- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to improve the mental health of police officers.
Answer
Whilst this is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, I am pleased that Police Scotland has signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment, which prioritises mental health in the workplace. In addition to Trauma Risk Incident Management assessments and Occupational Health counselling, Police Scotland has invested £17 million to enhance welfare provision. This included a new 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, direct access to occupational health services and a greater focus on mental health.
This highlights the priority that Police Scotland places on supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce, supported by a Health and Wellbeing Action Plan to underpin delivery.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-38838 and S6W-38841 by Jim Fairlie on 3 July 2025, whether there is any capital or resource budget implication for the Peatland ACTION budget in 2026-27 and subsequent years as a result of the carbon contracts pilot.
Answer
There are no implications for the Peatland ACTION budget in the year 2026-2027 as a result of the carbon contracts pilot.
At this point in time, it is not possible to say how future costs of the pilot will impact on specific budgets. Budgets in respect of 2026-27 and future financial years have not yet been set by the Scottish Parliament.
For more information on the pilot see Carbon Contracts Pilot – Application Guidance | NatureScot.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with community-led initiatives, such as the Kyles Coastal Community Group’s campaign for clean seas, to ensure that local knowledge and priorities are reflected in marine protection and wastewater management policies.
Answer
Protecting our marine environment is a shared responsibility and the Scottish Government welcomes community-led initiatives. The Kyles Coastal Community Group is a member of the Coastal Communities Network that engages directly with the Scottish Government on many marine issues. The Kyles Coastal Community Group can contact Scottish Water or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to raise any local wastewater concerns.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many skilled jobs it estimates will be lost when Torness nuclear power station closes, and whether it will implement a transition plan.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39128 on 29 July 2025. 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.
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what resources are provided to schools to teach the meaning and significance of national symbols such as the Saltire and Union Flag.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39113 on 29 July 2025. 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.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland or the operator, Serco Northlink Ferries, have calculated any additional costs to islanders who have to transport their vehicle as freight, at a higher charge, when there is no vehicle or cabin capacity on the passenger vessels on Northern Isles routes on the dates that they need to travel.
Answer
There is no need to calculate additional costs as Serco Northlink Ferries will transport passengers’ cars on a corresponding freight sailing at no extra cost.
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it offers to schools on how to promote national pride through the act of flag flying with symbols such as the Saltire and the Union Flag.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no jurisdiction over the flying of flags in Scotland. It is for Local Authorities to ensure that schools meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to these matters.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether independent schools are entitled to receive NHS-delivered services in the same way as state schools.
Answer
All children and young people in Scotland are entitled to receive the same level of access to NHS-delivered services, regardless of which school they attend.
Decisions around fees for hospital education services are a matter for local authorities and NHS Boards to consider in conjunction with independent schools. Where fees are applied, we would expect the independent schools to offer families the financial support needed in instances where there is a charge for the education services on offer.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many former Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) senior staff will transfer to the new body without needing to apply for a role as part of an open recruitment process.
Answer
Schedule 3 (Transfer of staff, property etc to Qualifications Scotland) Section 2 (Transfer of staff) of the Education (Scotland) Bill as passed sets out that all employees assigned to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) at the point of Qualifications Scotland being established, will transfer to Qualifications Scotland in line with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE).
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what training or guidance is provided to head teachers on the appropriate use of national symbols, including the Union Flag, in educational settings.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39113 on 29 July 2025. 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.