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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-22318

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much flax fibre is currently produced annually in Scotland, and what assessment has been made of any potential benefits of increased production.

Question reference: S6W-22223

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether the second National Marine Plan (NMP2) will require Regional Marine Plans that are produced in line with the latest scientific and economic evidence, and in consultation with all stakeholders.

The new National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) is being developed with stakeholders and regional planners. Once adopted, the new NMP2 will provide the context for future regional marine planning by setting the vision for the sustainable management of our marine space. The updated NMP2 will also set national aims and objectives for marine planning as well as set out how these will be supported by regional objectives. The NMP2 will provide a new focus on regional issues and priorities which could be considered within future regional plans.

Regional marine plans must be in conformity with the National Marine Plan currently in effect, unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise, and are developed by delegates known as Marine Planning Partnerships. The current Plan sets out that the precise approach and coverage of the regional plan will be for these Partnerships to determine based on local priorities and taking account of existing partnerships, methodologies and alignment with other local plans.

The requirements for public consultation on a marine plan and assessment of the condition and review of the physical, environmental, social, cultural and economic characteristics of a region are set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Question reference: S6W-21861

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its regular discussions with the Scottish Law Commission on its work programme, whether it can confirm if the commission is looking specifically at work-related involuntary act culpable homicide as part of its review of homicide law.

Paragraph 1.27 of the Scottish Law Commission's Homicide Project Discussion paper indicates corporate homicide is one of a number of topics that the Commission will not be considering as part of their project. As paragraph 1.27 and associated footnotes indicates, a Bill was presented to the Scottish Parliament in 2020 in this area of law and the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament made a statement that the Bill was not within the legislative competence of the Parliament. The Commission's Homicide project relates to matters which would be within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-22321

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established a long-term strategy for sustainable fibre production in Scotland, and, if so, what the goals of the strategy are.

Question reference: S6W-22377

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding changing the licensing regime to increase the production of industrial hemp in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22225

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023

The purpose of Scotland’s National Marine Plan is to set out the strategic policies for the sustainable development of our marine resources. Regional marine plans are currently being developed for three out of the eleven defined Scottish Marine Regions (Orkney, Shetland and the Clyde). Unlike the National Marine Plan, which ‘must’ be prepared and adopted under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, regional marine plans ‘may’ be prepared and adopted, under the same legislation. It is not within the scope of any National Marine Plan to require the production of Regional Marine Plans by a set date.

Question reference: S6W-22362

Asked by: Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received free university tuition since it was first introduced.

Question reference: S6T-01623

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in response to reports of widespread violence against police officers and firefighters over the Bonfire Night period.

Question reference: S6T-01624

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking following Reform Scotland’s recent report, NHS 2048: Future-proofing Scotland’s Health and Social Care, which found that 11 NHS boards have seen waiting times for hip operations at least double from the point of decision since 2019.

Question reference: S6F-02520

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is supporting renters who are struggling with the cost of living.