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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-11191

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the current dentist capacity is in the South Scotland region.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally, however each NHS Board will hold information on dental capacity for their respective areas.

We remain in a position of relative strength in terms of workforce numbers and capacity in Scotland, with 59 dentists per 100,000 of the population providing NHS dental services, compared with 43 per 100,000 in England. Dental registrations project a similar picture, with a record number of people registered with a NHS dentist, more than 95% of the population of Scotland.

Further information on dental statistics, including NHS dental registration numbers broken down by NHS Board, can be found on the Public Health Scotland (PHS) website, at: Dental Statistics (publichealthscotland.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-11333

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the Headteacher Recruitment and Retention Working Group last met.

Question reference: S6W-11391

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many police responses there have been to mental health distress emergency calls in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-11382

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce a Human Rights Bill.

Question reference: S6W-11456

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 10 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the fee for obtaining a registration for a short-term lets licence will cost more depending on the number of occupants that could be accommodated, and, if it is the case, what is the reason for this.

Licence fees are set by licensing authorities to cover their costs in establishing and administering licence schemes in their areas. The Scottish Government has set out in guidance for licensing authorities the parameters that they may want to consider when setting licence fees to ensure fees are affordable for smaller accommodation units.

Larger accommodation units have the potential to generate significantly greater income than smaller units. Secondary letting will also typically yield greater income than home sharing (or home letting for limited periods).

Question reference: S6W-11031

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any (a) internal and (b) external communications involving Scottish Ministers and officials regarding the functions and activities of Fitness for Judicial Office Tribunal proceedings that have taken place in Scotland under the procedure set out in the Act of Sederunt (Fitness for Judicial Office Tribunal Rules) 2015.

To date, there have been two Fitness for Judicial Office tribunals in Scotland. Both remain ongoing.

The Court Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 sets out that the First Minister, must, if requested to do so by the Lord President, constitute a Fitness for Judicial Office tribunal. Once constituted, under the Act of Sederunt (Fitness for Judicial Office Tribunal Rules) 2015, the process and procedure of the tribunal is a matter for the Lord President and the Chair of the tribunal and not Scottish Ministers.

Once the tribunal have made their decision, the First Minister will lay the tribunal’s report before the Scottish Parliament. Until such a time, it would not be appropriate to provide further details relating to these tribunals as the process is ongoing.

Question reference: S6W-11260

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the reported proposal from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) to delay the introduction of short-term lets licensing in light of the current cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6W-11455

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 10 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason planning permission is required for obtaining a short-term lets licence for flats, but not houses.

In a control area, change of use of a dwellinghouse, which is not a host's only or principal home, to provide short-term lets will always require planning permission. This applies to both houses and flats. In a control area, it is a mandatory condition of licence that planning permission has been obtained or an application is in progress.

Outwith a control area, planning permission may be required where local planning authorities determine a proposed change of use is material, on a case-by-case basis.

In all cases, each planning application will be determined on its individual planning merits in line with local development plan and policies unless there are material planning considerations that would justify a departure from the development plan.

Question reference: S6W-11362

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to strengthen legislation in regard to improving the safety and welfare of racing dogs, particularly those involved in racing on any unlicensed, or so-called "flapper", tracks.

The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, ensures that action can be taken if the welfare needs of greyhounds are not being met. This applies whether the dogs are still racing or retired. Part 2 of the Act applies to all persons responsible for animals, including breeders, trainers and owners of racing greyhounds.

The Scottish Government strengthened this Act via the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 so those found guilty of cruelty offences now face up to five years imprisonment and unlimited fines.

The Scottish Government has gone further, announcing on 06 October (S6M-05949 – Greyhound Racing in Scotland ) that greyhound racing would be included in the planned consultation on extending licensing legislation to animal care services which may include dog training, walking and grooming services.

Question reference: S6O-01472

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether independent fiscal forecasts should be published alongside significant fiscal policy events.