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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-00235

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to allow local transport authorities to propose bus services will be implemented.

Following a necessary pause to the implementation of Part 3 (Bus Services) of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 last year owing to the reallocation of national and local government resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, work resumed with a virtual stakeholder event held in March this year.

The outputs of that and ongoing engagement will feed into a consultation paper for launch later this year. That will inform the development of secondary legislation and supporting guidance. The timetable for the introduction of secondary legislation will be dependent, to an extent, on parliamentary process.

Question reference: S6W-00144

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a National 5 qualification in Natural History.

Responsibility for qualifications development sits with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Existing Environmental Science qualifications (available at National 3, National 4, National 5 and Higher) draw from the sciences and social sciences and take a problem-solving approach to attempt to develop solutions that prevent or reverse environmental deterioration and aim for sustainable practices.

As part of the Learning for Sustainability Action Plan, SQA will consider the contribution Learning for Sustainability can make to new or revised qualifications, and will work with stakeholders to provide recognition, signposting or accreditation.

Question reference: S6W-00140

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the COVID-19 vaccination status letter complies with foreign border requirements, particularly those for green list countries.

Question reference: S6W-00145

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the £400 payment to secondary school teachers and lecturers involved in awarding national qualifications will be made.

Question reference: S6W-00098

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review maximum class numbers for composite classes where there are more than three class age groups, particularly for small rural schools.

Teachers’ terms and conditions stipulate that composite classes cannot exceed 25 pupils. Local authorities have flexibility over how year groups should be balanced within a composite class.

The Scottish Government’s view is that the quality of the teacher and the organisation of the class to meet the range of children’s learning needs are more important factors in the success of children in composite classes, than the composition of the classes themselves. There are no plans to review the arrangements for composite classes.

Question reference: S6W-00101

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence is available to support the continued need for pupils to wear face coverings in schools.

The Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues discussed the issue of face coverings in secondary schools at its meeting on 1 June. While vaccination is being rolled out, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as face coverings are the main public health tool against COVID-19. There is a wealth of evidence supporting the efficacy of face coverings, and their use is supported by the WHO in its checklist to support school re-opening . Given the current uncertainty around the transmissibility and impact of the new variant of concern (B.1.617.2) the sub-group felt it was best to take a precautionary approach and has advised, therefore, that the current guidance on face coverings in school settings should remain in place. The sub-group will continue to keep the issue under review. You will find all the minutes of sub-group meetings, as well as the sub-group's advice and associated evidence at Coronavirus (COVID 19): Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-00099

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council in response to the reported parental and staff concerns regarding its policy on staff thresholds in small rural schools.

Question reference: S6O-00021

Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support unpaid carers.

Question reference: S6O-00007

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the last meeting of the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group was held.

Question reference: S6O-00009

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the land reform minister regarding measures to be put in place to introduce regional land use partnerships.