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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-22076

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on the health and wellbeing of people in Scotland, particularly people experiencing poverty, what its position is on the objectives of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign to guarantee the future of free-to-air terrestrial TV and radio services beyond the current licence period, which ends in 2034.

The Scottish Government is supportive of the view, set out in the Broadcast 2040+ Campaign, that audiences should continue to have access to the high-quality broadcast TV and radio services they rely on. In response to a letter from members of the Campaign, I wrote to arrange a meeting to hear more about the valuable work of the Campaign and will meet with them on 6 December. When that meeting takes place, I will ensure that the positive health and wellbeing impacts of access to broadcast television and radio are discussed.

Question reference: S6W-22504

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to improve timely reporting by Salmon Fishery Boards of wild salmon catch statistics, including penalties for boards that are very late in publishing statistics.

There are no obligations on District Salmon Fishery Boards to report or publish wild salmon catch statistics.

The Scottish Government requires proprietors or occupiers of salmon fisheries to provide it with information each year relating to the fishery. Refusal to comply with the request for information or providing false information is an offence.

Official Statistics on the Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery are published annually. Statistics for the 2022 season are available at - Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery statistics 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-22318

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much flax fibre is currently produced annually in Scotland, and what assessment has been made of any potential benefits of increased production.

Question reference: S6W-22324

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many fish counters are currently in operation in Scotland, and where they are located.

The location of the 42 automatic fish counters that are known to Scottish Government are provided in the following table. The vast majority of these are not owned or operated by Scottish Government, and it is not possible to confirm their current operational status.

The Scottish Government operates one fish counter in the North Esk Salmon Fishery District and is a joint operator, of a fish counter in the Helmsdale district with the District Salmon Fishery Board. We recently supported the installation of three new fish counters in the Ayr, Deveron and Laxford districts. These are in the process of being validated and are not yet producing data.

Salmon Fishery District	Location
(Aberdeenshire) Dee	Beltie Burn Cowie Water Culter Burn Dinnet Burn River Muick
(Kirkcudbrightshire) Dee	Tongland Dam
Awe	Awe Barrage
Ayr	Catrine Weir Ayr
Beauly	Aigas Dam Beannachran Dam Kilmorack Dam
Conon	Luichart Dam Tor Achilty Dam Meig Diversion Dam
Deveron	River Isla R Deveron
Doon	Loch Doon
Forth	Carron Dam
Helmsdale	Helmsdale
Kyle of Sutherland	Duchally Diversion Weir (R Cassley) Shin Diversion Dam (R Shin) River Evelix
Laxford	Laxford Bridge
Lochy	River Arkaig Mucomir Power Station (R Lochy)
Morar	Morar fish pass
Ness	Garry Dam (R Garry) Dundreggan Dam (R Moriston)
North Esk	Logie
Pennygown	River Forsa (Mull)
Spey	Knockando Burn Spey Dam (R Spey) Truim Intake (R Truim)
Tay	Lochay Falls (R Lochay) Stronuich (R Lyon) Clunie Dam (R Tummel) Pitlochry Dam (R Tummel)
Tweed	Gala Water River Ettrick Whiteadder
Ugie	River Ugie

Question reference: S6W-22325

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on rail infrastructure in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the UK Government. The responsibility for determining and monitoring its operation, maintenance and renewal expenditure rests with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Transport Scotland funds Network Rail in accordance with the ORR’s determination. Therefore, Scottish Government does not hold the full investment information broken down by local authority within Scotland.

Therefore, I recommend that the member contacts Network Rail or the ORR for the detailed information requested for how much has been spent on rail infrastructure in each local authority area in each of the last ten years.

Question reference: S6W-22319

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any recent engagement with industry representatives or stakeholders that are seeking to expand flax production in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22058

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the reported £8 million overspend in relation to the World Cycling Championship, which has reportedly resulted in the reinstatement of the £6.6 million reduction in funding to Creative Scotland.

The total funding for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championship is in the process of being finalised and will be confirmed in due course. It includes contributions from the Scottish Government, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow City Council and a number of other local authorities, as well as from commercial revenue streams. Any additional funding that may be required will be managed centrally by the Scottish Government and will not be derived from the Culture portfolio’s budget.

Question reference: S6T-01624

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking following Reform Scotland’s recent report, NHS 2048: Future-proofing Scotland’s Health and Social Care, which found that 11 NHS boards have seen waiting times for hip operations at least double from the point of decision since 2019.

Question reference: S6T-01623

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in response to reports of widespread violence against police officers and firefighters over the Bonfire Night period.

Question reference: S6F-02520

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is supporting renters who are struggling with the cost of living.