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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: S6F-02250

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the future and viability of rural schools.

Question reference: S6F-02234

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-02233

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-18414

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the anticipated final cost is of vessel (a) 801 and (b) 802.

Question reference: S6W-18404

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what metrics it plans to use to review the (a) impact in general, (b) financial impact on (i) businesses, (ii) consumers and (iii) the wider economy and (c) environmental impact of the Deposit Return Scheme.

A set of impact assessments including an Equalities Impact Assessment, Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment and Island Communities Impact Assessment were published alongside the original DRS Regulations in 2020. The financial assumptions contained within the related Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) showed the projected cost of compliance with Scotland’s DRS regulations which were passed by this Parliament. These have been updated to reflect previous amendments and we will shortly publish revisions to these in light of the amendments laid in May.

Following the UK Government’s decision not to provide a full exclusion to the Internal Market Act I have announced in parliament that we will be pushing the launch of the DRS back to October 2025.

Question reference: S6W-18405

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16757 by Lorna Slater on 2 May 2023, whether the monitoring and analysis work will be carried out across all local authority areas equally, or by sampling a limited number.

There are several components to the DRS evaluation. This includes the consumer survey which is based on a three phase nationally representative sample where efforts will be made to ensure urban and rural/island areas are sufficiently accounted for within the sample design. Litter Monitoring System survey (funded by Scottish Government and developed by Zero Waste Scotland in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful and other stakeholders) will be used to collate litter data with the aim being to cover all Local Authority areas. Data from Management information will also be used to monitor and evaluate DRS, and this will include both national level and local authority level data. Given the recent changes and announcements the monitoring and evaluation plans for DRS may need revisiting to bring them in line with any changes made to the objectives of the scheme.

Question reference: S6W-18304

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the number of Scotland-domiciled transgender people who have travelled to receive gender reassignment surgery through the NHS in England.

Gender reassignment surgery is a specialised field of surgery, accessed by a small number of patients each year. Given the highly specialist nature of this surgery it is carried out in the UK under a four-nations contract, managed by NHS England.

NHS Scotland monitors the number of surgical referrals to the service. Patients referred for assessment do not necessarily proceed to surgery. A patient’s surgery will not necessarily take place in the same year as the referral.

Question reference: S6W-18336

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring wider strategic alignment between the Scottish AI Alliance and its (a) Digital Strategy and (b) Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review.

The Scottish AI Alliance continue to align their work with the delivery of Scotland’s Digital Strategy and the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review (STER) programme, to realise potential synergies in areas such as infrastructure, skills, and investment. In particular, In July 2022, the Scottish Government awarded a five-year £42m contract to Codebase for the delivery of a national network of Tech Scalers. Tech scalers are a major piece of infrastructure designed to support the creation of more tech start-ups in Scotland, and to help them to grow to scale.

Similarly, while use of AI attracts a set of AI-specific ethical questions, the Scottish Government recognises that the ethical challenges and opportunities of using data and digital technologies are interlinked. Work is currently underway across several Government directorates to identify synergies and to explore how to bring the different aspects of ethics in the digital world together while ensuring responsible use of data.

We meet regularly with colleagues from across government and further afield to ensure our work is joined up and responsive.

Question reference: S6W-18297

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of comments from the director of the Scottish Property Federation, reported on 18 May 2023, that the impact of emergency legislation on the build to rent sector has led investors to “view Scotland as a risk, compared with more stable locations in other parts of the UK”, and what its position is on whether this perceived risk will further limit the supply of rental accommodation.

As the cost of living crisis continues, the emergency Act aims to give important support to tenants, and to provide them with much-needed stability in their housing costs and additional eviction protections. It has gone further than anywhere else in the UK in helping protect tenants across the rental sector.

Since devolution, there has been significant overall growth in the privately-rented sector, through a period of increasing regulation and market intervention, and we consider that healthy markets, responsible landlords and public sector intervention can co-exist.

As last year’s Cross Party Group on Housing report on Rent Control acknowledged, regulated markets can be attractive to institutional investors. We also note that in the publication by the British Property Federation, assessing the impact of the emergency Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022, it is recognised that rent control is not seen as a reason not to invest if part of a stable policy environment.

We take a close interest in the way policy in Scotland interacts with the rest of the UK, noting the Royal Institution Of Chartered Surveyors comments of 8 June 2023 that “interest rate rises are also impacting the rental sector and combined with looming reforms proposed in the [UK] government’s Renters (Reform) Bill, landlords are increasingly deciding to leave the sector and sell up property, causing further constraints to lettings supply.” We also note the intention of the Welsh Government to consider forms of rent regulation.

By its nature, the emergency Cost of Living Act is time-limited and the rent cap and eviction protections cannot be extended beyond March 2024. The temporary rent cap provisions apply only to in-tenancy rent increases, with rent setting for new housing supply continuing to be set by the market.

We will continue to listen to feedback and engage with stakeholders, monitor the data and consider whether the legislation remains proportionate and necessary.

Question reference: S6W-18396

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what specific action it has taken to achieve its aim to deliver a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030, since first making the announcement.

The draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car km driven in Scotland by 2030 published in January 2022 outlines our approach to achieving this. A period of engagement and consultation followed publication, and the analysis and consideration of the consultation responses have shaped the final route map which will pe published in the coming months. The route map was co-produced with CoSLA, in recognition of the importance of local-level interventions, and we will continue to work closely with local and regional partners to achieve this commitment.

The route map contains over 30 national-level interventions, and recognises the need to shift towards sustainable alternatives to car use. We know that to reduce car use, public transport has to be available, affordable and accessible so, as part of the Fair Fares Review, a pilot to remove ScotRail peak fares on all routes will start in October. In addition, £421.8 million has been allocated in funding for bus services and concessionary fares in 2023-24, providing up to 2.3 million people in Scotland with access to free bus travel. This is part of a total of over £2 billion spent on supporting public transport by the Scottish Government annually.