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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-05162

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03128 by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021, and in light of the progression of the Nationality and Borders Bill in the UK Parliament, whether it has given further consideration to whether any amendments to the Bill could trigger the need for a legislative consent memorandum, and, if so, in respect of what provisions of the Bill.

The Scottish Government continues to monitor the Nationality and Borders Bill and has not yet concluded legislative consent consideration, following amendments made to the Bill in December.

If we conclude that any provisions in the Bill are on matters within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, or change the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, I will seek to lodge a legislative consent memorandum and will set out the relevant provisions for the consideration of the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-05384

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects top priority data sets, identified through the Equality Data Improvement Programme, to be published.

Through the Equality Data Improvement Programme, officials recently undertook an audit of datasets used by the Scottish Government to identify the extent to which data on each of the nine protected characteristics are collected and published. The next stage, which is underway, will use this information to produce an equality data improvement plan for each analytical area, identifying immediate improvements to datasets that can be completed by the end of 2022 and longer-term improvements that can be completed by the end of 2025. Stakeholders, including equality organisations, will be consulted to help identify priority datasets in Spring 2022.

Question reference: S6W-05188

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the temporary notification directive for incineration application, which covers new and existing applications, also applies to projects that have already begun construction but on which consultation is still being undertaken.

The Energy from Waste (incineration and advanced thermal treatment) Direction 2021 relates to new and existing live planning applications in the planning system.

If an energy from waste project already has planning permission and is under construction, there is no requirement under the terms of the Direction for that project to be notified to Ministers, unless for example a revised or additional planning application for the development is submitted.

Question reference: S6W-05356

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the quantity of electronic waste that is (a) collected, (b) recycled and (c) reused.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 place take-back obligations on retailers and other distributors who sell electrical and electronic equipment. Obligated retailers or distributors must either; i) join the Distributor Take-back Scheme; ii) offer in-store take-back or iii) provide an alternative free take-back service that is available and accessible to customers. WEEE deposited at such facilities, or at household recycling centres, must be managed in accordance with waste management legislation and local planning requirements. These designated collection facilities track the amount of WEEE going for onward treatment, recycling, reuse and disposal.

SEPA regulates waste management activities in Scotland through Waste Management Licences (WMLs) and Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permits. Operators are required to report waste data to SEPA on a quarterly or annual basis as specified in their licence, permit or exemption. Once these statutory waste data are collected and quality assured, they are used to check compliance with the licence or permit, and to fulfil statutory and non-statutory reporting obligations.

Question reference: S6W-05303

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the £49.1 million allocated under the Climate Action and Just Transition Fund, as detailed on page 86 of the draft Budget 2022-23.

Further to the Level 3 data provided throughout the Budget document, Level 4 data can be accessed via the spreadsheet titled ‘Scottish Budget: 2022-23 - Level 4 Data’, available here: Scottish Budget 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A breakdown and description of what the £49.1 million for the Climate Action and Just Transition Fund is allocated toward can be found in the NZ, E & T tab on Row 90.

Question reference: S6W-05491

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of domestic abuse by (a) men against women and (b) women against men were reported to Police Scotland between 1 January and 30 June 2021.

The latest published Official Statistics on the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the Police in Scotland are for the year to 31 March 2021. In the period from 1 January to 31 March 2021, where the victim’s gender was recorded, 80% (9,034) of domestic abuse incidents involved a female victim and a male accused; 17% (1,867) of domestic abuse incidents involved a male victim and a female accused.

Figures showing police recorded domestic abuse incidents are also published in the monthly data reports on how the pandemic has affected the Justice system in Scotland. In the period from 1 April to 30 June 2021 the police recorded 15,749 incidents of domestic abuse. This data is based on management information provided each month by Police Scotland, however we do not at this stage hold any further details on those involved. As standard practice, a gender breakdown will be available when the 2021-22 annual Official Statistics are published later this year.

Question reference: S6W-05624

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on purchasing brand-new furniture in each of the last five years, broken down by each of its departments.

Question reference: S6W-05650

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports of fair work criteria not being applied to the evaluation of bids that resulted in NHS Education for Scotland awarding a contract to Amazon in May 2021.

It is a matter for each individual Public Body to decide how to address Fair Work First in their procurement processes, with decisions being taken on a procurement-by-procurement basis. In accordance with guidance issued by the Scottish Government bodies are expected to apply the Fair Work First criteria to all new regulated procurement processes from 1 April 2021 wherever relevant and proportionate to do so. This procurement process commenced prior to 1 April 2021.

Question reference: S6F-00699

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to Public Health Scotland’s census data, which states that three out of four care home places are now provided by private companies.

Question reference: S6F-00698

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to ScotRail’s plans to cut ticket office opening hours at 120 stations and to close three ticket offices entirely.