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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: S6O-00368

Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support Argyll and Bute to benefit from the transition to net zero.

Question reference: S6O-00361

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider local government reform in relation to the redrawing of local authority areas, in light of the reported issues associated with new boundaries for the Highland Council area.

Question reference: S6O-00367

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation is being undertaken with communities regarding next year’s summer timetable for ferry routes within the CalMac network.

Question reference: S6O-00365

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for infrastructure investment in the Coatbridge and Chryston constituency.

Question reference: S6O-00310

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to claims by the British Dental Association Scotland that “plans to return NHS practices to pre-COVID models of work may devastate dental services".

I have recently written to the profession about our plans for the recovery of NHS dental services.

Our commitment as a Government is to build back NHS dentistry, and ensure that NHS dental teams are focused on the need to tackle the backlog in routine dental care. Our NHS dental teams have been working hard throughout this pandemic in difficult circumstances, and it’s important that they feel supported by Government and representative bodies.

Which is why we have recently detailed a package of new improvements to support NHS dental teams, including new enhanced examination fees for all patients, both children and adults, with a particular emphasis on children and tackling oral health inequalities. This builds on recent announcements of £7.5m for new dental drills and £5m for ventilation improvements.

We want to build on what has been a hugely successful policy of protecting NHS dentistry during this pandemic period. We have provided £50m of financial support payments, in addition to between £30 and £35m of free PPE since the beginning of the pandemic, to ensure NHS dental services emerge well placed to care for the oral health of the population.

Question reference: S6W-03989

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to allay any public concerns about the cost of replacing household gas or electric heating systems with air source heat pumps.

The Scottish Government has committed to invest at least £1.8 billion over the course of this parliament to kick-start market growth in zero emissions heat and energy efficiency, and to support those least able to pay. Households in or at risk of fuel poverty can receive support through Warmer Homes Scotland and our local authority-led Area Based Schemes. In addition, through Home Energy Scotland we offer low and zero interest loans and cashback grants for energy efficiency and zero emissions heating systems.

We are working to develop an appropriate market framework to support consumers, and to secure further private investment to help meet the costs of the transition. We are establishing a Green Heat Finance Taskforce. We continue to work with the UK Government and press for measures to address market disincentives to switching to zero emissions heat.

Home Energy Scotland provide free, impartial advice and can be contacted on 0800 808 2282.

Question reference: S6W-03806

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what due diligence was carried out on Astraius prior to the memorandum of understanding being signed with Prestwick Spaceport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport, together with its partner South Ayrshire Council, signed a memorandum of understanding with Astraius to enable horizontal space launch activity from the planned Prestwick Spaceport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government, in compliance with our obligations under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU. Ministers do not intervene in the commercial discussions at the airport.

It is for the airport’s management team to consider all potential business opportunities to maximise the use of the assets of the airport and build on the progress which has already been made.

Question reference: S6W-03732

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that eligibility criteria for business support provides accessibility for co-operative business models.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that co-operative business models play in our economy and there is a significant and increasing interest in co-operative business models in Scotland.

Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) is the arm of Scottish Enterprise working in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise to support company growth through collaborative, co-operative and employee ownership business models. CDS raises awareness of the value of co-operative and employee ownership models, and provides specialist advice. Its services are integrated to those of Scottish Enterprise (SE), Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway.

Scotland for EO is the industry leadership group for employee owned businesses in Scotland, established in 2018 to empower the employee owned sector to direct its own development. Led by industry working in partnership with the public sector, the group champions employee ownership in Scotland and drives industry-wide collaboration and alignment.

Co-operative business models including Trusts, Partnerships and Community Interest Companies have all been eligible for the Covid-19 financial support made available to support businesses impacted by restrictions, including the Strategic Framework Business Fund, Sector Top up Funds and the Business Restart Grant.

Question reference: S6W-03625

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question SW6-02439 by Tom Arthur on 14 September 2021, whether it has ever reviewed how local authorities manage those parts of their budgets that are market driven, for example, material sales.

How local authorities manage market driven budgets are a matter for individual local authorities who are autonomous bodies, responsible for managing their own day to day business and answerable to their electorates. In view of this it would not be appropriate for the Scottish government to interfere in that local democratic process. Local authorities must use their resources as efficiently as possible and deliver services effectively to ensure taxpayers get the best possible value.

However, the Scottish Government continue to meet with COSLA and local authorities on a regular basis to cover a range of topics, including current and future budget pressures.

Question reference: S6W-03504

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses the Scottish National Investment Bank has invested in each year, broken down by how much it has invested, and how many businesses it plans to invest in in each of the next five years.

The Scottish National Investment Bank only opened in November 2020 but has so far committed over £120 million to eight businesses and projects in line with its strategic missions. Details of the each of the Bank’s investments are published on the Bank’s ‘Our Portfolio’ page: https://www.thebank.scot/our-portfolio/ .

In 2020-21 it invested in two businesses and projects with a total commitment of £52.5 million and so far in 2021-22 the Bank has committed £68.4 million to a further six businesses. The Bank’s forward plans are set out in the business plan and investment strategy which can be found on the Bank’s ‘Publications’ page: https://www.thebank.scot/publications/ .

The Bank has been established to make investments independently of Government but in line with the strategic missions set for it by Ministers. The pace of investment and investment decisions are therefore matters for the Bank’s board. The Scottish Government is committed to providing the Bank with £1 billion of funding for investment during the course of this parliament.