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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: S6F-00250

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to prevent cyber-attacks on public bodies.

Question reference: S6F-00235

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-00236

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-02582

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding whether the (a) individuals and (b) organisations on the Ferry Industry Advisory Group have been consulted, as part of the current review of transport governance structures in Scotland, being carried out by Jacobs UK Limited for Transport Scotland.

Scottish Government officials engaged ferry stakeholders, including some representatives also on the Ferry Industry Advisory Group, as part of the National Transport Strategy review, which included the review of transport governance.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02580 on 13 September 2021 on stakeholders engaged by Jacobs as part of the review on transport governance structures in Scotland. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

In addition, a review of the current legal structures and governance arrangements around the provision of ferry services is underway. As part of this review, we will work with all key stakeholders to ensure the most efficient and best value arrangement to deliver our key lifeline ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-02530

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance the NHS is using to signpost people with long COVID to pulmonary rehabilitation services.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 161 provides guidance on managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 including signposting people to rehabilitation services where required.

In addition the Implementation Support Note , which has been developed in consultation with people with lived experience, third sector organisations, and healthcare professionals, provides primary care teams with practical information on identifying, assessing and helping people with long COVID to access the services relevant to their individual needs.

Question reference: S6W-02623

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to schools regarding the identification of food on their menu that contains pork.

The Scottish Government published updated guidance on Healthy Eating in Schools on our website in February 2021. This guidance is available on our website through the following link: Healthy eating in schools: guidance 2020 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Our guidance recognises that cultural traditions, religious beliefs and faiths can have a significant impact on the kind of food we eat, how it is prepared and even how or when it is eaten. Therefore the guidance advises that local authorities may wish to work with their school communities to include a statement within their school food policy that reflects the diversity of their particular school population.

Although the guidance makes no specific reference to what action should be taken to identify foods containing pork or other animal products, where a child or young person or their parents/carers request a special diet, whether that be for medical or cultural reasons, we would expect schools and local authorities to accommodate any such requests.

Question reference: S6W-02618

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to alleviate any impact of the shortage of blood specimen collection tubes.

The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), NHS Boards and other partners to manage supply issues relating to certain blood collection tubes.

NSS is continuing to meet supply requirements and all of NHS Scotland services are currently operating as normal. A number of resilience measures have been activated by NSS and they are working in partnership with clinical and laboratory colleagues, suppliers and NHS colleagues across the UK. NSS is reviewing the medium-term supply position closely and is seeking to ensure products remain available.

Guidance about best practice in diagnostic test use was issued on 20 August 2021.

Question reference: S6W-02624

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the Tesla Model 3 has been identified as the most suitable fully-electric vehicles to meet the needs of the Government Car Service.

The reasons why the Tesla Model 3 Long Range was chosen were:-

1. The vehicles have capacity to transport up to 4 passengers, with sufficient interior space to allow business to be conducted effectively whilst traveling between engagements.

2. The vehicles are fully electric; ensuring that the Scottish Government continues to honour its commitment to decarbonisation.

3. The vehicles, at the time of purchase, had the highest geographical range in the market sector, offering overall value for money.

Question reference: S6W-02587

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the examination diet not taking place in each of the last two years, whether the SQA will provide all (a) state and (b) independent/private schools with a rebate in examination fees, similar to that offered by other exam providers elsewhere in the rest of the UK, including non-public sector providers.

Charges for National Qualifications have remained unchanged since 2012-13 despite changes in costs. While charges contribute towards the cost of awarding National Qualifications they do not cover the full costs. In addition, 2020 and 2021 late entry fees have been waived and there have been no charges for appeals. There are therefore no plans to reimburse National Qualifications payments.

For 2021, SQA estimates that the costs of providing certification for national qualifications was £41.7m, while income from local authorities, colleges and independent schools is expected to be £30.5m. The remaining cost is covered by SQA’s grant in aid budget from the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-02605

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what measures, policies or strategies it has in place to help prevent family breakdown.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the Promise, supporting families to stay together in a safe and loving environment, and reducing the amount of children who are taken into care. Fundamentally, Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is the Scottish Government's approach to supporting children and young people. It supports families and helps to prevent family breakdown by making sure children and young people can receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people. GIRFEC is a strengths-based approach and is underpinned by principles that include working in partnership with families, and providing an early offer of support to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

The Scottish Government also recognises more needs to be done to transform the system of holistic support that is provided to families. The Programme for Government 2021 commits to investing at least £500 million over the life of this Parliament to create a Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. This will enable the building of universal, holistic support services, available in communities across Scotland, giving families access to the help they need, where and when they need it. Furthermore, our ambition is that from 2030, we will be investing at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend in preventative whole family support measures that will enable us to continue to Keep The Promise.

In addition, the Scottish Government continues to deliver a range of policies aimed at supporting the specific needs of children, young people and families. For example:

National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (published 2 September 2021), which places greater emphasis on prevention and support and working with children and families to reduce the risk of harm.
Development of a Framework to improve holistic family support for families affected by a loved one's drug or alcohol abuse.
£120 million through our Recovery and Renewal fund to address the mental health impacts of Covid-19 including a range of actions addressing relationship support.
Funding to Relationships Scotland, who provide a number of services including family mediation, relationship counselling and “parenting apart” classes.