Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-02033

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect the culture of the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S6O-02031

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture minister has had with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the organisation's Waste and Resources Plan, including any potential impact of the Deposit Return Scheme on its operations.

Question reference: S6O-02051

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing the income threshold for free school meal eligibility for families not currently covered by any free school meal entitlement.

Question reference: S6O-02029

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding concerns over the potential impact in Scotland of the proposed Illegal Migration Bill.

Question reference: S6O-02034

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its culture policies can help celebrate Scotland's rich social history.

Question reference: S6O-02042

Asked by: Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposals for reforming criminal law to address misogyny will challenge misogyny in society.

Question reference: S6W-15749

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the "keeping pace" power, as set out in the Policy Memorandum for the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, has been used to update Scottish legislation on (a) drinking water standards, (b) food and livestock updates and (c) digital content and services.

For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2022/eu-alignment--continuity-act--6-may.pdf

For the period 1 September 2021 - 31 August 2022 information is also in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/eu-continuity-act--draft-annual-report-for-laying--final--27-oct-2022.pdf

The Scottish Government has used the section 1(1) power in respect of The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022, relating to drinking water standards. These amended the Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014 to implement partially Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption. The section 1(1) power has not been used in relation to food and livestock updates or digital content and services.

Question reference: S6W-15747

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, how many pieces of secondary legislation it has introduced in the Parliament under the "keeping pace" provision that were subject to the (a) affirmative and (b) negative procedure.

For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2022/eu-alignment--continuity-act--6-may.pdf

For the period 1 September 2021 - 31 August 2022 information is also in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/eu-continuity-act--draft-annual-report-for-laying--final--27-oct-2022.pdf

Since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, the Scottish Government has used the section 1(1) power to introduce secondary legislation once, in respect of The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022. This legislation was subject to the affirmative procedure.

Question reference: S6W-15748

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, how many pieces of primary legislation it has introduced in the Parliament under the "keeping pace" provision.

For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2022/eu-alignment--continuity-act--6-may.pdf

For the period 1 September 2021 - 31 August 2022 information is also in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/eu-continuity-act--draft-annual-report-for-laying--final--27-oct-2022.pdf

The Scottish Government has not used the ‘keeping pace’ power in regards to primary legislation. The ‘keeping pace’ power in section 1(1) of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 is a power to make secondary legislation, therefore primary legislation would not be made under the ‘keeping pace’ power.

Question reference: S6W-15721

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to attend the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik in 2023.

Scottish Ministers have attended the Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) every year it has been held since 2016. The Scottish Government remains committed to building on the strong partnership that it has established with the Arctic Circle secretariat, with a view to continuing to showcase relevant Scottish expertise internationally and facilitating Scottish-Arctic collaboration. A decision on Ministerial attendance will be made once an official invitation has been received.

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