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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-05711

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the Inner Sound Management Group will next meet, in light of the judgment of the Inner House of the Court of Session in relation to the Inner Sound Pilot Scheme.

Establishing an Inner Sound Management Advisory Group was one of the recommendations from a report of 26 February 2020 regarding a pilot scheme proposal for the Inner Sound of Skye.

The landscape surrounding inshore fisheries management has however changed significantly over this two year period, with the publication of a new fisheries management strategy and the marine elements of the Bute House agreement.

Development of inshore fisheries management in Scotland will continue to be channelled through our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs), including for the waters around Skye. The RIFG network brings fishers together to work with Government, and in partnership, help deliver management that protects the marine environment and supports a strong, sustainable, and resilient fishing industry.

Question reference: S6W-05720

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been guaranteed a pipeline of low-carbon work.

Looking ahead, we don’t yet know all the products or technologies that will be needed to achieve our climate change targets. However, we are clear that we want a Just Transition, where Scottish-based businesses, their wider supply chains and our local communities understand and benefit from the deliberate shift needed. We want SMEs to be at the heart of this transition, making green products for both the domestic and export markets.

To help facilitate this, the Scottish Government has committed over £2 billion of capital funding over the next parliament to deliver low carbon and natural infrastructure. This includes a number of funds supporting businesses in both making the transition to net zero, as well as supporting them to innovate and improve their green products and services and related research and development. We are already ensuring Scottish SME’s are instrumental in the Scottish Business base. In 2019-2020 the total Scottish public body procurement spend with SMEs was £5.4 billion. This amounts to 46.2% of all spend. 58 pence in every pound spent with suppliers in Scotland in 2019 to 2020 went to an SME.

Looking to the future, the recent ScotWind announcement is one example of ensuring the future investment in our supply chains, that will provide a scale of opportunity for Scotland that will be transformational.

Question reference: S6W-05662

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many non-disclosure agreements SQA employees have been asked to sign in each of the last five years, and for what reasons.

I have asked SQA to respond:

SQA has not entered into any non-disclosure agreements in the past 5 years. In accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual, SQA has entered into settlement agreements and COT3 agreements both of which include a confidentiality clause. A COT3 is a form of settlement agreement which is reached with the assistance of ACAS, usually before a tribunal takes place. The agreements do not under any circumstances prevent an employee from making a protected disclosure under whistleblowing legislation.

Please find below the numbers of settlement agreements and COT3 agreements over the last 5 years.

2018

1 settlement agreement

2 COT3 agreements

2019

2 settlement agreement

2020

2 COT3 agreements

Due to the very small numbers involved, SQA cannot provide details of the reasons as this could lead to identification of individuals and would be in breach of data protection.

Question reference: S6W-05729

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address digital inequalities, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since May 2020, the Scottish Government has invested over £48 million in our Connecting Scotland programme, which provides people on low incomes with a device, connection with unlimited data for two years, as well as training and support. Since programme launch 60,000 digitally excluded people in total have been brought online. We are now working to scope out an extension to the programme to reach 300,000 people by the end of this Parliament.

The programme is part of our wider package of support to help everyone in Scotland benefit fully from the advantages of the digital world – from broadband connectivity to digital skills training and support for schools and business.

Question reference: S6O-00718

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of failure to comply with the 20 mph in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale have been recorded since its introduction, including how many fines were subsequently issued, as part of the enforcement of 20 mph speed limits.

Question reference: S6O-00722

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £10 Christmas payment will continue to be paid by the DWP to recipients of Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment once the benefits are fully devolved.

Question reference: S6O-00716

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its draft Budget will enable local authorities to deliver a consistent level of core services.

Question reference: S6O-00721

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in dealing with instances of bullying in schools.

Question reference: S6O-00717

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce trials for a four-day working week.

Question reference: S6O-00719

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the outdoor education sector since December 2021.