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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-09576

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been undertaken regarding the re-establishment of the NHS 24 Musculoskeletal (MSK) Helpline.

NHS 24 conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Helpline data on the use of the service as well as examining the service model. This will inform the development of a new pathway, with particular consideration being given to digital options and a more preventative approach.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09575 on 25 July 2022 for the next steps. 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-09694

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current reported prison population of 7,427 is too high.

There continues to be an increase in the prison population since the easing of lockdown, which has been largely driven by growth in the remand population. We continue to monitor the prison population to ensure prisons remain safe and well ordered.

We are taking actions and working towards using imprisonment only for those who pose a risk of serious harm and only be contemplated where absolutely necessary.

We are making a total investment of over £3.1 billion in 2022-23 to strengthen and reform vital services across the justice sector including substantial expansion of community justice services supporting diversion from prosecution, alternatives to remand and community sentencing.

The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Scottish Parliament on 8 June 2022. The provisions of this Bill are intended to introduce a number of reforms designed to deliver on the Scottish Government’s commitment to refocus how imprisonment is used. They are intended to ensure that, as much as possible, the use of custody for remand is a last resort for the court, and to give a greater focus to the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals leaving custody.

We are also investing over £500 million in the prison estate over this parliamentary term which will allow the Scottish Prison Services to meet the needs of the diverse prison population, realise the associated benefits and ensure equality of access to regimes and services.

Question reference: S6W-09733

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of all meetings of the industry advisory group for talent.

Question reference: S6W-09732

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government who sits on the industry advisory group for talent.

Membership of the Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction comprises:

Shona Artale; Q 2 Solutions (Life Sciences); Justin Black; Hays (Recruitment); Craig Clark; Space Scotland (Space Sector); Mark Cowan; Scottish Leather Group (Advanced Manufacture: Mechanical); Shona Darroch; Diodes (Advanced Manufacture: Electronic); Steven Grier; Microsoft (UK) (Tech Sector); Colin Halpin; Scottish Financial Enterprise (Financial Services); Gordon McGuinness; Skills Development Scotland (Skills Agency); Julie Morrison; Scottish Enterprise (Enterprise Agency); Sarah Ronald; Nile HQ (FinTech); Greig Rooney; Valneva (Inward Investment); Ross Tuffee; Digital Technology Skills Group (Tech Sector); and Morag Watson; Scottish Renewables (Renewables).

Question reference: S6W-09734

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the industry advisory group for talent has met, and when it is next due to meet.

Question reference: S6W-09735

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in connection with the industry advisory group for talent, what locations in the rest of the UK have been identified as places to seek to attract talent from, and which specific skills it is seeking to attract from each of those locations.

Question reference: S6W-09513

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ease the current workload of epilepsy specialist nurses.

Question reference: S6W-09241

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that all checks that it has carried out since the publication of its Guidance on due diligence: human rights (a) fully comply with the guidance and (b) take account of the nature and sensitivity of the relationship with the person or organisation being checked, and what the (i) minimum and (ii) maximum scope and depth of these checks has been.

Question reference: S6W-09238

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of non-compliance with its Guidance on due diligence: human rights have been reported since the guidance was published in 2018.

Question reference: S6W-09359

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the current timelines are for (a) delivering the vessel concept design and (b) the award of the first vessel construction contract in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.