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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-26897

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS Scotland services and departments still use paper-based medical records.

Question reference: S6W-26895

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing with faith groups, including churches, to ensure that they understand how the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 potentially impacts on their practice, in light of reports that some faith communities are unsure about what impact the Act could have on them.

Question reference: S6W-26900

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously serving police officers.

Question reference: S6W-26745

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars, (c) lorries and (d) coaches were carried on the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

The information requested is available on the Scottish Transport Statistics 2023, published on 27 March 2024, at Tables 9.15 and 9.16 and via CalMac’s website and can be found by following the links below:

www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-transport-statistics-2023/

www.calmac.co.uk/corporate/your-carrying-statistics

The carryings statistics for 2023 on the CalMac website, are up until 16 May 2023, although further carryings should be available in due course.

Question reference: S6W-26628

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the geographic coverage of police officers trained to handle dangerous dogs for the purposes of enforcing rules on XL Bully dogs.

As noted in my response to S6W-25097 on 16 February 2024, it is a matter for Police Scotland to consider the enforcement of the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs and any operational issues that arise.

Every incident presented to Police Scotland is risk assessed. Incidents relating to dogs, including XL Bully dogs, follow the same process whereby the incident is assessed and then graded accordingly. This determines the response which includes working with partner agencies such as Dog Wardens and local vets where appropriate. In addition to working with partners, there are several tactical options at Police Scotland’s disposal dependent on the risk presented. This can involve the deployment of normal response officers, and/or specialist assets such as Dog Handlers, Operational Support Units, Specially Trained Officers (Taser) and Armed Response.

The Scottish Government is committed to ongoing engagement with Police Scotland, and other relevant stakeholders, in order to consider any issues, concerns, or barriers to effective implementation of the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs.

The Scottish Government chairs a regular implementation forum with Police Scotland, local authorities and COSLA to collectively consider any operational/enforcement issues that arise.

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-26746

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars, (c) lorries and (d) coaches were carried on the Lochranza to Claonaig and Tarbert ferry route in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

Question reference: S6W-26627

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether a veterinary surgery is regarded as a public place for the purposes of the rules regarding XL Bully dogs, and, if so, what allowances have been made to allow muzzles to be removed for the purposes of examination by a vet.

Section 10 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 defines “public place” as any street, road or other place (whether or not enclosed) to which the public have, or are permitted to have access, whether for payment or otherwise and includes the common parts of a building containing two or more separate dwellings. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (legislation.gov.uk) .

A veterinary waiting room is likely to be considered a public place for the purposes of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as the public are permitted access. Under the conditions of the exemption, dogs must be on a lead and muzzle when in public.

A veterinary consultation room, where access is limited to veterinary staff from the practice and members of the dog’s household, is likely to be considered a private space for the purposes of the Dangerous Dogs Act. In this instance, if the dog is kept securely in the consultation room and the veterinary staff feel comfortable to do so, the muzzle may be removed.

There will be a need for business owners, including veterinary surgeries, to ensure they carefully consider the legal requirements that have been introduced in relation to XL Bully dogs.

In addition, under section 3 of the Dangerous dogs Act 1991, if any dog is dangerously out of control in any place, including all private property, the owner, or person for the time being in charge of the dog, is guilty of a summary offence.

Question reference: S6W-26717

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish sub-local authority data from Scotland’s Census 2022.

I have asked Janet Egdell, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

The next release of census data will be May 2024. This release will include:

Population by age and sex at all geographies down to output area (unrounded)
Number of households at all geographies down to output area (unrounded)

Please note, output areas are made up of approximately 50 households. Up to date information on future releases can be found on the census outputs schedule webpage .

In line with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Statistics, National Records of Scotland will publish the specific release date and time for each publication at least four weeks in advance.

Question reference: S6W-26544

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a plan for meeting its commitment for 30% of Scottish Government-managed ferries to be low-emission by 2032, in light of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation in its 2023 Report to Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-26747

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars, (c) lorries and (d) coaches were carried on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry route in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.