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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-06007

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to ban the extraction of peat for horticulture.

The draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) supports the protection of soils, including peat and carbon rich soils, which have a critical role to play in helping the country reach its net zero target by sequestering and storing carbon. In relation to commercial peat extraction, the draft NPF4 sets out that development proposals for new commercial peat extraction, including extensions to existing sites, should not be supported unless the extracted peat is supporting an industry of national importance to Scotland.

We have also pledged to ban the sale of peat related gardening products as a part of our wider effort to phase out the use of peat in horticulture and will launch a consultation on this matter in due course.

Question reference: S6W-06000

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its vision and proposal for a new system of rural support, in conjunction with a detailed net zero roadmap for the transition of farming businesses and practices, in order to provide certainty in relation to the support and payments that will be put in place to achieve this.

The Scottish Government will publish its vision shortly.

The vision outlines our aim to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

The Scottish Government is required by statute to publish progress on our proposals for rural support no later than 31 December 2024 and we will do so well ahead of that deadline.

The draft of the next Climate Change Plan will set out how we will continue to reduce emissions from agriculture and include policies and proposals to ensure the agriculture sector plays its part in meeting our ambitious net zero national target.

This government has also committed to maintaining basic payments at their current level for the lifetime of this Parliament, to provide farmers and crofters with financial stability and certainty.

Question reference: S6W-06411

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-00755

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the interests and livelihoods of tenant farmers are not unduly impacted by its tree planting initiatives.

Scottish Government agricultural officials are consulted on woodland creation proposals, including the planting on prime agricultural land or whole farm schemes, to ensure the interests and livelihoods of farm businesses are not unduly impacted and where possible they actually benefit and impacts are mitigated.

In addition the Scottish Government supports a farmer and crofter-led initiative, which has a network of farm woodland demonstration sites across Scotland, showcasing how growing trees can boost farming businesses.

Question reference: S6W-06253

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the precise technical purpose was of it owning the Dalzell steelworks for a short period.

Question reference: S6W-06479

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when a report on Year 1 of the National Transition Training Fund will be published.

The National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) was established in October 2020 as a key intervention to mitigate the projected rise in unemployment resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and was positioned to help fill a gap in how we supported individuals, aged 25+, who had lost their job or whose jobs were at risk as a result of the pandemic.

In response to recent Parliamentary Questions and in the NTTF / Young Person’s Guarantee Debate on 9 November 2021 we committed to publishing a report summarising the outcomes of Year 1. The report on Year 1 of NTTF has been published on the Scottish Government Website at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/978-1-80201-962-9 .

Question reference: S6W-06254

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether there were any benefits to TATA or Liberty Steel from the Scottish Government owning the Dalzell steelworks for a short period, and, if so, what any benefits were.

Question reference: S6W-05862

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether reducing opening hours at rail ticket offices will increase or reduce services to assist (a) (i) disabled, (ii) women, (iii) visually impaired and (iv) digitally excluded passengers and (b) passengers with mobility problems.

ScotRail's review, the first of its kind in over 30 years, proposes changes to contribute to the modernisation of Scotland’s stations and offer passengers a more efficient and cost effective service for the future.

The consultation has enabled rail users including (a) (i) disabled, (ii) women, (iii) visually impaired and (iv) digitally excluded passengers and (b) passengers with mobility concerns to get involved in the process where all contributions will be considered before a final decision is made.

ScotRail has commenced a Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) regarding the ticket office opening hours consultation, the DIA process will reflect all feedback received and takes account a range of potentially impacted groups.

The purpose of the public consultation is to enable passengers and stakeholders to provide specific feedback on how the proposals impact their journey compared to ScotRail’s current ticket office opening hours. It is worth highlighting Abellio ScotRail do not plan to reduce current staffing levels and have committed to improve staff visibility and customer assistance.

Following the completion of the ticket office consultation and analysis, I will consider its recommendations, including those from the Diversity Impact Assessment.

Question reference: S6W-05573

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which Serco Caledonian Sleeper’s treatment of its staff is consistent with the application of its Fair Work Framework.

Question reference: S6W-06004

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what exact date the previous stroke care guidelines expired.

The stroke care guidelines in question were developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Information and archived guidelines are available at: https://sign.ac.uk/our-guidelines/ . The dates for withdrawal of these stroke guidelines are in the following table:

SIGN 119	Management of patients with stroke: Identification and management of dysphagia	Published 2010	Withdrawn June 2020
SIGN 118	Management of patients with stroke: Rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning	Published 2010	Withdrawn June 2020
SIGN 108	Management of patients with stroke or TIA: Assessment, investigation, immediate management	Published 2008	Withdrawn July 2018

In the absence of a SIGN guideline, clinicians are expected to use good-quality evidence-based guidelines such as the fifth edition of the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke ( https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/guidelines-policy/stroke-guidelines ) or guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The ultimate judgement must be made by the appropriate health and social care professional(s) responsible for clinical decisions regarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan.