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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: S6W-22217

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it was made aware of any discussions between the UK and Norwegian governments regarding Rosebank oilfield, as it relates to any potential impact on its climate targets, through (a) the intergovernmental council, (b) communication from the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (c) communication from the UK Secretary of State for Scotland, (d) communication from the UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and (e) communication from the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

The Scottish Government has not been made aware of any discussions between the UK and Norwegian Governments regarding the Rosebank oilfield.

Oil and gas licensing processes are currently reserved to the UK Government. Scottish Ministers have repeatedly called for reform of these processes, to ensure compatibility with climate commitments and we will continue to look for further opportunities to make the case for reform.

Question reference: S6W-22218

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Norwegian Government (a) ministers and (b) officials, regarding any potential impact on its climate targets of the development of Rosebank oilfield, since 1 January 2021.

The Scottish Government has not engaged in any discussions with Norwegian Government ministers or officials regarding the Rosebank oilfield.

We are committed to a just energy transition for the North Sea. Collaboration with our Nordic partners on this transition – including in relation to offshore wind, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage, port infrastructure and hydrogen – is a key area of activity for the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-21569

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recommendation 4 in the report, Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation, which states that the Scottish Government should “establish a clear template for regional skills planning”, including the need to “recognise the central role of providers, particularly the huge potential of colleges in planning for and addressing skills needs in their regions”, what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding (a) their role in regional skills planning and (b) any action they have already taken on the matter since the report’s publication.

The Scottish Government is developing the approach for implementing the priorities set out in the Purpose and Principles for Post-School Education, Research and Skills, which addresses some of the recommendations by James Withers, including on national and regional skills planning.

As I stated in my opening remarks in the debate about Scotland’s skills system on 25 th October, I am keen to engage widely on the approach to implementing change as we narrow in on the potential routes to reform.

Local Authorities, colleges and employers, alongside other partners, have an important role in regional skills planning and I will engage with them in the coming weeks to gather their views and discuss this matter.

Question reference: S6W-21998

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16001 by Kevin Stewart on 24 March 2023, whether it will provide an update on how many health and social care partnerships have implemented its guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on free, short-term loan.

Question reference: S6W-22560

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angus Robertson on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General for Scotland will publish the annual report for 2022.

Scotland’s Population 2022: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’ will be published at 9:30 a.m. on 31 st October 2023. The Report provides an overview of trends in population, migration, and deaths, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available at

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/stats-at-a-glance/registrar-generals-annual-review/2022 .

Question reference: S6W-22041

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of (a) its and (b) each of its agencies' vehicle fleet is comprised of zero-emission vehicles, and what information it has on how this compares with other public bodies.

a) Presently, Scottish Government's overall fleet is comprised of 69% ultra-low and zero emission vehicles. Zero emission vehicles make up 26% of the total Scottish Government fleet.

b) Data held by Transport Scotland on the % of zero emission vehicles in Scottish Government agency fleets at the end of 2022 is summarised in the following table.

Executive Agencies	Zero Emission %
Accountancy in Bankruptcy	No Fleet
Disclosure Scotland	No Fleet
Education Scotland	Data Not held
Forestry and Land Scotland	4%
Scottish Forestry	8%
Scottish Pensions Agency	No Fleet
Scottish Prison Service	2%
Social Security Scotland	50%
Student Awards Agency for Scotland	Data Not held
Transport Scotland	50%

The data available also indicates that at the end of 2022 approximately 12% of Scottish public sector fleet vehicles were zero emission.

Question reference: S6W-21976

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital admissions there have been as a result of deliberate self-harm by people aged (a) under 16 and (b) 16 and over, in each year since 2012.

The Scottish Government will publish a dedicated self-harm strategy and action plan by the end of 2023, with the aim of ensuring people who self-harm, or who are at risk of self-harming, receive effective and compassionate support. This builds on our investment of £1.5m (since 2021) in the Self-harm Network Scotland , which is showing positive outcomes in supporting people who self-harm and those who care for them.

Research evidence, including insights from people with lived experience, confirms that often people who self-harm do not seek support from statutory services. We also know that for many people who attend hospital for self-harm treatment will not need to be admitted. Furthermore, there are differences in recording practices between clinicians and Health Boards. These factors mean the data on self-harm admission in hospitals is currently incomplete and unreliable, and for these reasons the data on self-harm received by Public Health Scotland from inpatient and emergency care settings is not routinely published.

Addressing these data issues will be a key priority in our self-harm strategy and a priority of the action plan will be to review, and improve data, including in hospital settings, to drive improvements in support and service responses for people who self-harm.

Number of admissions diagnosed with intentional self-harm in Scottish NHS Acute Hospitals, broken down by age category and calendar year of admission, 2012 - 2022.
Year	Ages 5-15	Ages 16+
2012	414	14,012
2013	683	14,575
2014	746	13,486
2015	760	13,269
2016	767	14,086
2017	843	15,188
2018	805	15,779
2019	901	16,673
2020	1,122	16,618
2021	1,565	15,093
2022	1,590	11,484

Question reference: S6W-21980

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19661 by Jenny Gilruth on 31 July 2023, when it will conclude and publish the findings of the Student Finance and Wellbeing Study, which will provide data on paid work undertaken by students.

Question reference: S6W-21981

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19661 by Jenny Gilruth on 31 July 2023, whether the Student Finance and Wellbeing Study will also include the amount of paid work that postgraduate students are doing within the schools that they are studying, such as convening tutorials or hosting seminars, and, if not, how it collates such data.

The Student Finance and Wellbeing Study (academic year 2023-24) will gather data from college and university students in Scotland on their level of study, the number of hours they have worked in the last week, the sector that their job(s) is/are in, and whether the paid work they are doing is supporting the development of skills related to their course. It will not collect information on where the paid work is carried out (on location/ employer). The extent to which the Study will be able to report on the experiences of work of postgraduate students will depend on sample sizes being large enough to report on.

Question reference: S6W-22232

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding increasing the frequency of media campaigns that raise awareness of the tactics that online romance scammers use to exploit their victims and the steps that individuals can take to avoid falling for such scams.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about the impact that scams can have on individuals, including those who are vulnerable to the activity of online romance scammers.

While we have not held any direct discussions with Police Scotland about romance scams, we continue to work with partners on scams prevention and to support the publication of a regular CyberScotland Bulletin (available at cyberscotland.com) which provides information on the latest cyber threats, scams and news. We also supported a media campaign run by Advice Direct Scotland last year to raise awareness around romance and companionship scams.

I would urge anyone who becomes aware of any suspicious activity relating to romance scams to contact ADS on 0808 164 6000 and urge anyone who feels they’ve been a victim of online romance scammers to report it to Police Scotland by calling 101.