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 43016 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6F-03116

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-27198

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that an islands impact assessment was undertaken in relation to VisitScotland's proposal to close its iCentres across Scotland, and, if it is not the case, for what reason it decided not to undertake such an assessment.

Question reference: S6W-27120

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government who the member in charge is of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S6W-27272

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Sentencing Council regarding sentencing in cases where miscarriage or forced termination has occurred as a serious aggravation of domestic abuse.

Instances where miscarriage or forced termination has taken place because of domestic violence reflects the most tragic of circumstances based on the cruel realities of domestic abuse.

Just two weeks ago, this Parliament debated a Petition on the creation of an unborn victims of violence offence, where we heard about the harrowing realities of domestic abuse that were suffered by the Petitioner, Nicola Murray.

Following the debate, my officials have been in contact with the Sentencing Council to ascertain the next steps in their development of guidelines on domestic abuse. As this Parliament recognised, the outcome of this work is fundamental in determining next steps. I look forward to how this progresses as we look to root out and tackle the toxic masculinity and gender inequality that leads to violence, harassment, misogyny and abuse against women.

Question reference: S6W-27335

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board will submit its operational plan for delivery.

Question reference: S6W-27197

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what principles and policies guide the undertaking of islands impact assessments.

Sustainable and thriving island communities are vital to Scotland. The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 emphasises the importance of ‘island-proofing’ policies to consider and address specific island characteristics when policy is being developed and delivered.

Island Communities Impact Assessments (ICIAs) help to ensure equitable and fair outcomes by finding the best ways to deliver policies for islanders. The duty to carry out ICIAs has been a legal requirement since December 2020. This means that Relevant Authorities must consider any impact on islands when developing or reviewing policies, strategies or services which are likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its impact on other communities (including other island communities).

ICIA guidance is available at the following link: Island communities impact assessments: guidance and toolkit - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Additional support tools have also been created to guide policymakers through the process. These are available here: Empowering our island communities - Community empowerment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-27215

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people are currently housed in the prison estate, broken down by the category of offence for which they have been charged or convicted.

On the morning of Monday 6th May 2024 there were 192 people under the age of 21 held in the prison estate. This population is broken down by index offence group in the following table.

Where individuals in custody are accused or convicted of multiple offences, these are summarised by index offence. This is the offence for which they have received the longest sentence or, where they are on remand, which would on average receive the longest sentence. Some offences cannot be classified in this way because the charges originate in other jurisdictions or because the data required was not available at the time the snapshot was taken.

Index Offence Group	Total
Group 1: Non-sexual crimes of violence	106
Group 2: Sexual Crimes	29
Group 3: Crimes of dishonesty	15
Group 4: Damage and reckless behaviour	3
Group 5: Crimes against society	22
Group 6: Antisocial offences	7
Group 7: Miscellaneous offences	6
Other jurisdiction charge	2
Could not be classified	2

Question reference: S6W-27210

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any risk assessment process that is undertaken before detaining multiple prisoners in single cells in prisons and custody suites, and how many "high risk" prisoners are currently housed alongside "standard risk" prisoners across the prison estate.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

A Cell Sharing Risk Assessment is conducted on every occasion where two (or more) individuals are required to share one cell.

The process is an individualised approach where the following overarching areas are considered based on the information held on each individual;

If they are likely to cause injury or harm to each other
If they are likely to cause damage to property
If they are likely to otherwise prejudice the good order and running of the prison

SPS do not determine individuals as ‘high’ or ‘standard’ risk through this process as it is a dynamic process used to assess each individual’s suitability to share with another or others.

Question reference: S6W-27222

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote the development of Bruntwood SciTech's Met Tower digital and tech hub project in Glasgow.

Scottish Enterprise has been working with partners and Bruntwood SciTech on proposals for the redevelopment of the Met Tower in Glasgow. Scottish Enterprise has advised that Bruntwood SciTech has recently confirmed that commercial property market conditions, including a fall in values and an increase in construction costs, have made the proposed redevelopment scheme commercially unviable. Discussions are ongoing to explore all options to secure investment in the city.

Question reference: S6W-27266

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry and Land Scotland plans to increase artificial nest platforms for (a) raptors in Scotland’s national forests in the two National Parks and (b) priority national conservation initiatives such as the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.