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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-21788

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many Employer Recruitment Incentives have been created as part of the Young Person's Guarantee since it was launched.

Support available through the Young Person’s Guarantee was delivered through Local Employability Partnerships, with Local Authorities acting as lead accountable body.

Specific details on Employer Recruitment Incentives are not held by the Scottish Government, therefore requests for this information would need to be directed towards Local Authorities.

Employability contacts for each local authority can be found on the Employability in Scotland website which can be accessed here: https://www.employabilityinscotland.com/local-employability-services/

Question reference: S6W-21523

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maggie Chapman on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to introducing drop-down microphones in the Chamber.

There are a number of overhead microphones in place in the Chamber. These microphones allow the inclusion of ambient noise in broadcast outputs so that coverage can provide a sense of the atmosphere of the Chamber during proceedings. The overhead microphones do not form part of the audio system that has been designed to ensure that Members contributions can be heard with sufficient clarity by those in the Chamber but is used for broadcast and webcast output and for the purposes of producing the Official Report. The design of the audio system in the Chamber also reflects that contributions are made through the Chair and that Members should primarily be facing the Chair while speaking. At this point there are no plans to add additional microphones.

Question reference: S6W-21714

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring forward proposals for the regulation of carbon market participation in Scotland, and what the timetable is for any such plans.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to bring forward proposals for the regulation of carbon market participation for Scotland. It is committed to developing a values-led high integrity market for responsible investment in natural capital and will publish proposals for a Natural Capital market framework to support this commitment, and to strengthen the Interim Principles on Responsible Private Investment, in 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-21992

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects that a biodiversity code, which mirrors the woodland and peatland codes, will be (a) drafted, (b) consulted on and (c) ready for implementation.

The Scottish Government is not aware of a timetable in place for the drafting, consultation phase or implementation of a biodiversity code that could operate in Scotland. The Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code both operate at a UK-scale and the role of Scottish Government in developing a similar biodiversity code, alongside other administrations and public bodies, would have to be determined. There is a range of work underway that will help to inform the development of such a Code when appropriate including a Scottish Government CivTech project to develop a potential model for a biodiversity code, the publication of biodiversity metrics research commissioned by Scottish Government; and the UK-scale British Standard Institutes work on Nature Investment Standards.

Question reference: S6W-21991

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Funding has been awarded to (a) micro, (b) small, (c) medium-sized and (d) large businesses to date.

Question reference: S6W-21724

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for onshore wind development with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts have been granted against the recommendation of the relevant local authority in each of the past 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Regarding applications for onshore wind development with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts (including applications to extend and vary wind farms in excess of 50 megawatts where an application was made to Scottish Ministers) that have been granted contrary to a planning authority objection in the past 10 years are presented in the following table.

Consented with planning authority objection – 2013 – to date.

YEAR	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023 (to date)	Total
PA	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023 (to date)	Total
Aberdeenshire										1	1	2
Argyll and Bute									1			1
Dumfries and Galloway				1					1		2	4
East Ayrshire					1****	1	1					3
East Lothian				1***								1
Highland					3	1	1		2	1	1	9
Moray					1			1		2		4
North Lanarkshire			1**									1
Scottish Borders	1			1	1			1	1+			5
South Ayrshire									1****			1
West Lothian		1										1
TOTAL	1	1	1	3	6	2	2	2	6	4	4	32

Definitions** = 1 partially in both South and West Lanarkshire, *** = 1 partially in Scottish Borders, **** = 1 partially in Dumfries and Galloway, ++ = 1 partially in East Ayrshire.

Question reference: S6W-21734

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what research is currently being undertaken into the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

Within the Scottish Government funding of Health and Care Research comes under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).

CSO is funding the following research project:

ENDOCAN-1: A pilot randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of a Cannabinoid Oral Tincture in the management of Endometriosis-associated pain

Lead Investigator Dr Lucy Whittaker University of Edinburgh

Funding commitment £299,509

Project start date 01 April 2024

Question reference: S6W-21715

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether carbon credits generated in Scotland can be traded outwith the UK.

Question reference: S6W-21719

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties have had energy efficiency measures installed through funding from the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme since it was introduced.

Funding for energy efficiency measures is only paid once an installation has been completed. Therefore, the number of properties that have installed energy efficiency measures through funding from the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme is the same as the number of properties that have received funding for energy efficiency measures.

As such, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21234 on 26 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-21961

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) reduced and (b) extended opening hours are under consideration for any booking offices on the ScotRail network.

There are no plans to close any ScotRail booking offices, unlike plans from UK Government to close ticket offices operated by its train operators. The importance of staff being deployed appropriately across the network to enhance passenger safety and control of antisocial behaviour is clear.

It is important to consider how best to continue to offer services that support those customers who need staff assistance, while also taking into account the substantial increase in ticket purchases made across digital platforms.