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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.

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Question reference: S6W-11854

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the level of any financial assistance requested by any potential buyer of Stoneywood Mill, Aberdeen, which could have prevented the closure of the mill.

Question reference: S6W-11614

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to consult the NHS and other stakeholders as it updates its Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Framework.

Work is currently underway to develop an updated Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Framework.

The Scottish Government has set up a steering group to bring together key stakeholders from across the sector to ensure that the new Framework is fit for purpose and supports ambitions to preserve Scotland's capability to deliver world-leading sexual health services, whilst also identifying key priorities which will require dedicated focus over the coming years.

The steering group, which includes representatives from NHS Boards, Public Health Scotland and third sector organisations, has been consulted on the content and format of the updated Framework, and they will continue to be called upon to comment on the document at all stages of development.

Broader consultation will also be undertaken during the drafting process, to ensure a wide range of stakeholder views can be heard.

Question reference: S6W-11747

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08833 by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2022, whether it will publish the gateway review in full, and whether it is the case that the review has not yet been published because it is reportedly highly critical of the Deposit Return Scheme and the progress made.

The latest Gateway Review into our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was carried out in May 2022. In line with standard practice for this type of review, the Scottish Government put in place an action plan to address recommendations. We have working with the Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, and industry to address recommendations and launch the UK’s first DRS, as planned, on 16 August 2023.

The action plan, and progress against recommendations, has now been assessed by the review team. We will look to publish the recommendations of the review, and our response in due course.

Question reference: S6W-11593

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, whether it expects any disruption to the Caledonian Sleeper service when the Franchise Agreement with Serco is terminated.

Question reference: S6W-11596

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, whether operation of the Caledonian Sleeper will transfer to the operator of last resort from June 2023.

In accordance with the requirements of the Railways Act 1993 and the Scottish Ministers’ Franchising Policy Statement, consideration is being given to the successor arrangement for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper services.

Scottish Ministers have to work within the relevant current legislation, principally the Railways Act 1993, which neither we, nor the Scottish Parliament have powers to change.

Question reference: S6W-11595

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, whether the Caledonian Sleeper will continue to provide at least the same level of service frequency as it does at present, when it the Franchise Agreement with Serco is terminated in June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-11564

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider the decision to end the provision of free COVID-19 lateral flow test kits for vulnerable adults.

Thanks to the progress we have made with widespread vaccination and new Covid treatments, which have reduced the severe health harms of the virus, the purpose of testing has changed from population-wide testing to reduce transmission to targeted testing to support clinical care. As a result, most people in Scotland no longer need to test for Covid.

Some people do remain at higher risk – primarily people who are immunosuppressed. These people should continue to follow the advice of their GP or specialist clinician, who best know their health condition and individual circumstances. Those that have a health condition which means they’re eligible for Covid treatments can continue to access testing.

Question reference: S6W-11764

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 31 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any guarantees have been obtained from the prospective purchaser of Kinloch Castle on Rum in relation to continued access by residents over land in front of the castle and, if this is the case, whether it will provide the details of any such guarantees.

Following a meeting with the Isle of Rum Community Trust on Wednesday 2 nd November, I agreed that more time is necessary to work with the community to try and secure a positive future for the Castle, that can be supported by the community on the Isle of Rum. Any changes to the vehicle servitude rights in front of the castle would in any case require the agreement of the Isle of Rum Community Trust.

Question reference: S6W-11667

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 21 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Safer Buildings Accord has been agreed.

The Scottish Safer Buildings Accord is an ambitious attempt to secure the cooperation of Scotland’s leading developers to address the cladding problem. It is a complex and commercially sensitive negotiation. The Scottish Government has held productive discussions with Homes for Scotland and developers in recent months and subject to satisfactorily concluding negotiations the Accord will be agreed and signed in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S6W-11660

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what funding streams have been affected by the £53 million reduction in Employability spending announced by the Deputy First Minister in September 2022, and how many jobs would have been supported by this spending had it not been reduced.

The £53 million announced as a saving was intended to support additional employability activity around child poverty in 2022-23. At a time of acute labour shortages, historically low unemployment and soaring inflation, we have taken the view that we must prioritise money in people’s pockets now over spending on employability which is unlikely to result in immediate benefits for individuals, but this is not a decision we have taken lightly. However, this decision will not result in services people are already accessing being reduced. We have maintained our core investment in employability this year, with over £82 million available to ensure those who require support will continue to receive it.

Our commitments in Best Start Bright Futures were made over the lifetime of the plan. Whilst this decision will have an impact on the numbers we aimed to support this year, our commitment to ensuring employability plays its part in tackling child poverty remains. Employment outcomes are subject to a time lag depending on the length of time an individual requires support. In addition, our services are voluntary, demand led, and based on the principle of supporting people into the right job at the right time – low quality jobs that are quickly gained will not necessarily lead to an increase in household income and a reduction in poverty.