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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-37409

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent economics teachers there are in each local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-37328

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the Low Emission Zone Support Fund for households since its introduction; what proportion of that was allocated to be used for eligible households within the relevant area in Aberdeen, and how much of that allocation was distributed to eligible households.

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Support Fund has allocated £13,775,000 to households and businesses within 20km of any LEZ in Scotland since 2020. To date £7,684,695 has been paid out to households in Scotland.

There was no set allocation per city, to households or to businesses. This allowed flexibility to respond to demand dependant on applications received each year.

I can advise that £464,688 of this funding has been awarded to households within 20km of the Aberdeen LEZ.

Question reference: S6W-37333

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of Child Winter Heating Payments reportedly increased by 115% during the winter of 2024-25, compared with 2020-21.

The latest published Official Statistics for Child Winter Heating Payment show the number of payments issued increased from 18,365 for winter 2020-2021 to 39,590 for winter 2024-2025.

Of the winter 2024-2025 payments issued by 8 April 2025, 93% were for children or young people eligible through Child Disability Payment, with the remaining 7% for those eligible through Adult Disability Payment. Published statistics for Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment show there has been an increase in the respective caseloads over time, which will have contributed to an increase in those receiving Child Winter Heating Payment.

Entitlement to Child Winter Heating Payment was expanded in November 2021 to include anyone up to the age of 19 in receipt of the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.

In addition to this, since winter 2022 it has also paid to young people up to the age of 19 in receipt of the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

Social Security Scotland pays Child Winter Heating Payments automatically to eligible children and young people, so most families do not need to apply.

Question reference: S6W-37407

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any evaluation of the pre-arrest diversion from drugs programme trialled by the Drug Deaths Taskforce in Inverclyde and the Highland Council area.

The regular reporting in achieving progress and outcomes of both these programmes are collated through the Corra Foundation.

An evaluation of the Inverclyde Early Help in Police Custody Service found that there were practical challenges involved in covering such a vast geographical. However, the project demonstrated good progress towards an effective model of early intervention support for people who use drugs and alcohol that are caught up in the justice system.

A range of methods are being used to collate the learning and impact of the Pathfinder programme that originated in the Inverness area. Due to a lack of referrals in that area the project is now based in Dundee, Lanarkshire and Glasgow, and a full evaluation will be available when it concludes in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-37470

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many sellers of tobacco-based products have had their registration with the Scottish Tobacco Register removed in 2024-25 due to committing three breaches of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 and Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 within a two-year period.

Question reference: S6W-37403

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value was of illegal vapes confiscated by Police Scotland or trading standard officers in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-37401

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued in relation to the (a) enforcement of confiscation and (b) prosecution of the sale of illegal vapes.

The Scottish Government have not issued any guidance in relation to enforcement or prosecution of the sale of illegal vapes.

Any guidance in relation to prosecution of these matters would be entirely a matter for the Lord Advocate, in her independent role as head of the systems of criminal prosecution in Scotland.

No such guidance has been issued. Any allegation of criminality which is reported to COPFS would be considered on its own facts and circumstances and in line with the Prosecution Code.

Question reference: S6W-37493

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has conducted of the dynamic policing model pilot at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, and whether it included input from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, sheriff clerks, and other key stakeholders on its effectiveness and safety.

Question reference: S6W-37492

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any safety implications for (a) court staff and (b) the public arising from the reported shift from static to dynamic policing in court buildings, as piloted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Question reference: S6W-37494

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address reported concerns raised by court staff regarding their safety in courtrooms where the police presence has been reduced under the dynamic policing model pilot.