Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 42617 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-30542

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting any vulnerable children who have lost a parent to a drug-related death, in light of The National Drug-Related Deaths Database (Scotland) Report, published by Public Health Scotland, which indicates that 602 children lost a parent or parental figure as a result of a drug-related death in 2020.

A child losing a parent to a drug-related death is a tragedy. We understand that children, young people and families affected by substance use must be supported in their own right. Our framework to improve holistic family support sets out principles of how we will improve support for families affected by drugs and alcohol by taking a whole family approach and using family inclusive practice. The framework is supported by investment totalling £6.5 million per year over the life of the Parliament.

In partnership with an expert national working group, we are working with local areas to improve family support and implement family inclusive practice across alcohol and drug services. This, alongside our work to support young people affected by substance use, will support the delivery of The Promise by making significant change in the way services work with families.

Additionally, we are investing nearly £4 million to expand the successful Routes model, run by Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs. Routes supports young people with substance use in their families, by helping them meet their own goals and break inter-generational cycles of addiction. With investment from Scottish Government, Routes will be expanded to Falkirk, Aberdeenshire, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, East Lothian and Orkney.

Question reference: S6W-30588

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards about providing recurring funding for the Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects beyond 2024-25.

Funding of over £3.5 million was issued between 2021-2024 to support 12 pilot projects across Scotland to deliver a single point of contact (SPoC) to people diagnosed with cancer. A further £1.5 million during financial year 2024-25 has ensured continuity of this programme of work.

A scalability assessment, commenced in early 2024 and led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, will consider how we best support the design and delivery of SPoC services for the future to ensure that all patients with cancer in Scotland benefit from the approach. Each project is actively evaluating their local impact to support this work.

Question reference: S6W-30594

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether it (a) has assessed and (b) will assess the potential impact on support for new or renewal ballots for business improvement districts from those firms liable for the new levy.

The Scottish Government has not assessed the specific impact of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on support for new or renewal ballots for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and there are currently no plans to do so. However, the Scottish Government continues to engage with a broad range of stakeholders to understand the impact of Non-Domestic Rates policies and would welcome any contributions from Improvement Districts.

Question reference: S6W-30586

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 12 Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects provide support for people diagnosed with blood cancer, and in which NHS boards any such support is available.

Question reference: S6W-30595

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with Scotland’s Improvement Districts regarding the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers prior to the announcement in the 2024-25 Budget, and what discussions it has had since.

Question reference: S6W-30587

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that Health Improvement Scotland will complete its scalability assessment of the 12 Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects, and whether this assessment will be shared publicly.

Question reference: S6W-30547

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that clinical waste disposal programmes align with the (a) sustainability strategy and (b) net zero targets.

I refer the member to the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022-2026 which sets out the Scottish Government’s plans to help reduce carbon emissions from clinical waste in NHS Scotland. This publication is available at: .NHS Scotland climate emergency and sustainability strategy: 2022-2026 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Specifically, the strategy sets out that each Health Board should set appropriate targets for reducing the volume of clinical waste it produces through measures including; greater use of reusable items, improvements to waste segregation and increased recycling of recyclable materials. The Scottish Government will review the need for a national target for clinical waste reduction.

In addition, the strategy requires that Health Board waste management officers ensure that arrangements are in place for the safe treatment and disposal of all waste streams. It is the responsibility of Health Boards to manage the NHS clinical waste contract while NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement and Logistics Service manages the NHS’s relationship with the clinical waste contractor.

The Scottish Government supports Health Boards with their net zero commitments and monitors progress towards these targets. This information is published through the Annual NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Report - Annual NHS Scotland Climate Emergency & Sustainability Report 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Question reference: S6W-30526

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the redevelopment of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-30627

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to local authorities in relation to the application of discretionary reliefs for non-domestic rates.

Non-domestic rates are administered by local authorities in accordance with the relevant legislation. Under that statutory framework, the award of discretionary reliefs is a matter for individual local authorities. In line with the recommendation from the independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates to remind councils of the arrangements for reliefs and to provide better public information on reliefs and the legislative framework, the Scottish Government publishes an annual Local Government Finance Circular providing information for each non-domestic rates relief, including discretionary reliefs like Hardship Relief or the discretionary element of Rural Relief.

Under section 18 of the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020, the Scottish Government published statutory guidance in February 2021 on relief awarded under section 4(5)(c) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962 (the discretionary element of what is often known as Sports Club relief).

Part 11 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 allows local authorities to deliver local non-domestic rates relief schemes, including Empty Property Relief. From 2024-25, local authorities will also use these powers to deliver Green Freeports non-domestic rates relief to properties within Green Freeport tax sites, where the property meets the eligibility criteria set out in the non-statutory guidance published in May 2024.

Question reference: S6O-03871

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed.