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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: S6W-24400

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to make regulations under section 4 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 to enable pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.

Section 4 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) provides the Scottish Ministers with a regulation-making power to enable marriages to become civil partnerships, if the parties so wish. The Scottish Ministers have not yet made regulations under section 4 as the Scottish Government wishes to ensure that couples who change their marriage to civil partnership have full rights and responsibilities, including in relation to reserved and cross-UK border matters. There are potential points arising on aspects of pensions (which are generally reserved) and on the recognition in England and Wales and Northern Ireland of marriages changed to civil partnerships in Scotland.

In line with usual practice, we have, therefore, been in discussions with the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (OSSS) on making an Order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 (legislation.gov.uk) on UK consequential legislation following the 2020 Act.

On 17 November 2022, officials in the OSSS advised Scottish Government officials that “the UK Government is not yet in a position to make a decision on the recognition of converted Scottish civil partnerships in England and Wales.” Following this, Scottish Government officials sent the OSSS on 21 December 2022 a revised policy proposal for a section 104 Order relating to changing marriages to civil partnerships covering the reserved law of Scotland only. There has been no substantive progress on this proposal in 2023.

I have written to the Secretary of State for Scotland to ask about progress in taking forward the proposal we sent to them on 21 December 2022. I also said in my letter to the Secretary of State that if the UK Government does not consider the December 2022 proposal is an appropriate way forward, it would be useful if he could outline what would be appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-24375

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential fire risks associated with electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging points, including any risk of fires in multi-storey car parks.

It is the responsibility of the organisation that fitted the EV charging point(s) to ensure that they are fitted to the correct standard, meeting any regulations and restrictions associated with such devices. This should also be informed by a risk assessment carried out by a competent risk assessor. It is the responsibility of Local Authority Building Control to verify construction projects against the relevant requirements.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service proactively assess the risks of lithium-ion batteries in buildings through incident analysis and provides information and training to operational crews. Where appropriate, businesses and communities are provided with further safety information and guidance.

In addition, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue to engage with the Scottish Government and other partners to consider emerging technologies and research relating to electric vehicle fires.

Question reference: S6W-24437

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any concerns that the Scottish Housing Regulator does not publish any background information or register of interests for individuals whom it appoints to its statutory managers list.

Question reference: S6W-24461

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether its plans for Employment Injury Assistance include (a) accepting or (b) rejecting the recommendations, as they apply in Scotland, in the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council report, Review and Update of the Prescription for Prescribed Disease D1 (Pneumoconiosis).

The Scottish Government is committed to undertaking a public consultation on Employment Injury Assistance (EIA) shortly. As set out in the response to S6W-24459 on 23 January 2023 we continue to engage with UK Government on their response to IIAC’s report. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-24459

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding the impact in Scotland, to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council report, Review and Update of the Prescription for Prescribed Disease D1 (Pneumoconiosis), and what the potential implications are for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit applicants in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-24436

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Housing Regulator's (SHR) appointment of any individuals to its statutory managers list who may also be regularly appointed as independent transfer advisors to housing associations that are subject to SHR statutory intervention could create a potential conflict of interest.

This is a matter for the independent SHR itself to determine in line with the powers given to it by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 to appoint statutory managers. When the Regulator are considering who to appoint from the statutory manager’s list, they will take into account any potential conflicts of interest and would seek to ensure that the appointment has the appropriate experience, skills and expertise for the specific appointment.

Question reference: S6W-24274

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it put forward any sites for nomination for UNESCO World Heritage Site status assessment in 2023, and, if so, whether it can provide details of the nominations.

UNESCO membership is reserved to the UK Government, which is the State Party to the convention, responsible for the UK’s general compliance with the World Heritage Convention and for nominating sites.

The UK Government, as the State Party to the World Heritage Convention, submitted a nomination proposal for The Flow Country in 2023.

‎As the member will know, the Flow Country is the most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world and straddles Caithness and Sutherland. It comprises a complex set of interlinked pool systems and micro features that not only host an eye-catching flora and fauna but also play a vital role in our defence against the effects of climate change.

It is expected that a decision on whether to add the site to the World Heritage List will be taken at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting on 21-31 July 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23885

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many probationer teachers are currently supernumerary.

The total number of Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) probationers allocated to local authorities in May 2023 on a supernumerary basis was 626.

This is the number for which local authorities have declared there are no specific probation places for. Probation numbers fluctuate due to deferrals and drop-outs etc. To date there are over 500 deferrals and withdrawals from this year’s initial cohort so the 600 “supernumerary” figure as of May 2023 does not mean there are 600 surplus teachers.

The teacher workforce planning model estimates future student teacher intake numbers by rolling forward recent patterns in the school pupil and staff censuses and other data including national population projections and teacher wastage and turnover.

Question reference: S6W-23316

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many of the 39 school buildings that have reportedly been identified as still needing a reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) assessment have (a) been confirmed as containing the substance and (b) received a RAG rating for any RAAC identified.

Although it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and main their school estate, the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust continue to be in close contact with local authorities in relation to RAAC in schools. All 32 local authorities have completed all of their assessments.

Safety is the central consideration and there is robust guidance which is followed by every local authority to ensure these settings are safe for the pupils, staff and the public to be in.

Question reference: S6T-01752

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by Homes for Scotland highlighting that almost 700,000 households in Scotland are in housing need.