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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-14616

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Circularity Scotland is unable to provide detailed guidance on compliance with the Deposit Return Scheme ahead of the producer registration deadline.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the regulator for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.

SEPA has agreed that, where there are clearly evidenced operational challenges, they will take a proportionate approach to compliance. They have committed to providing advice and guidance as the preferred route to achieving compliance for businesses who are striving to meet their obligations.

Any business with questions or concerns about registration should contact Circularity Scotland for advice and guidance. They can do this via their website or their dedicated helpline.

Question reference: S6W-14757

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many release sites there are for non-native gamebirds in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-14564

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed reduction in the Major Public Transport Projects budget for 2023-24 will have any impact on the delivery of the rail projects outlined in Transport Scotland’s Control Period 6 plans.

Rail enhancement projects successfully completed in Control Period 6 include Queen Street station redevelopment, new stations at Robroyston, Reston and Inverness Airport and Far North Enhancements. The Glasgow to Barrhead electrification project and the new East Linton station remain on schedule to be completed within Control Period 6.

As a result of the proposed reduction on the Major Public Transport Projects budget for 2023-24 there is limited impact on Transport Scotland’s Control Period 6 plans. There are rail projects that commenced in Control Period 6 and have been planned to span into Control Period 7. These projects that will be delivered in Control Period 7 include the reopening of the railway to Levenmouth, including two new stations at Leven and Cameron Bridge, works to electrify the railway from Haymarket to Dalmeny and the electrification of the East Kilbride route.

Question reference: S6W-14360

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light if the reported commitment made by Alex Salmond in 2006 that if he were to become Scotland's First Minister in 2007 the first decision he would make, within 100 days, would be to dual the road between Ellon and Peterhead, whether it still plans to dual this section of the A90, and, if this is not the case, when it formally decided not to proceed with this commitment in the north east.

Question reference: S6W-14533

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) length, (b) beam and (c) maximum operational draught will be of (i) Hull 802, currently under construction for CMAL and (ii) the two vessels that CMAL has ordered from the Cemre Marin Endustri yard to serve on the Uig to Lochmaddy and Uig to Tarbert ferry routes.

Question reference: S6W-14542

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the two vessels that CMAL has ordered from the Cemre Marin Endustri yard to serve on the Uig to Lochmaddy and Uig to Tarbert ferry routes will have Changing Places toilets, and whether it can confirm whether all future new ferries will have Changing Places toilet facilities.

Question reference: S6W-15163

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of Police Scotland Special Constables fell to 423 in 2022, compared with 1,394 in 2014, and what steps it is taking to increase the number of Special Constables.

The Scottish Government is grateful to Special Constables who are an integral part of Police Scotland’s workforce mix.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on Police Scotland’s Special Constable programme. Statistics on Special Constable numbers and recruitment are a matter for the Chief Constable.

Whilst Police Scotland are actively recruiting they have in recent years focused their investment on fully trained Special Constables who are willing to deploy regularly and able to fully support officers in our communities.

Question reference: S6W-15256

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, of the couples who are claiming social security benefits in Scotland, how many have a (a) woman and (b) man as the lead claimant.

Social Security Scotland does not routinely produce information on couples claiming social security benefits.

Information on the characteristics of applicants, including gender, is published as part of Official Statistics publications on Social Security Scotland client diversity and equalities analysis.

These statistics were most recently published in September 2021 and are available at: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/social-security-scotland-client-diversity-and-equalities-analysis-to-may-2021.

There is currently work being undertaken to produce an update to this publication, which will be published by the end of summer 2023. This will cover the period from June 2021 to October 2022.

Question reference: S6W-15026

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on time chartering vessels, including catamarans, to provide additional capacity on the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

Question reference: S6W-15224

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the recommendations contained within the report of the Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody have been (a) implemented and (b) introduced into the system, broken down by each of the five themes.

A follow up report detailing progress on implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody was published in December 2022. This is available at: Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody: progress report - follow up .

Gillian Imery was appointed as an external chair to provide strategic leadership and oversight of the implementation in April last year and reported on progress.

The progress report outlined that three recommendations have been implemented and introduced into the system and another recommendation has been partially implemented and introduced into the system. Broken down by theme these are:

Theme 1: Family contact with the prison and involvement in care

(a) and (b) 1 (recommendation 1.4)

Theme 2: Policies and processes after a death

(a) and (b) 1, partially implemented (recommendation 2.2)

Theme 3: Family contact and support following a death

(a) and (b) 1 (recommendation 3.1)

Theme 4: Support for staff and other people held in prison after a death

(a) and (b) 0

Theme 5: SPS and NHS documentation concerning a death

(a) and (b) 1 (recommendation 5.4)

The progress report recognises that some of the issues are complex and will take some time to resolve and implement. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the other agencies responsible for delivery including the Scottish Prison Service and NHS to continue to develop compassionate and robust processes that meet the needs of those in custody and their families.

A further report on progress will be prepared by Gillian Imery which is expected to be published later this year.