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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: S6F-02208

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the position set out by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its Concluding Observations on the combined sixth and seventh reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, regarding the legal minimum age of marriage in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-02205

Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023

To ask the First Minister, in light of it being Carers Week, what the Scottish Government is doing to support carers across Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-02203

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-02204

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-18229

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline any wetlands that have been considered for designation as a Ramsar site but were not granted this classification in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-18124

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17405 by Shona Robison on 5 May 2023, whether it plans to change the financing arrangements for Scottish Water, currently through customer charges and Scottish Government borrowing, in order to permit (a) private investment via an equity stake being taken in Scottish Water, or any of the Scottish Water group of companies, or in any specific capital investment they may be undertaking and (b) Scottish Water, or any of the Scottish Water group of companies, to borrow private finance beyond, or to replace, its Scottish Government borrowing, either for specific capital investments or to fund capital investment in general.

Question reference: S6W-18133

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will be introduced.

In my statement to Parliament on 30 May 2023, I announced that the Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will not be introduced. We instead plan to consult on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt where they are sold to the public this autumn.

My statement is available at Meeting of the Parliament: 30/05/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

Question reference: S6W-18099

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has made available for small-scale circular textiles projects with resource needs of less than £25,000.

Question reference: S6W-17994

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports of a potential takeover of the FTSE 250-listed company, John Wood Group, by the United Sates' private equity fund, Apollo Global Management, what its position is on whether takeovers of Scottish companies that are of strategic importance to the economy should be subject to a public interest test, and whether it will outline the scope of any intervention action it can take to safeguard such companies.

The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament and, as such, the Scottish Government does not have the power to take action in this area. In addition the legislative change in the UK via the National Security and Investment Act enables an increased screening of acquisitions on grounds, for example, of national security. This reflects similar change in EU legislation.

These legislative mechanisms notwithstanding, company acquisition remains a commercial decision to be undertaken by two private entities. The Scottish Government and Enterprise Agencies therefore aim to work with businesses in Scotland, domestic and overseas owned, to ensure Scottish operations are not only secured here but opportunities for growth are pursued.

Scottish Enterprise research suggests acquisition can be an important route for companies with growth potential to achieve their ambitions; either Scottish companies who acquire other businesses or Scottish companies acquired by businesses from other parts of the UK and internationally. This is not unique to Scotland and is a feature of similar economies.

In addition both our Inward Investment and Global Capital Investment Plans place maximum emphasis in supporting good quality investment into Scotland aligning with our values as a nation and delivering our net zero economy supported by good green jobs. We will therefore continue to work closely with those Scottish and overseas-owned businesses and organisations with whom those values most closely align.

Question reference: S6W-18070

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be available for homeowners to use through its new Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.

Budgets for the scheme will be set out annually in line with the Scottish Budget allocation process.

The contract for the Warmer Homes Scotland successor has a maximum value of £728m (ex VAT) over a period of 7 years.

Household intervention rates have not yet been set for the scheme, however these are anticipated to be higher than the current Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.

This support through WHS sits alongside other help, such as our Home Energy Scotland grant scheme and our Area Based Schemes which provide local delivery of energy efficiency improvements.