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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-04186

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the creation of a Lead MS Nurse for Scotland and the development of this as a leadership role.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Scotland are able to receive the best possible care and support and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

Since 2015, the Scottish Government has provided £2.4 million annually to improve specialist nursing services. NHS Boards make the decision on where to prioritise this funding based on local need. NHS Boards are expected to ensure that patients, including those who require MS services, have access to a range of professionals to provide the appropriate management of their condition.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to create a lead MS nurse post, but is willing to consider and discuss any proposals received.

Question reference: S6W-04162

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Slurry Storage Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

The following table summarises the rejected Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications, specifically Slurry Store, that have been appealed. It records the number of applications that were (a) upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Please note that the 2015 round did not include a Slurry Store option and that the 2020 round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer. Slurry Store is not a Management Option, it is capital only, and as such was not included in the round.

The 2021 round that closed at the beginning of July 2021 was also extended. These applications are still being assessed.

Year	Application Type	Applications Reviewed	Review Upheld (decision changed to approve)	Awaiting Decision
2015	Slurry Store	NA*	-	-
2016	Slurry Store	0	0	0
2017	Slurry Store	0	0	0
2018	Slurry Store	3	0	0
2019	Slurry Store	5	0	0

* Application type not included in Round

Question reference: S6W-04161

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many rejected applications to the Improving Public Access Agri-Environment Climate Scheme have been appealed, and of those how many (a) were upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

The following table summarises the rejected Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) applications, specifically Improving Public Access (IPA), that have been appealed. It records the number of applications that were (a) upheld following appeal and (b) are awaiting a decision, in each year since 2015.

Please note that the 2020 round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer. IPA is not a Management Option, it is capital only, and as such was not included in the round.

The 2021 round that closed at the beginning of July 2021 was also extended. These applications are still being assessed.

Year	Application Type	Applications Reviewed	Review Upheld (decision changed to approve)	Awaiting Decision
2015	Improving Public Access	0	0	0
2016	Improving Public Access	0	0	0
2017	Improving Public Access	<3	<3	0
2018	Improving Public Access	10	<3	0
2019	Improving Public Access	NA*	-	-

* Application type not included in Round

Question reference: S6W-04105

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Steel Sector Round Table will next meet.

My predecessor chaired the Scottish Steel Sector Round Table (SSRT) on a biannual basis. The SSRT completed the work on a report into the state of the steel sector in Scotland at its last meeting on 2 November 2020.

The main concern for the steel industry continues to be energy prices, especially in the light of recent price rises, and the impact this has on wider developments in the industry. Energy is a matter reserved to the UK Government, which earlier this year revived the UK Steel Council. I am a member of this Council and continue to press for progress on matters key to the success of the steel sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-03849

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that owners of electric vehicles can easily charge them in Scotland.

Since 2013 we have invested over £50 million in Chargeplace Scotland (CPS), Scotland’s public charging network, which now has more than 2000 publicly available chargepoints. Figures show that Scotland is leading the way on electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The latest figures show that Scottish electric vehicle drivers benefit from almost 40 public charge points per one hundred thousand people, compared to fewer than 30 in England, Just over 20 in Wales and less than 20 in Northern Ireland.

We also provide funding for the Domestic Chargepoint fund which supports the people of Scotland by providing grant funding of £250 (£350 for those in remote parts of Scotland) to install a Domestic Chargepoint at their home. To date this fund has supported the installation of almost 12,000 Domestic Chargepoints to a value of just over £4m.

Our Business (non-Public) Chargepoint fund has helped almost 1300 businesses to install chargepoints for the sole use of occupiers, staff and visitors to a value of just under £10m.

We are currently consulting on draft policy options for the installation of electric vehicle charge points in a number of different buildings types, including an option that sets out a minimum requirement for all new residential buildings with parking spaces.

Transport Scotland are working with Scottish Futures Trust and industry to consider the most appropriate structures and approach to growing and developing charging infrastructure, lever commercial investment and engaging commercial operators to develop the public electric vehicle charge point network at scale and at speed across all of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-03826

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of jobs that will be supported by the Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) contract for two new ferries for the Isle of Islay.

The responses to the invitation to tender (ITT) for the two new ferries are expected in December 2021. The responses to the ITT will be evaluated with the preferred bidder identified by February 2022, numbers of jobs that will be supported can be advised when the preferred bidder and the programme is finalised. The investment in these vessels does of course support the communities served by the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service and the jobs associated with the economies on these islands.

Question reference: S6W-03852

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the system operator for electric vehicle charging was changed in July 2021.

Question reference: S6W-03721

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, what the anticipated benefits were of the double-tracking and electrification of the East Kilbride line in relation to (a) modal shift, (b) rail passenger numbers and (c) any potential increase in timetabled services, and how each of these have been impacted by its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking.

The benefits of the project, post Covid-19, remain the same in terms of delivering a carbon free journey for rail passengers along the entire length of the route and has been improved by the inclusion of a range of accessibility improvements at key stations. This includes a new station at Hairmyres which will also be an active travel and interchange hub.

This preferred option was recommended by and agreed with rail industry partners Network Rail and ScotRail following detailed consideration of a wide range of options, the business case appraisal of which has followed appropriate Scottish Government processes. This analysis took account of ScotRail’s pre-covid passenger count data and the industry’s forecasted post-Covid demand patterns, which the preferred combined electrified double and single track option will be able to serve fully and more reliably than the current diesel train operation.

Question reference: S6W-03114

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to dedicate at least 5% of community health and social care spend to family support services by 2030, how much it currently invests in community health and social care, and what level of spend it anticipates this will reach by 2030.

NHS Boards and Integration Authorities currently spend approximately £9.6 billion across community health and social care. Future year budgets will be determined by the relevant spending reviews and budget processes.

The 2021-22 Programme for Government sets out the Scottish Government's commitment to invest at least £500 million over the life of the Parliament to create a Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. We will work closely with The Promise and partners in local government and the third sector to develop the Wellbeing Fund, in line with outcomes from the forthcoming Scottish Budget.

Question reference: S6T-00293

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a legal opinion stating that local authorities cannot use their byelaw powers to implement buffer zones at NHS reproductive health facilities, how it will ensure that women have access to these services free from harassment.