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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-08073

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support Ukrainian nationals already studying or who wish to study at college or university in Scotland.

Ukrainians who arrive in Scotland and wish to undertake a course of study in Further or Higher Education will be entitled to home tuition fee status and living cost support for the duration of their studies.

The Scottish Government has also established a new £1 million International Students’ Emergency Fund, which will be open to all international students facing financial hardship as a result of a significant change of circumstances. Ukrainian students who are presently undertaking their course of study in Scotland will be eligible to apply.

Question reference: S6W-07877

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) and the Article 11 Trust on the policing operation at COP26.

It is testament to the hard work and planning of Police Scotland that fewer than 100 COP26-related arrests were made while the event was taking place.

The Netpol/Article 11 report has been carefully considered by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), who now await a report from Independent Advisory Group on the policing of COP26 which is chaired by John Scott QC.

While Police Scotland are operationally independent of ministers, the service continues to learn from their activities on an ongoing basis.

Once the IAG findings are presented, all observations and recommendations will be for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to consider and act upon where appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-07836

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided to victims of stalking.

The Scottish Government has long recognised the hugely damaging impact of stalking and acted to criminalise it via the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

In March 2022 we announced funding of £495,000 over the period 2022-25 from the new Victim Centred Approach Fund to enable Action Against Stalking to deliver expert support to victims and continue their work to improve the understanding of, and response to, stalking behaviours.

We are also providing up to £230,000 a year through the Scottish Legal Aid budget and £384,000 in 2022-23 from the Justice portfolio to the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre to offer free legal information and advice to women experiencing gender based violence, including stalking and harassment.

Question reference: S6W-07790

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide its revised estimate of the entire cost of the Haudagain Improvement project, in light of the reported delayed completion.

Question reference: S6W-07699

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) can and (b) will introduce compulsory training for the Scottish judiciary in relation to disability.

The Lord President of the Court of Session is responsible for making and maintaining appropriate arrangements for the training and guidance of Scotland’s judicial office holders as set out in the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, the Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007. Judicial training is delivered by the Judicial Institute for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-07419

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Zero Waste Scotland report on Operational Assessment of Alternative Residual Waste Treatment Technologies, (a) when it will be published and (b) whether it includes an independent peer review, and, if so, who the peer review was conducted by.

Question reference: S6W-07633

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the starting salary for a police officer in Scotland, and how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

At present, in Scotland a new constable will start on a salary of £26,737, and we understand that in England and Wales the lowest starting salary for a graduate is £21,654, and £19,164 for a PCDA (Police Constable Degree Apprentice).

More information on Police Officer salaries in Scotland can be found on the Police Scotland website using the following link: Pay and Grading Structure - Police Scotland

Question reference: S6W-07536

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme, how many (a) applications it has received and (b) loans have been approved, and what the total value of loans issued is, to date.

The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) to deliver the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

a) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has received 920 applications with a value of £37,822,348.

b) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has offered 662 loans worth £22,859,952 to taxi owners and operators who have passed the credit, affordability and eligibility checks. Owners/operators who are unsuccessful are given the opportunity to appeal the decision directly with EST.

c) To date Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has paid 574 applications to the value of £22,859,952. The remaining 88 applicants are finalising documentation or awaiting confirmed delivery dates for their new vehicles.

Question reference: S6W-07416

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey that over 97% of dog owners own three or fewer dogs, and what engagement it has had with the UK Government to encourage it to reduce the number of pet animals, which may enter Great Britain in a motor vehicle during a single non-commercial movement, to three, in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

The Scottish Government welcomes the research of the Dog’s Trust National Survey, and we will continue to engage with our stakeholders to improve animal welfare.

I would also like to refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07415 on 29 March 2022 regarding their query on engagement between Scottish Government and UK Government in relation to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-07535

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the interest-free Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme will reopen to new applicants, and what action it is taking to promote the loan scheme to (a) taxi operators, (b) vendors and (c) manufacturers.

The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland and its delivery partner Energy Saving Trust (EST), undertake a full review and evaluation of the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme at the end of each financial year. A decision on the future of this scheme will be made shortly.

To promote the loan scheme, EST undertakes comprehensive sector outreach each year, which includes sector events, business referrals, and the publication and dissemination of information and advice, including Vehicle Comparison reports to highlight the benefits of switching to an electric taxi.