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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-06832

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the use of non-disclosure agreements by government bodies and agencies.

Conjoined answer for SGW-06820, SGW-06831, SGW-06832

Severance arrangements and the scrutiny of severance cases follow the process set out in SPFM. This includes arrangements around voluntary exits and settlement agreements and use of confidentiality clauses.
‎Data in relation to settlement and the number of confidentiality clauses in Scottish Government and Public bodies, NHSScotland and Scottish Funding Council overseen bodies is held from 2014 and, since then, has been provided to parliament annually – see links to previous reports. 2020-21 data will be published imminently.
‎We do not hold information prior to 2014, nor do we hold information in respect of local authorities.

SG and public bodies, NHS and SFC Data. - CC = confidentiality clause.

Year	SG and public bodies	SG/PB CC	NHS	NHS CC	SFC	SFC CC
2019 - 2020	24	16	26	0	17	11
2018 - 2019	24	16	33	0	13	10
2017 - 2018	39	28	24	3	46	43
2016 - 2017	23	14	36	2	11	9
2015 - 2016	50	36	25	1	13	10
2014 - 2015	23	21	30	13	14	13
TOTAL	209	143	197	19	137	107

Review of the use of confidentiality clauses will be included in the routine evaluation of the severance policy.

Question reference: S6W-06831

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many non-disclosure agreements have been signed by (a) NHS boards, (b) local authorities and (c) its agencies in each year since 1999.

Conjoined answer for S6W-06820, S6W-06831, S6W-06832

Severance arrangements and the scrutiny of severance cases follow the process set out in SPFM . This includes arrangements around voluntary exits and settlement agreements and use of confidentiality clauses.
Data in relation to settlement and the number of confidentiality clauses in Scottish Government and Public bodies, NHSScotland and Scottish Funding Council overseen bodies is held from 2014 and, since then, has been provided to parliament annually – see links to previous reports . 2020-21 data will be published imminently.
We do not hold information prior to 2014, nor do we hold information in respect of local authorities.

SG and public bodies, NHS and SFC Data. - CC = confidentiality clause.

Year	SG and public bodies	SG/PB CC	NHS	NHS CC	SFC	SFC CC
2019 - 2020	24	16	26	0	17	11
2018 - 2019	24	16	33	0	13	10
2017 - 2018	39	28	24	3	46	43
2016 - 2017	23	14	36	2	11	9
2015 - 2016	50	36	25	1	13	10
2014 - 2015	23	21	30	13	14	13

Review of the use of confidentiality clauses will be included in the routine evaluation of the severance policy.

Question reference: S6W-06912

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many older people who are in relative or absolute poverty it estimates have applied for schemes such as Warmer Homes Scotland and similar government schemes in order to make it through this winter and afford basic needs such as heating and food.

Eligibility for Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS) does not operate on an “application” basis, but on proxies which are used as an indication of the likelihood of the household living in or being at risk of fuel poverty.

Eligible callers to Home Energy Scotland, looking for advice or help are referred to WHS. Both the householder and the property must meet the qualifying criteria to receive assistance from Warmer Homes Scotland.

A total of 1,467 referrals to WHS during the period 1 November 2021 and 28 February 2022 were made from those who were 60 years and above.

Monitoring information for other winter support schemes will become available at the end of the current financial year and we intend to publish that information once available.

Question reference: S6W-06642

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out further analysis regarding its estimate of the 67,000 applications for the self-isolation support grant that are expected to be received in 2021/22 and, if so, whether its estimate has changed.

The Self-Isolation Support Grant (SISG) is designed to help workers who have to self-isolate for the required period to stop the onward spread of the virus. As a result, eligibility for the Grant aligns to the wider isolation policy. This means that forecasts are subject to a high degree of uncertainty because of the unpredictability of the virus and consequent human action.

The SISG is delivered by local authorities using local processes and systems. The differences between them mean that estimated application rates would be unreliable. Instead forecast award rates based on projected prevalence of the virus is used.

Our latest forecast of SISG awards for the 2021-22 financial year is between 90,000 and 110,000, with a central forecast of 100,000. The model will be updated soon with the latest available data; these figures may change as a result.

Question reference: S6W-06961

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made of the impact of fire appliances, both those staffed by wholetime and retained firefighters, being taken off the run due to staffing levels.

Question reference: S6F-00918

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government anticipates meeting the interim targets set out in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.

Question reference: S6F-00920

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the waste of unsold, durable goods in Scotland, in line with the net zero targets.

Question reference: S6F-00908

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

To ask the First Minister when construction of the National Treatment Centres, which are due to open this year, is completed, whether they will have sufficient staff to begin tackling the Scotland-wide patient backlog.

Question reference: S6F-00901

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

Question reference: S6F-00896

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.