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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-19426

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will introduce the devolved Air Departure Tax to align aviation policy with Scotland’s climate change goals.

As outlined in the Scottish Budget 2023-24, the Scottish Government remains committed to introducing Air Departure Tax when a solution to the Highlands and Islands exemption issue has been found. The Scottish Government is carefully considering the implications for this of the UK subsidy control regime that was introduced by the UK Government in January 2023.

Until Air Departure Tax is introduced, the UK Government will maintain the application of Air Passenger Duty in Scotland.

We will review Air Passenger Duty rates and bands ahead of the introduction of the devolved Air Departure Tax to ensure that our policy aligns with our climate change goals, including the possibility of a higher tax for more polluting aircraft, while maintaining our commitment to retain the Highlands and Islands exemption.

Question reference: S6W-19513

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of food poverty rates in Aberdeen.

The Scottish Health Survey , which is commissioned by the Scottish Government, asked respondents whether they were worried about running out of food. The most recent data was published on 8 November 2022 and found that in Aberdeen City 10% of people were worried they would run out of food compared to a figure for Scotland as a whole of 9%. For Aberdeenshire Council a slightly lower figure of 8% of people reported they were worried they would run out of food.

Question reference: S6W-19317

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to date, on the legal process following its decision to terminate its contract with the supplier, Systel, for a new national command and control mobilising system.

Question reference: S6W-19318

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total spend by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was on the contract with Systel for a new national command and control mobilising system.

Question reference: S6W-19428

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the environmental and climate impacts of the use of private jets departing from and arriving at Scotland’s airports.

Question reference: S6W-19419

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have submitted assessments to identify any roads that are appropriate for the adoption of 20mph speed limits.

The following 24 local authorities have submitted their road assessment;

1. Highland Council

2. Angus Council

3. Orkney Council

4. Renfrewshire Council

5. Dumfries and Galloway Council

6. Fife Council

7. Dundee City Council

8. City of Edinburgh Council

9. Scottish Borders Council

10. West Lothian Council

11. Moray Council

12. North Ayrshire Council

13. Inverclyde Council

14. Aberdeenshire Council

15. East Renfrewshire Council

16. West Dunbartonshire Council

17. Perth and Kinross Council

18. Falkirk Council

19. Stirling Council

20. Argyll and Bute Council

21. Aberdeen City Council (partial)

22. North Lanarkshire Council

23. East Lothian Council

24. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

The Scottish Government is engaging with the remaining local authorities to ensure a completed road assessment is received.

Question reference: S6W-19430

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to evaluate the impact of the Low Emission Zone in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-19407

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it has made for exemptions or compensation for key workers travelling into Low Emission Zones.

There is no provision for exemption or compensation for key workers travelling into a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). However, Transport Scotland provides grant funding to support lower income households and smaller businesses to adapt to Low Emission Zones via the LEZ Support Fund. In return for scrapping non-LEZ standard cars, a cash grant of £2000 is received, and a further allowance of up to £1000 per household or business towards sustainable travel costs.

Question reference: S6W-19406

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered implementing a car and motorcycle scrappage scheme for any non-compliant vehicles of key workers travelling into Low Emission Zones.

No scrappage scheme for key workers has been considered appropriate, however Transport Scotland provides grant funding to support lower income households and smaller businesses to adapt to Low Emission Zones (LEZs) via the LEZ Support Fund.

In return for scrapping non-LEZ standard cars, a cash grant of £2000 is received, and a further allowance of up to £1000 per household or business towards sustainable travel costs.

This funding does not extend to motorcycles as these are not currently subject to LEZ restrictions.

Question reference: S6W-19394

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the reported change in the cost of balancing the electricity grid.