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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-08703

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing mandatory braille labelling on food products.

The majority of food law which applies in Scotland stems from European Union legislation and after an extensive process to ensure that it remains operational after the UK’s departure from the EU, the detail of the requirements remains in place.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has responsibility for the policies surrounding food labelling in Scotland and are currently working closely with policy officials across GB in the day to day business in this respect.

While there is no timescale at present, in due course, the food labelling legislation will be subject to review, which is likely to be a significant task and will need to be informed by EU developments on food information. During the review process consideration will be given to which areas and policy approaches are appropriate for Scotland and in a GB context this will also include England and Wales. Policy considerations are expected to include mandatory braille labelling and/or how the use of barcoded food information and new technology could help in this area.

Question reference: S6W-08691

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the short life working group, which it has tasked with helping to design the fundamental principles of a new model to challenge men’s demand for prostitution.

The final formal meeting of the short life working group was held on 19 April 2022. The insights from the group and it’s reference group are being taken into account in the drafting of the fundamental principles, with further targeted stakeholder engagement planned prior to their finalisation, including further discussion with the short life working group planned for later this month. The principles will be published later this year.

Question reference: S6W-08693

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to fulfil the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to tackle prostitution as a form of violence against women.

Programme for Government includes a commitment to develop a model for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution.

This model will aim to reduce stigma and criminalisation experienced by women and encourage better access to services.

There are several considerations which must be made in designing the model, including ensuring its alignment to the Equally Safe Strategy and our unique legal landscape in Scotland. The model must operate effectively not only to hold those who buy sex to account, but to deter them from purchasing sex. Any changes proposed to the current criminal law would require legislation to be brought before Parliament in the normal way in due course.

The criminal law is only one aspect of the model and it is vital that a package of measures is developed in parallel to underpin any changes which are brought forward.

Question reference: S6W-08673

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made regarding the impact of proposals to require the number of calories to be added to menus in the out-of-home food sector on those managing eating disorders.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on whether, and if so how, to introduce mandatory calorie labelling in the Out Of Home Sector in Scotland. The consultation closes on 1 July and can be found at: https://consult.gov.scot/population-health/mandatory-calorie-labelling/ .

The consultation encourages those who may find calorie information upsetting – for example, people with disordered eating, eating disorders, distress around eating, or people with a higher weight – to comment on the proposals.

Responses to the consultation will help inform the further development of policy proposals as well as impact assessments. We are aware of concerns expressed by those affected by eating disorders and are taking those seriously as part of the impact assessment process. Officials engage regularly with Beat, the leading charity for those with an eating disorder, to ensure that we fully understand the nature of its concerns and to share any supporting evidence where available.

In addition, officials, in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland and Public Health Scotland colleagues, are conducting a Health Inequalities Impact Assessment. This includes, among other things, direct engagement with those who have clinical expertise in relation to eating disorders as well as weight stigma experts.

Question reference: S6W-08696

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 7 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has the power to introduce legislation that prohibits so-called pimping websites, which profit from advertising individuals for prostitution, from operating in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-01208

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022

To ask the First Minister, in light of reported findings from the children’s charity, Aberlour, that over £1 million is owed in school meal debt, whether it will provide an update on its plans to expand universal free school meal provision in order to support families struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6F-01203

Asked by: Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the Scottish Government's Super Sponsor scheme for displaced Ukrainians.

Question reference: S6F-01196

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government will take to ensure that victims of rape and domestic abuse are not retraumatised as a result of plans to allow them to formally meet those who harmed them.

Question reference: S6F-01193

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on work to close the attainment gap.

Question reference: S6F-01189

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2022

To ask the First Minister what changes have been made since the 2018 report by the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland regarding concerns about the restraint of children in schools.