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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-24476

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02933 by Christina McKelvie on 10 January 2024, whether it has set a deadline for the full or partial reopening of sites where access has been restricted, following the conclusion of Historic Environment Scotland’s inspection programme at the end of March 2024.

Further to my response to the question S60-02933 on 10 January 2024, I have not set a deadline for the full or partial reopening of sites affected by high level masonry issues. Historic Environment Scotland continues to put the health and safety of individuals first and will continue reopening sites when safe to do so.

Details of the inspection programme and site reopening's are published on the Historic Environment Scotland website: High Level Masonry Inspections | Historic Environment Scotland . Indeed the member will be pleased to note that the website currently advises that Bothwell Castle in her constituency is due to reopen for Easter 2024.

I will continue to engage with Historic Environment Scotland on the inspection programme and the reopening of sites affected.

Question reference: S6W-24437

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any concerns that the Scottish Housing Regulator does not publish any background information or register of interests for individuals whom it appoints to its statutory managers list.

Question reference: S6W-24426

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what procurement procedure was followed by the Scottish Housing Regulator to determine its statutory managers list.

Question reference: S6W-24292

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP premises formerly owned or leased by GP contractors have been acquired by NHS boards in each year since 2017, when the National Code of Practice for GP premises was published, also broken down by the number of acquisitions by (a) lease and (b) ownership.

Question reference: S6W-24396

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23928 by Jenni Minto on 3 January 2024, when it plans to bring forward secondary legislation to enable the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The secondary legislation to enable HIS to regulate independent healthcare services, including non-surgical cosmetic procedures, which are provided by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from premises other than registered pharmacies and/or outwith the terms of NHS contracts, will be brought forward by the end of Summer 2024.

The scoping of further regulation of non-surgical cosmetics procedures, including consideration of the level of training required to perform these procedures, is underway.

Question reference: S6W-24382

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that bus travel is affordable for fare-paying passengers travelling to access employment, education and training.

Question reference: S6W-24274

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it put forward any sites for nomination for UNESCO World Heritage Site status assessment in 2023, and, if so, whether it can provide details of the nominations.

UNESCO membership is reserved to the UK Government, which is the State Party to the convention, responsible for the UK’s general compliance with the World Heritage Convention and for nominating sites.

The UK Government, as the State Party to the World Heritage Convention, submitted a nomination proposal for The Flow Country in 2023.

‎As the member will know, the Flow Country is the most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world and straddles Caithness and Sutherland. It comprises a complex set of interlinked pool systems and micro features that not only host an eye-catching flora and fauna but also play a vital role in our defence against the effects of climate change.

It is expected that a decision on whether to add the site to the World Heritage List will be taken at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting on 21-31 July 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23885

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many probationer teachers are currently supernumerary.

The total number of Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) probationers allocated to local authorities in May 2023 on a supernumerary basis was 626.

This is the number for which local authorities have declared there are no specific probation places for. Probation numbers fluctuate due to deferrals and drop-outs etc. To date there are over 500 deferrals and withdrawals from this year’s initial cohort so the 600 “supernumerary” figure as of May 2023 does not mean there are 600 surplus teachers.

The teacher workforce planning model estimates future student teacher intake numbers by rolling forward recent patterns in the school pupil and staff censuses and other data including national population projections and teacher wastage and turnover.

Question reference: S6W-23316

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many of the 39 school buildings that have reportedly been identified as still needing a reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) assessment have (a) been confirmed as containing the substance and (b) received a RAG rating for any RAAC identified.

Although it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and main their school estate, the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust continue to be in close contact with local authorities in relation to RAAC in schools. All 32 local authorities have completed all of their assessments.

Safety is the central consideration and there is robust guidance which is followed by every local authority to ensure these settings are safe for the pupils, staff and the public to be in.

Question reference: S6T-01752

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by Homes for Scotland highlighting that almost 700,000 households in Scotland are in housing need.