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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-16406

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on pupils in relation to their (a) ability to learn, (b) attention span, (c) discipline, (d) resilience and (e) communication skills.

As noted in the answer to question S6W-16405 on 18 April 2023, the Scottish Government carried out a number of Impact Assessments during the pandemic to help inform key decisions and to understand their impact on those at risk and on vulnerable groups, including learners. These impact assessments went wider than the specific concerns raised in this question and considered issues including children’s rights and wellbeing, equalities, as well as, the impact on island communities. These Impact Assessments have been published on the Scottish Government website and links have been provided in the answer to question S6W-16405. 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-16468

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with An Lanntair since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

An Lanntair are a key stakeholder of our public bodies. The Scottish Government has not met An Lanntair directly during this period, however Highlands and Islands Enterprise hold regular meetings with An Lanntair, normally on a monthly basis, to discuss operational matters.

In addition, as they are a regularly funded organisation (RFO), An Lanntair has met with Creative Scotland during this period through virtual and in-person meetings, and phone calls.

The key outcomes from those discussions include (i) funding levels, (ii) additional financial support from the various Scottish Government COVID-19 Emergency Funds and (iii) updates of An Lanntair’s ongoing RFO activity including artistic planning, annual review and annual reporting.

The Scottish Government will continue to have regular dialogue with the culture sector and, given the recent changes in the Scottish Government Ministerial team, introductory meetings between relevant Ministers and Creative Scotland and partners across the sector are currently being considered.

Question reference: S6W-16407

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how long it anticipates it will take for pupils to recover from any loss of education as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government recognises the impact which the Covid-19 pandemic had on children and young people in Scotland, particularly the closing of schools and learning lost as a result. This is in common with children and young people across the world.

School staff and pupils should be commended for the way in which they adapted to online learning during the pandemic. We are determined to do everything we can to support children, young people and that every child and young person in Scotland will have the opportunity to fulfil their potential as they progress through the education system and on to positive destinations.

We have worked with partners to support learners recovery, including a National e-Learning Offer, the procurement of more than 70,000 digital devices and 14,000 connectivity packages as well as significant investment in education recovery including Pupil Equity Funding and funding for education authorities to recruit additional staff.

Question reference: S6W-16173

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15741 by Ben Macpherson on 23 March 2023, whether it will provide updated figures on how many people received the Winter Heating Payment in February 2023, and how many outstanding payments remained to be made as of 20 March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-16904

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reduce sewage in rivers, in light of reported Scottish Water data that states that sewage was discharged into Scotland’s rivers 14,000 times in 2022.

Question reference: S6W-16077

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14616 by Lorna Slater on 6 March 2023, what specific steps it has taken to ensure that SEPA, as the Deposit Return Scheme regulator, has sufficient resources to provide “advice and guidance as the preferred route to achieving compliance for businesses who are striving to meet their obligations” under the scheme, in light of reports that Circularity Scotland is still unable to supply producers with all the information that they have requested.

SEPA has been provided funding by the Scottish Government to establish their regulatory service for the scheme. Once the scheme is operational, SEPA will be funded for the service via the producer registration fees collected. The Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for Scotland 2020 regulations provide that businesses with a taxable turnover in excess of £85,000 will pay an annual £365 fee when registering as a producer for Scotland's DRS. This regulatory activity will include provision of advice and guidance to businesses to support them in achieving compliance.

Question reference: S6W-16094

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), in relation to the notice for a contractor to provide taxi services (Public Contracts Scotland reference FEB471362), how many (a) applications have been received, (b) applicants completed the required Declaration of Non-Involvement in Serious Organised Crime and (c) applicants were rejected as a result of, or following, advice provided to the SPCB by Police Scotland.

The SPCB’s procurement function operates in accordance with its published Procurement Strategy and established industry practice including guidance published by the Scottish Government. There are robust processes in place to deliver sustainable contracts that provide best value for money and resilient supply chain governance.

To support this strategy, and in line with procurement regulations, as a matter of policy the SPCB does not publish specific information regarding contracts or tenders which might prejudice fair competition, which would prejudice the commercial interests of any person or organisation or otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

I am therefore limited in the detail I can provide in response to your questions. I can confirm that two quotations were submitted for the contract advertised as FEB471362.

The SPCB has made the decision to award the contract to provide taxi services to City Cabs (Edinburgh) Limited in line with the advertised requirements.

Question reference: S6T-01312

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue it anticipates that local authorities would be able to raise, in light of its reported proposals to enable them to double council tax on second homes.

Question reference: S6T-01313

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Deposit Return Scheme, in light of the First Minister recently stating that he was actively looking at options around the scheme and that he was "taking advice".

Question reference: S6F-02027

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2023

To ask the First Minister, in light of his recent visit to the Port of Aberdeen, what engagement he has had with the business community since taking office.