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 42583 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-21063

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has budgeted for the establishment of a new Small Business Unit, as proposed in its Programme for Government 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-20695

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Northern Isles ferry service journey from Lerwick to Kirkwall, and in light of Transport Scotland being responsible for ensuring that any policy decision about service delivery is made taking full account of equality issues, including medical needs, what consideration has been given to (a) allowing passengers to use a concessionary voucher for use of a cabin during the evening sailing from Lerwick to Kirkwall and (b) reinstating shared cabins to allow concessionary voucher holders use of a berth on all routes.

National Concessionary Travel Scheme vouchers can currently only be used for cabins on overnight sailings. Concessionary Travel arrangements are being reviewed as part of the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.

The decision to remove shared cabins was taken solely by NorthLink following their risk assessments. The Scottish Government notes concerns about the impact of the removal of shared cabins on the National Concessionary Travel Scheme entitlement and this will also be considered through the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.

Question reference: S6W-21091

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown of how it spent any Barnett consequential funding in the Scottish Budget 2023-24.

Barnett consequentials are not ring-fenced for a particular purpose or allocated on an individual basis, rather the totality of funds available to the Scottish Government are considered for allocation in the Scottish Budget and subsequent revisions. The 2023-24 Scottish Budget document, which was laid before parliament on 15 December 2022 provided detail of all commitments funded from within that overall Budget envelope.

In-year changes to budgets, including allocation of any additional Barnett consequentials that have accrued since the Budget was laid will be set out in forthcoming Budget Revisions documents.

Question reference: S6W-20994

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) number and (b) value is of contracts that it has awarded to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

A full breakdown of the total number and value of contracts awarded to consulting companies covering the last five fiscal years for the Scottish Government only, is provided in the following table.

Fiscal Years	No of Awards to Consultant Suppliers ‎ (in period)	Total Contract Award Value
2017-18	66	£ 3,256,129
2018-19	57	£ 6,051,465
2019-20	93	£ 12,790,879
2020-21	65	£ 1,900,295
2021-22	89	£ 30,127,792
Total	370	£ 54,126,560

Question reference: S6W-21048

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate any risks posed by the reported removal of four fire appliances in Fife.

Question reference: S6W-21045

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 12 September 2023

Question reference: S6W-20787

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the HGV speed limit on the A75 to 50mph.

Transport Scotland is undertaking a National Speed Management Review to support a range of policies that help our Government’s national outcomes and indicators. These include related policy drivers such as better road safety and health outcomes, promotion of active travel, climate change mitigation, place making and economic growth.

The review covers comprehensive analysis of all types of speed management policies and initiatives in Scotland as well as a review of what has been introduced in other countries throughout the world.

The process will also include a stakeholder and public consultation later this year to consider their views of whether any changes to speed limit policies, including HGV speed limits and speed management measures should be introduced as part of our speed management plan.

Question reference: S6W-20806

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure the availability of more accessible information regarding housing allocation policies aimed at military service leavers and veterans, to ensure that the key details can be understood and explained easily.

We have published a housing guide which provides information about applying for social housing in Scotland. This sets out how Service leavers and veterans can obtain clear information about the housing allocation policy for the area where they want to live and their level of priority for social housing.

We have also revised the social housing allocations practice guidance Social housing allocations in Scotland: practice guide - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) to include a specific section on Armed Forces and veterans to help landlords consider the needs of this group in their allocation policies and respond appropriately.

Question reference: S6W-20795

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind turbines are due to be decommissioned in the next five years.

The Scottish Government does not hold or collate any information relating to the future decommissioning of onshore wind turbines.

In respect of offshore wind turbines, none are due to be decommissioned in the next five years.

Zero Waste Scotland published a report in April 2021 titled ‘ The future of onshore wind decommissioning in Scotland’ . The report provides projections for the number of onshore wind turbines in Scotland that will be decommissioned up to 2050.

Question reference: S6W-20818

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of electric vehicle batteries reaching the end of their first life it expects to be caught by domestic reprocessing options by (a) 2035 and (b) 2050.

Research published in 2020 (commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland in partnership with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise) assessed the current and future use of batteries in Scotland across the entire length of the battery supply chain, from chemicals to end of life. This research is published and is available here: Battery use in Scotland now and in the future | Zero Waste Scotland. This research suggests that by 2030 there could be up to 16000 tonnes of vehicle batteries available in Scotland for second life purposes.

Due to the novelty of batteries being used in their second life the market opportunities and business models for their use or disposal are not currently certain. Current UK Extended Producer Responsibility legislation dictates that the battery manufacturer remains responsible for the collection, recycling and disposal of the battery, meaning that it will be at the manufacturer’s discretion whether they use a domestic reprocessing facility located in Scotland or the UK