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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-17665

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the support and training provided to GPs to recognise the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and related conditions.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are responsible for managing all training provided to doctors in Scotland. NES ensure that all doctors receive high quality training in line with curricula that is set by the relevant Medical Royal College so that they are able to demonstrate that they have met all GMC curricular requirements, in order to practise independently as a GP in the UK.

All GP practices receive funding for protected time consisting of one session a month (usually within practice time) to allow GPs to maintain and develop their training and skills, and those of their practice teams. For GPs after their 3-year training, NES provide educational content related to gastroenterological conditions. There are also Practice-Based Small Group Learning modules (PBSGL) covering cancer and gastroenterology cases.

Question reference: S6W-17494

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted Circularity Scotland on options for delaying the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme beyond 16 August 2023.

Question reference: S6W-17488

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it conducted an analysis of the potential financial impact on (a) registered producers and (b) return point operators before deciding to delay the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme until 1 March 2024.

A) I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17389 on 10 May 2023. 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

B) One of the factors taken into account when considering the timing of launch of the Deposit Return Scheme was feedback from stakeholders. Many large retailers, who are the main return point operators, had publicly stated that they wanted a delay to allow time for preparations for launch and have been supportive of the new launch date since it was announced.

Once the Deposit Return Scheme is launched on 1 March 2024 retailers acting as a manual return point will benefit from retail handling fees in Scotland which are significantly higher than those anywhere else in Europe. While the delay means that there will now be an additional six months until those fees can be charged, this will be offset by many costs not being incurred. In addition, to simplify the scheme for hospitality retailers, provision will be made to remove the duty to act as a return point for retailers where they sell the vast majority of their scheme articles for consumption on their premises.

Question reference: S6W-16914

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether waste collection companies should be investing in electric vehicles, in light of reports that a competitor, Biffa, has procured 198 petrol and diesel vehicles to provide collection services for the Deposit Return Scheme.

The Scottish Government has provided significant investment to accelerate the shift to zero emission transport and continues to provide a range of support to help businesses and individuals make the switch to electric vehicles. However, Biffa is a private company, and investment decisions in vehicles is a matter for them. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to intervene in such commercial arrangements or provide them with financial advice on its procurement of operating vehicles.

Question reference: S6W-17033

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the headcount of the Cladding Remediation Unit has been in each month since January 2022.

Question reference: S6W-17523

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address the so-called "baby blind spot" in the care system as reportedly identified by NSPCC Scotland.

We acknowledge the findings of the report and recognise the importance of providing the right support to families during the early years. Investment in prevention and whole family wellbeing is a key element of our commitment to keep The Promise. This includes training and support in trauma-informed and skilled practice for professionals and annual funding of £3m for embedding infant mental health work across Health Boards.

Young families are entitled to access co-ordinated support across services where need is identified. We are committed to delivering transformational change to improve holistic family support, so that families get the right support, in the right way and at the right time.

Question reference: S6W-17491

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the measures announced by the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity on 20 April 2023 will be the final set of changes to the scope of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-17548

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress on (a) the recommendations in the report, A Review of the Aquaculture Regulatory Process in Scotland, published in February 2022, and (b) establishing a short-term project board.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-01811 on 25 January 2023 which is available on the Parliament's website, the Official Report can be found here: Meeting of the Parliament: 25/01/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website

I am pleased to update that the Scottish Science Advisory Council published the ‘Use of Science and Evidence in Aquaculture Consenting and the Sustainable Development of Scottish Aquaculture’ report on 26 April 2023.

Question reference: S6T-01384

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce violence in schools, in light of reports that three teachers and a 14-year-old pupil have been injured in a disturbance at a Renfrewshire school.

Question reference: S6T-01375

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments made by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland that the Scottish Government has “absolutely" failed to deliver for children.

Month	Staff
Jan-22	10
Feb-22	11
Mar-22	13
Apr-22	15
May-22	16
Jun-22	17
Jul-22	16
Aug-22	16
Sep-22	16
Oct-22	17
Nov-22	18
Dec-22	18
Jan-23	20
Feb-23	22
Mar-23	22