with the CalMac fleet and any previous operators.

Vessel	Built	Entry into CFL Service	Current age (Years)	Time with CFL (Years)
Ali Cat	1-1-2000	10-1-2002	24.0	21.3
Argyle	9-1-2006	5-1-2007	17.3	16.7
Argyll Flyer	5-1-2001	6-1-2011	22.7	12.6
Bute	2-1-2005	7-1-2005	18.9	18.5
Caledonian Isles	5-1-1993	8-1-1993	30.7	30.4
Carvoria	8-1-2017	9-1-2017	6.4	6.3
Catriona	12-1-2015	8-1-2016	8.1	7.4
Chieftain	3-1-2007	6-1-2020	16.8	3.6
Clansman	3-1-1998	7-1-1998	25.9	25.5
Coruisk	5-1-2003	8-1-2003	20.7	20.4
Finlaggan	6-1-2010	6-1-2011	13.6	12.6
Hallaig	12-1-2012	10-1-2013	11.1	10.3
Hebridean Isles	7-1-1985	12-1-1985	38.5	38.1
Hebrides	8-1-2000	3-1-2001	23.4	22.9
Isle of Arran	12-1-1983	4-1-1984	40.1	39.8
Isle of Cumbrae	12-1-1976	4-1-1977	47.1	46.8
Isle of Lewis	4-1-1995	7-1-1995	28.8	28.5
Isle of Mull	12-1-1987	4-1-1988	36.1	35.8
Loch Alainn	4-1-1997	7-1-1997	26.8	26.5
Loch Bhrusda	3-1-1996	6-1-1996	27.9	27.6
Loch Buie	10-1-1991	7-1-1992	32.3	31.5
Loch Dunvegan	3-1-1991	5-1-1991	32.9	32.7
Loch Frisa	9-1-2015	5-1-2022	8.3	1.7
Loch Fyne	6-1-1991	9-1-1991	32.6	32.4
Loch Linnhe	5-1-1986	7-1-1986	37.7	37.5
Loch Portain	3-1-2003	6-1-2003	20.9	20.6
Loch Ranza	12-1-1986	4-1-1987	37.1	36.8
Loch Riddon	9-1-1986	10-1-1986	37.4	37.3
Loch Seaforth	3-1-2014	2-1-2015	9.8	8.9
Loch Shira	12-1-2006	6-1-2007	17.1	16.6
Loch Striven	5-1-1986	7-1-1986	37.7	37.5
Loch Tarbert	2-1-1992	7-1-1992	31.9	31.5
Lochinvar	5-1-2013	5-1-2014	10.7	9.7
Lochnevis	5-1-2000	11-1-2000	23.7	23.2
Lord of the Isles	3-1-1989	5-1-1989	34.9	34.7

Regarding the timeline for vessel replacement, Transport Scotland issued on 1 February 2024 the Island Connectivity Plan consultation which includes details of the long-term replacement plan for CalMac vessels. This includes the proposed timing of the replacement for each vessel. The consultation will be open until 3 May 2024.

Please see the following link for the information:

Islands Connectivity Plan - Long-term plan for vessels and ports - Draft for consultation | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S6W-24742

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many beaver licences were issued by NatureScot in the last five years, broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence.

The following tables set out how many Beaver licences were issued in the last five years; broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence:

Category of Licence	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) Prime Agricultural Land (PAL)	62	16	96	27	39
Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) (Other land)			4
Conservation	2	0
Preserving Public Health or Safety (PPHS)	1	1	0	1
PPHS/IROPI		5
Science, Research, Education	1	2	5	1	2
Conserving wild birds, plants, animals or introducing them to a particular area	1		2	3	4
Preserving public health or public safety or other imperative reasons of overriding public interest including those of a social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment				3	3
Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, property or fisheries				3	3
Total	67	24	107	38	51

Duration of Licence (days)	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
1-200 days	4	6	3	3	7
200-700 days	12	5	46	15	36
>700 days	51	13	58	20	8
Total	67	24	107	38	51

Note: not all licences issued are for lethal control.

A further breakdown of the duration of licences days can be obtained from NatureScot.

Question reference: S6W-24744

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the (a) sale and (b) consumption of drugs in rural communities.

The Scottish Government is committed to working collaboratively with partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to reduce the significant harm caused by the illicit drugs trade to communities across Scotland.

We are also rolling out the Medication Assisted Treatment standards, which is a key component of our National Mission to reduce drug deaths and harm. These set out what people should expect from services, improvements to accessing services, choices of treatment options and wrap-around support for the people most at risk from drug harm and drug-related death.

Question reference: S6W-24738

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24231 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2024, on how many occasions the minimum level of one clinical supervisor for every five NHS 24 call handlers on shift has not been met, in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-24767

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent support is being offered to NHS boards to ensure that the elimination of hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern in Scotland is achieved by the end of the 2024-25 financial year.

The Scottish Government remains committed to achieving the elimination of hepatitis C (HCV) in Scotland by the end of the 2024-25 financial year. However, we know that achieving elimination and meeting our target will take a concerted effort at national and local level.

As outlined in the Scottish Government’s recently published Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (SHBBV) Action Plan 2023-26 , we will be reinstating SHBBV-focused visits to NHS Boards. This is part of our ongoing work to support boards on a case-by-case basis to understand their unique circumstances and help overcome barriers they may face to achieving HCV elimination and other SHBBV goals. We will also continue to work with the Hepatitis C Elimination Implementation Group to consider where support is most required.

Question reference: S6W-24747

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings it has had with and (b) support it has offered to SkyeConnect regarding the development of a long-term tourism management plan for the Isle of Skye, in light of a reported increase in local tourism.

The Scottish Government is committed to growing and diversifying Scotland's visitor economy, and also to ensuring places across the country can develop, manage and benefit from tourism effectively and responsibly.

In August 2023, I met with SkyeConnect to discuss a range of issues related to the local visitor economy. SkyeConnect have received public sector financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for a range of destination development activities, including the development of a post-Covid recovery plan. HIE continue to offer practical support through their existing wide-range of client products and programmes.

In addition, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill would give councils the power to introduce a visitor levy in all or part of their area to raise funding for local tourism facilities and services. Before a visitor levy could be introduced a local authority will be required to consult with local businesses, communities and tourism organisations.

The Scottish Government would welcome any local tourism management plan that is in line with Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy.