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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: S6W-21908

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its correspondence of 28 September 2023 with Miles Briggs, what measures it is taking to ensure that an applicant's given name is not displayed on a short-term let licence outwith their home.

There is no requirement to display the short term let licence at or on the premises. There is, however, a requirement to display a site notice at or near the premises for a period of 21 days from the submission of the application.

There is a right for members of the public to make representations or objections about applications, which may include referencing an applicant’s suitability as a fit and proper person to hold a short-term let licence. Therefore the site notice must contain the name and address of the applicant, the address of the short-term let premises and the names and addresses of the owners of the premises (if different from the applicant).

Question reference: S6W-21899

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many second-hand vessels have been considered for (a) charter and (b) purchase by (i) CMAL and (ii) CalMac since 1 June 2022 to date.

Question reference: S6W-21967

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot will be monitored and evaluated.

The purpose of the ScotRail Peak Fares Removal pilot is to identify if it helps reduce car use and will make rail travel more affordable and accessible during its six month period and to assess, using standard techniques whether it represents value for money (VfM).

The Value for Money will be formally assessed by comparing the initial forecasts and associated monetarised benefits and costs with the actual outcomes in terms of demand across all modes. This will include data from ScotRail and Transport Scotland. This is a key benefit of the change being a pilot rather than permanent.

The ScotRail Peak Fares Pilot will end on 29 March 2024 and the evaluation findings (including the assessment for Value for Money) will inform further decisions setting future fares.

Question reference: S6W-21984

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21426 by Paul McLennan on 2 October 2023, how many of these purchases were (a) second-hand from the (i) open market and (ii) with a tenant in-situ, and (b) off-the-shelf.

Question reference: S6W-21875

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the rail maintenance budget.

The rail maintenance budget is set and confirmed by Office of Rail and Road for the full Control Period (current Control period covers financial years 2019 - 2024) and that funding amount does not change.

Throughout the current Control Period, the Scottish Government has fully funded the operations, maintenance and renewal of Network Rail’s Scottish infrastructure as determined by the Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government has also invested a further £451.9 million due to the impact of COVID.

Question reference: S6W-21929

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that some local residents were required by Clackmannanshire Council to evacuate their homes, in a majority council-owned block of flats, and move into short-term accommodation due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete being found and the flats being deemed unsafe, what immediate action it can take to (a) help provide suitable long-term accommodation and (b) support any proposals for repairs of these properties.

Local authorities have a legal duty to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, a person should be treated as homeless, even if they have accommodation, if it would not be reasonable for them to continue to stay in it.

The Local Authority is currently undertaking further surveys in relation to the condition of the RAAC identified in the decanted blocks in Tillicoultry, which will determine the long-term action necessary.

We are currently working with the Scottish Housing Regulator and engaging with Local Authorities, including Clackmannanshire, to understand ongoing work to identify and manage the risks associated with RAAC.

Question reference: S6W-22269

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-21867

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors NHS Scotland and its procurement contracts and practices to ensure that they comply with all relevant laws governing corruption, bribery, fraud and theft and conform to adequate due diligence, in light of its status as a public body under the direction of the Scottish Ministers.

We take the threat from fraud very seriously and, through the NHS counter-fraud standards, continue to work with NHS Boards to combat fraud against our NHS to ensure that health funding is used where it is needed most – treating patients.

Procurement by NHS Boards is administered independently of Scottish Ministers and it is for NHS Boards to ensure that tendering exercises are in accordance with relevant rules and guidance to ensure that all bidders are treated appropriately and best use of public funds.

Question reference: S6W-21947

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21471 by Neil Gray on 29 September 2023, whether it will provide a list of the 41 working groups that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio.

The working groups that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio are:

1. A trading Nation Delivery Working Group

2. All Age Employability Steering Group

3. Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill steering Group

4. Construction Leadership Forum

5. Employability in Scotland Operational Group (ESOG)

6. European Structural Funds Joint Programme Board

7. European Structural Funds Programme Monitoring Committee

8. Financial Services Growth & Development Board (FISGAD)

9. Green Freeports Programme Board

10. Green Investment Portfolio Project Assessment Panel

11. Hydrogen Industry Forum

12. Improvement Working Group

13. Industry Leadership Group Chairs Roundtable (ILG CRT)

14. International Trade Partnerships 2 Trade Missions Working Group

15. Investment Co-ordination Group

16. LENCG: Local Electricity Networks Coordination Group

17. Life Sciences Export Plan Delivery Group

18. Manufacturing Strategic Leadership Group

19. MEPG: Major Electricity Projects Group

20. National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board

21. National Strategy for Economic Transformation Portfolio Board

22. Net Zero First Minister Investor Panel

23. New Deal for Business Group (NDBG)

24. Non-domestic energy consumers working group

25. No One Left Behind Working Group

26. Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group

27. Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group

28. Partnership Assurance Group

29. Regular Construction for Leadership International Group

30. Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group

31. Retail Industry Leadership Group [please note this group is economy related but chaired by the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning]

32. Rural energy consumers working group

33. SEAB: the Scottish Energy Advisory Board

34. Scottish Taskforce Green & Sustainable Financial Services

35. Oil and Gas and Energy Transition SLG

36. Supply Chain Development Programme Steering Group

37. Tourism & Hospitality Industry Leadership Group

38. Tech Export Plan Delivery Group

39. Vulnerable energy consumers working group

40. Wellbeing Economy Expert Advisory Group (WEEAG)

41. Wellbeing Economy Governments WEGo

Please note these groups will be kept under review.

Question reference: S6W-21761

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 17 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received an alternative to prosecution from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for committing an offence under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 since it came into force.

Between 24 August 2021 (when the legislation came into force) and 31 August 2023, the total number of cases reported to COPFS under section 1 of the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-Restricted Good and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 was 2503.

Of these 2503, 203 cases (8%), were marked for a direct measure, such as a fiscal fine, compensation orders, or diversion from prosecution.

The information is provided under the caveat that: COPFS uses a live, operational database to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies throughout Scotland.It is designed to meet business needs in the processing of criminal cases, rather than for statistical analysis, and the information within it is structured accordingly.

Offending behaviour which contravened section 1 of the 2021 Act may have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal and prosecuted under alternative legislation (e.g., section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 – threatening or abusive behaviour) or as an offence at common law (e.g., assault or breach of the peace).