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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-05294

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings of the 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts by the Auditor General, that the financial support provided to businesses such as Burntisland Fabrications Limited, Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited, Prestwick Airport and the Lochaber Aluminium Smelter (Liberty Group) has not delivered expected outcomes and is unlikely to achieve value for money.

The Scottish Government’s investments in private companies are made in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), supported by a clear economic and commercial rationale and have represented value for money at the time of the investment. While these investments are not without commercial risk, our interventions have protected hundreds of jobs and delivered a national economic return by safeguarding vital businesses and supply chains.

We are working closely with Audit Scotland to strengthen the framework for decisions on future investments in private companies. The SPFM will be updated in January 2022 following feedback from Audit Scotland on planned enhancements to our approach.

Question reference: S6W-05183

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed timeline for the review of the Scottish Prison Service Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy, including the expected timing of internal and external stakeholder consultation, and at what point the review is currently.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The review of SPS’ Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment policy is taking place in two main stages. The first stage involves an in depth analysis of evidence that has emerged since the existing SPS policy was introduced. This work is underway and will directly inform the development work for the next stage.

The second stage is a series of discussions with key stakeholders which will involve:

engagement with prison staff who have experience of working with transgender persons in Scotland’s prisons, commencing December 2021.
a series of interviews with transgender persons in prison, commencing January 2022.
a survey of individuals living in custody across establishments in Scotland, commencing February 2022.
an invitation being extended to identified stakeholders for one to one discussions with SPS between February and May 2022. This will include invitations to organisations representing communities of interest and identity.

In tandem with stakeholder discussions, the current policy will be available on the SPS website to invite comment and feedback from other interested parties. The full analysis of stakeholder feedback and evidence and a refreshed policy position is expected to be concluded in 2022.

Question reference: S6W-05386

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many public bodies’ carbon management plans are assessed annually.

Since 2015-16, around 180 listed Scottish public bodies have been required to report annually on compliance with their statutory climate change duties. To assess progress on emissions reduction, the Scottish Government funds the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) Secretariat to produce an annual analysis of the submitted reports. Reported emissions from the public sector continue to decrease, with Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions down 28.5% since mandatory reporting began in 2015-16.

Question reference: S6T-00415

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an explanation of its decision not to proceed with the sale of Glasgow Prestwick Airport at the present time.

Question reference: S6T-00399

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist young people to access the expanded free bus travel scheme.

Question reference: S6F-00662

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government can provide to people struggling to pay their energy bills.

Question reference: S6F-00665

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what data the Scottish Government has collected on the number of people diagnosed with cancer, and the stage at which they were diagnosed, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how this compares with pre-pandemic data.

Question reference: S6F-00650

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government will take to urgently progress the green transition in North Ayrshire, following the closure of Hunterston B power station on 7 January.

Question reference: S6F-00639

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what deadline the Scottish Government has set for making any further changes to this year's SQA examinations process.

Question reference: S6F-00636

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.