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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-12201

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding each local authority has allocated towards the delivery of Community Action Teams in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-12015

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that police officer numbers have dropped to 16,570, and whether it remains its policy intention to restore the number of police officers to 17,234.

Policing is a priority and will continue to be a priority for this Government. Scotland has the most police officers per capita, with the latest data from Scotland, showing that as of 30 September, there were 30 officers per 10,000 population in Scotland. The latest available data from England and Wales (from 31 March) shows there were around 24 officers per 10,000 population.

The HMICS review of Strategic Workforce Planning published this year rightly focused on capacity and capability. It is vitally important that the Chief Constable has the flexibility to develop his workforce in a way that responds to the challenges he faces by ensuring the right workforce mix.

Whilst the recruitment and deployment of police officers and staff in Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable, the Scottish Government will continue to work with Police Scotland and the SPA to protect and prioritise the police response on those areas where police services can add the most value.

Question reference: S6W-12568

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British Irish Council in Blackpool.

On 11 November 2022, the First Minister and I represented the Scottish Government at the Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council hosted by the UK Government in Blackpool. The meeting was attended by Ministers from seven of the eight of the BIC Member Administrations with Northern Ireland represented by senior officials in an observational capacity.

The Prime Minister, who was attending for the separate Heads of Government Council meeting, welcomed delegates to Blackpool on the Thursday evening ahead of the Summit. The Summit meeting itself was chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Michael Gove.

The Summit focussed on Sustainable Economic Growth and Regeneration, and on that topic I attended a site visit to the Lancashire Energy HQ. The Energy HQ is situated within the regenerated Blackpool Enterprise Zone and focusses on training and engineering skills for the sustainable energy sources industry. During the main Summit meeting I reflected on the visit and similar activity undertaken in Scotland to assist our just transition to net zero.

On the latest Political Developments item, the First Minster communicated views on the cost-of-living crisis, EU relations, the climate crisis and the ongoing situation in Ukraine. As well as the Heads of Government Council meeting with the PM and FM Wales, the First Minister also took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at: www.britishirishcouncil.org

38th British-Irish Council Summit, UK Government

11 November 2022

Communiqué

The British-Irish Council (BIC) held its 38th Summit meeting today hosted by the UK Government in Blackpool. The Prime Minister opened the 38th British Irish Council Summit Programme, welcoming delegates to Blackpool on Thursday. A full list of Ministerial participants at the Summit meeting is attached.

As part of the programme, Ministers were invited to visit local businesses to set in context discussions at the plenary meeting on sustainable local growth, which the Secretary of State for Levelling Up chaired.

Latest Political Developments

The Council reflected on the latest political developments across their administrations, and took the opportunity to engage on a number of topics of mutual interest. These included the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the impact of the rising cost of living, shared climate and decarbonisation objectives, and ongoing relations with the EU. The Council received an update on Northern Ireland and looked forward to the restoration of the devolved institutions.

The Council also noted that 2023 would mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and underlined the importance of supporting the effective functioning of all of the agreement’s institutions, including the British-Irish Council.

Sustainable Growth and Regeneration

The Council discussed the topic of sustainable growth and regeneration further during the Summit meeting, considering efforts underway across BIC Member Administrations to stimulate and support sustainable economic growth, the development of more inclusive communities, and to address pressures on housing in particular.

The Council took the opportunity to review recent thematic activity across the BIC’s work sectors aimed at supporting thriving local economies and building sustainable and resilient communities. The Council also noted the recent Ministerial meeting of the BIC Social Inclusion work sector, which took place in Cardiff and where Ministers considered how best administrations can support the growth and development of the Social Enterprise sector.

Next Summit Meeting

The Council noted that the next BIC Summit will be hosted by the Government of Jersey.

BIC Secretariat

11 November 2022

List of Ministerial Delegates Government of Guernsey
Chief Minister	Deputy Peter Ferbrache
Irish Government
Taoiseach	Michel Martin TD
Isle of Man Government
Chief Minister	Alfred Cannan MHK
Government of Jersey
Chief Minister	Kristina Moore
Scottish Government
First Minister	Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity	Lorna Slater MSP
UK Government
Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations	Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Minister of State for Northern Ireland	Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP
Welsh Government
First Minister	Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS

Question reference: S6W-12137

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11423 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022, in what circumstances would Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd have the ability to reject the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 regarding (i) deadweight tonnage, (ii) speed and (iii) fuel consumption.

Question reference: S6W-12164

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates additional funding will be needed for public sector pay settlements in 2022-23 beyond the £714 million that the Deputy First Minister announced as part of the Emergency Budget Review.

Question reference: S6W-11432

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact on the patient experience of multiple GP practices across significant geographical areas being run under what is reportedly more recognisable as a franchise business model.

The Scottish Government believes that the independent contractor model of general practice is the model preferred by most GPs and is committed to maintaining it to ensure general practice remains an attractive profession (the BMA’s “The future of general practice” survey 2015 found that 82% of GPs supported maintaining the status quo).

It is for Health Boards to decide who to contract with to provide primary medical services, making use of such resources as the Health and Care Experience Survey which provides an indication of satisfaction rates across a range of local services, including GP practices, in Scotland as they do so.

Question reference: S6O-01604

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress of the work of the National Audiology Review Group on examining hearing services in NHS boards across Scotland and providing recommendations for a national plan for improvement.

The National Audiology Review Group continues its independent review of services having most recently convened on 25 October. The Cabinet Secretary will shortly be meeting with the Review’s Chair for an update on their progress and their developing recommendations.

The review is pursuing four workstreams encompassing the lived experience, governance, quality assurance and education and will fully report in the new year.

Question reference: S6O-01637

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any recent engagement it has had with the energy sector regarding support for those at risk of fuel poverty.

Question reference: S6O-01638

Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent dialogue it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

Question reference: S6O-01636

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on any discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding infrastructure.