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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-04219

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the projected cost is of the national marketing campaign to reduce the stigmatisation of people with a drug problem; how long it will run for; whether it is being targeted to particular locations, and how it is being funded.

We know that people with experience of drug problems, either through their own use or by association often experience stigma and discrimination that can be a barrier to people accessing help and support. We must all act to end the stigma associated with problem drug use.

As part of our efforts to tackle societal stigma, we are launching a national campaign to reduce stigma. The projected cost of the campaign is £900,000 and has been funded by the Scottish Government’s ‘Reducing Drug Deaths’ budget.

The campaign will launch in early December, and run until late February for a total of 8 weeks. The campaign is not targeted to particular locations and will run across Scotland, but utilise regional and local media as well as national media.

Question reference: S6W-03867

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil service jobs have been redistributed to the South Scotland region over the past five years, broken down by area.

During the last five years no civil service jobs within the Scottish Government have been specifically relocated to South Scotland region.

However, in the Scottish Government Main bargaining unit (SGM), which comprises Core SG Directorates and associated Agencies, there are approximately 560 jobs located within the South Scotland region. This represents 4.75% of staff in SGM. For example the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate has regional offices in Ayr, Dumfries, and Galashiels. The Marine Scotland Directorate has coastal operations based in Ayr and Eyemouth. Executive Agencies Accountant in Bankruptcy and Scottish Public Pension Agency are located in Kilwinning and Galashiels respectively.

The Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service, and Forestry and Land Scotland are separate employers and also have a presence all over Scotland, including South Scotland region.

The Scottish Government is piloting a hybrid working model which will enable Scottish Government staff, where the role allows, to have more flexibility in their work location across Scotland and include a mix of home and office working. In March 2021, the Scottish Government’s Population Strategy recognised that changes to working norms may offer new opportunities to support civil servants who wish to live and work in locations outside of our main locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow. As part of this, the Scottish Government committed to actively considering its workplace footprint and exploring the opportunities of distributing its workforce in greater detail. This work is in its early stages. However, as a first step, the Scottish Government will be piloting local hubs outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow so that staff can work at office locations closer to their home.

Question reference: S6W-04061

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the 465 million euros allocated from the European Social Fund for the period 2014-2020 has (a) been spent and (b) returned to the EU as unspent or decommitted funds.

To date, the Scottish Government has committed 393m of European Social Fund (ESF) grant support towards projects that boost smart and inclusive growth across Scotland. The expenditure of the 2014-2020 ESF programme, which is based on paying claims that meet the condition of grant from organisations who deliver projects, is currently 125.6m. Many organisations continue to deliver ESF-supported activities across Scotland and the Scottish Government expects expenditure to increase to meet our 393m commitment before the programme ends in December 2023.

The de-commitment from the original allocation at the start of the ESF Programme is 78.3m, however no money has been returned to the European Commission as unspent or de-committed. The EC, as part of their usual management and governance cycle, automatically de-commits fund allocations from ESF and ERDF Programmes that have not met financial targets during a calendar year. This process applies to all Managing Authorities across the UK and Member States throughout the EU.

It will be possible to fully assess the financial performance of the Programme in summer 2024 when all ESF-supported activities are complete, all claims have been paid and verified and the final declaration is submitted to the EC.

Question reference: S6W-04276

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how many smoke alarms will be disposed of as a result of the new interlinking fire alarm legislation, and what guidance it is giving to local authorities on how to advise people on the best way to dispose of old smoke alarms safely once the law comes into force.

We have not made a formal assessment of how many fire and smoke alarms will be disposed of as a result of the new regulations coming into force in February next year. Fire and smoke alarms are classed as small electrical equipment items and most are suitable for recycling. We encourage people to either return alarms to the retailer or take them to their local authority recycling centres as they already would do together with other items for recycling.

It is possible that awareness of the new standard, which includes the need to replace alarms that are more than ten years old, may lead to an increased number of expired alarms being recycled over the coming months.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) previously published advice on the Management of end-of-life smoke detectors, including advice for businesses and households on safe disposal and promoting the environmentally sound management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) devices.

I am aware of ongoing discussions between industry and Scottish local authorities regarding recycling options of end-of-life smoke alarms as part of Household Waste Recycling Centre provision.

SEPA continue to engage with the WEEE sector and other UK Environment Agencies.

Question reference: S6W-04123

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to public bodies regarding the use of court action in response to industrial and/or strike action.

The Scottish Government’s approach is to promote strong voice and representation for workers such as trade unions to support the delivery of our economic and fair work ambitions, and our relationship with trade unions is based on partnership working.

The Scottish Government was strongly opposed to the Trade Union Act 2016. Whilst we have not issued guidance to our public bodies on this, our position on this legislation had always been very clear. Ultimately, the most effective way to mitigate the negative impacts of this legislation and build stronger and better industrial relations, would be to transfer all powers over industrial relations to Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-04336

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw MSP (on behalf of the SPCB) on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what it considers to be its obligations under the Fair Work Convention with regards to staff employed directly by MSPs.

The SPCB is not the employer of MSPs’ staff. The SPCB’s responsibility is to fund the provisions of the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme, including the Staff Cost Provision, which funds MSPs to employ their staff. MSPs, as the direct employers of their staff, are responsible for ensuring that they meet their legal obligations as employers and that staff are treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

Notwithstanding this, the SPCB has put in place a wide range of measures to support MSPs to adopt good employment practices, including a training and development programme which includes career management guidance and support; fair, consistent and competitive pay ranges and job families, underpinned by a commitment to ensure that MSPs are able to pay their staff at least at the rate of the Living Wage; support with recruitment and policies that aim to support a positive workplace culture. The SPCB also provides dedicated HR resources to support MSPs in their capacity as employers.

The SPCB understands that various parliamentary groups have entered into agreements with trade unions that represent their staff and that some MSPs are applying the principles of the Fair Work Framework. The SPCB, through the People and Culture Group, will continue to support MSPs to do so. In particular, the SPCB has committed to a strategic objective to support MSPs to attract, recruit and retain skilled, motivated and engaged staff who are recognised for their contributions and skills and who work in a positive workplace culture.

Question reference: S6F-00519

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2021

To ask the First Minister what discussions have taken place between the Scottish Government and the postal and banking sectors regarding the continued access to everyday services, particularly for rural, digitally excluded and vulnerable consumers.

Question reference: S6F-00522

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on whether nuclear power is an essential part of Scotland's transition to net zero.

Question reference: S6F-00501

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to a SEPA investigation uncovering the single largest illegal export of household waste from Scotland, resulting in Saica Natur UK Limited being fined £20,000.

Question reference: S6F-00500

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to Rape Crisis Scotland's Survivor Reference Group: Police Responses in Scotland Report.