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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-11694

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the successful bids for Green Freeport status, following the joint bidding process with the UK Government.

Question reference: S6W-11344

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it raised any concerns at a (a) ministerial and (b) official level with CMAL about preferential treatment in procurement relating to Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (i) before and (ii) following the broadcast of the BBC programme, Disclosure: The Great Ferries Scandal.

Procurement for vessels 801 and 802 was the responsibility of CMAL. Scottish Ministers were not aware of any potential impropriety in CMAL’s procurement process.

Following the Disclosure Scotland allegations, Scottish Ministers asked the Permanent Secretary to speak with the Auditor General on this matter and we welcome confirmation that Audit Scotland will be looking at the substance of the allegations and deciding if further audit work is required.

Question reference: S6W-11442

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding new tenancy agreements whereby the tenant remains the same person, whether this is within the scope of the provisions set out in the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Bill for the purposes of a rent cap, or whether an actual gap in time between the tenancies is required.

Provisions within Part 1 of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022, introduce a temporary cap on in-tenancy rent increases. The cap is set at 0% until at least 31 March 2023.

This means that a landlord is able to set the rent for any new tenancy and is allowed to put the rent up between one tenant moving out and the next tenant moving in.

Where a tenant remains the same person, but is required, in line with statutory processes, to be issued with a new tenancy agreement, the rent cap provisions within the Act do not apply.

Question reference: S6W-11399

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the age profile of the NHS midwifery workforce was in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board, in (i) 2016 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Information on what the age profile of the NHS midwifery workforce was in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board, in (i) 2016 and (ii) the most recent year can be found in the following link: NHSScotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

The Employment - demographic tab gives the percentage of the workforce over the age of 55 and the median age, this information can be broken down by board and job role from 2012.

Question reference: S6W-11313

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has applied for funding from the UK Government to undertake initial work on upgrading the A75.

Question reference: S6W-11330

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to environmental organisations, including Friends of the Earth Scotland and the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, who referred to its contributions to the UK Plan of action for decision VII/8s of the UNECE Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, as "woefully inadequate".

The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee has previously welcomed significant progress made by Scotland in strengthening compliance with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention. Work is in progress or planned in relation to the areas of concern which were raised in decision VII/8s. The Scottish Civil Justice Council has been asked to undertake a review of court rules relating to Protective Expenses Orders, and this is currently underway. Following a public consultation which closed in March this year the Scottish Government has introduced an exemption for court fees for Aarhus Convention cases in the Court of Session. This exemption is now in force. Work is underway on planning for a new Human Rights Bill for Scotland, which will include a commitment to a right to a healthy environment. The Scottish Government is committed to introducing legislation to reform legal aid in the course of the current Parliament, informed by ongoing engagement with stakeholders. The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening compliance with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention.

Question reference: S6W-11331

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendations of the UNECE Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention decision VII/8s by the deadline of 1 October 2024.

The implications of the recommendations of decision VII/8s are being considered and work is ongoing to strengthen compliance with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention. A number of strands of work are being undertaken in relation to a review of the court rules governing Protective Expenses Orders, a new Human Rights Bill for Scotland which will include a commitment to a right to a healthy environment, and consideration of Legal Aid Reform in the course of this Parliament. The Scottish Government has already introduced an exemption from court fees for environmental 'Aarhus' cases brought in the Court of Session. In terms of the recommendations that relate directly to unauthorised development within the UK, we are working with the other UK administrations to assess the options and identify appropriate actions.

Question reference: S6W-11328

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to working with stakeholder groups, such as the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, to ensure that the Scottish legal system is fully accessible for those seeking to defend the environment, in time for the deadline set out by the UNECE Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention decision VII/8s of 1 October 2024.

The Scottish Government is always happy to work with stakeholders and fully intends to continue to engage with environmental stakeholder groups going forward. Officials have met with the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland a number of times, most recently on 12 October, and will continue to engage with them and other stakeholders as we look to strengthen our compliance with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention.

Question reference: S6W-11311

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has applied for from the UK Government to put towards scoping work on the A75.

Question reference: S6W-11584

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the flexibility to use its reserves, and whether it has plans to extend any such flexibility to other organisations.

Historic Environment Scotland is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). Under Treasury rules, any underspends generated by NDPBs within a financial year forms part of the wider Scottish Government budget position. NDPBs cannot hold their own reserves from Grant in Aid.

Please be assured that the Scottish Government engages in regular financial discussions with Historic Environment Scotland, as we continue to monitor the impacts of the pandemic and to work within the constraints around current public spending.