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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: S6O-04370

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its guidance on the use of mobile phones in classrooms.

Question reference: S6O-04355

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action to counter the reported proliferation of child sex abuse images online.

Question reference: S6O-04372

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council regarding the University of Dundee.

Question reference: S6W-34575

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote Scottish seafood exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in light of the resumption of Emirates' direct flights from Edinburgh to Dubai.

The Scottish Government has provided £8.25m to Seafood Scotland since 2021 in their role as Scotland’s national trade and marketing organisation for the seafood industry. This includes funding to help Seafood Scotland facilitate projects which support export market development. We are also providing £672k in 2024-25 towards the Scotland Food & Drink Export Plan, which is helping the food and drink industry exploit the most significant opportunities for Scotland with a team of Scottish Development International (SDI) food and drink in-market specialists situated in key countries around the globe.

SDI has a dedicated food and drink specialist based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who works to promote and support Scottish food and drink companies, including the seafood sector, to unlock new opportunities and increase their exports to the UAE and the wider Middle East. Seafood Scotland, alongside SDI’s in-market specialist, has also worked with Scottish seafood companies to expand opportunities in the UAE. Examples of upcoming activity include:

SDI hosting a pavilion at the Gulfood Trade show from 17-21 February 2025, collaborating with Seafood Scotland to showcase and promote Scottish seafood to international delegates.
SDI hosting a showcasing & tasting networking event at Gulfood for international buyers which will include Scottish seafood, shellfish & salmon.
Coordination of a learning journey experience to look at specific opportunities for Scottish seafood sales within a group of high end UAE based restaurants.

The SDI in-market specialist is also working with Emirates’ catering and in-flight shopping experience buying teams to promote Scottish products, influence and educate them on the breadth and quality of Scotland’s food and drink offering. Activity is underway to ensure that Scottish suppliers are fully aware of any relevant tenders and opportunities with the airline.

Question reference: S6W-34579

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Development International personnel are based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the promotion of Scottish products, and where their office is located.

Question reference: S6W-34432

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps taken to fully implement the recommendations of the Expert Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group, particularly in relation to reducing the number of households with children in temporary accommodation and the duration of their stay.

We are taking decisive action to reduce the number of households with children in temporary accommodation. Increasing affordable and social housing supply is the best way to do this and the reinstated budget of £768 million for
2025-26 will enable the delivery of over 8,000 homes.

Additional investment of £42 million this year has been targeted to five local authorities with sustained temporary accommodation pressures. That funding is to increase the supply of social and affordable homes, including larger properties that are suitable for families, through acquisitions and bringing empty social homes back into use.

The homelessness prevention duties in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will mean people get help to avoid housing crisis and an additional £4 million will be available in 2025-26 to support services to prevent homelessness before it occurs.

Question reference: S6W-34577

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many GlobalScot representatives are located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and what events are planned there for 2025.

Scottish Enterprise confirmed there are 60 GlobalScots located in the UAE.

There are currently 4 events coming up within the year with one specific to GlobalScots. The 4 events that are planned for this year within UAE are:

Gulfood - the world's largest annual food and hospitality show (17-21 February 2025);
GlobalScot Middle East AGM (end of March 2025);
Scotland Week, which will include an Energy Trade Mission, Scottish Food and Drink showcase and some Capital Investment and Science & Tech related activity (planned for April 2025);
ADIPEC - Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (3-6 November 2025; focus on energy transition).

Question reference: S6W-34374

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how the information on the new dedicated webpage on the Transport Scotland website, promoting information about the work underway to better support women and girls using public transport, is being shared and promoted.

During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence for 2024, a webpage was launched on the Transport Scotland website that brings together information on the research undertaken by Transport Scotland's programme on women and girls’ safety on public transport. It also references broader work being undertaken in this area by Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.

The ‘launch’ of the website was timed to coincide with an event organised by White Ribbon Scotland at Waverley Station in Edinburgh to raise awareness of the 16 Days of Activism, which was attended by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity and received media coverage.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism, Transport Scotland officials have presented at events to promote the research and website, including a cross party meeting on women’s safety on public transport at the Scottish Parliament; and a workshop organised by the UK Government's Department for Transport and the Bus Centre for Excellence in London. Material from these presentations including details of the website have been shared online by the relevant organisations involved.

Since then, Transport Scotland officials have shared details of the website directly with relevant contacts from British Transport Police and Scotrail as well as internally via the Violence Against Women and Girls Policy Forum, attended by over 100 policy colleagues across the Scottish Government. The website will also feature in the latest Equally Safe monthly Bulletin, which is distributed to a wide range of stakeholders from national and local government and third sector, who have an interest in Violence Against Women and Girls and Equally Safe policy. Officials have also shared the website with colleagues in Public Health Scotland with a remit around violence prevention.

Transport Scotland officials will continue to take every opportunity to promote the website via relevant channels.

Question reference: S6W-34369

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) each local authority to discuss reusable nappy schemes.

The Scottish Government regularly meets with COSLA and local authorities to discuss areas of shared interest. The Scottish Government has focussed efforts on supporting families to make informed choices about reusable nappies by raising awareness of their benefits on the Parent Club website. Our Circular Economy and Waste Route Map commits to facilitating the sharing of best practice examples on reusable items, such as North Ayrshire Council's Real Nappy Incentive Scheme, to encourage uptake in other areas.

Question reference: S6W-34372

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32849 by Paul McLennan on 6 January 2025, how many registered social landlords have approached it for financial support for assessment and remediation.