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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-16912

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that English craft beer is being labelled as “not for sale in Scotland” due to concerns over the Deposit Return Scheme.

It is for individual businesses to determine whether or not they wish to sell products in Scotland following the launch of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that businesses of all sizes can participate in our DRS. As part of this I announced on Thursday 20 April 2023 in Parliament that changes are to be made to the DRS Regulations so that any product which sells less than 5,000 articles a year in Scotland will no longer have to place a deposit on the product. This change was asked for by business and will apply to producers of all sizes. However, it will particularly help small producers and hospitality businesses.

Question reference: S6O-02195

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to tackle child hunger during the school holidays.

We are providing local authorities with £21.75 million to help families, who are eligible for free school meals on the basis of low income, with the cost of buying food during the 2023-24 school holidays.

This funding forms part of the most generous Free School Meals package anywhere in the UK.

In addition, by the end of this Parliament we are committed to building a system of year-round school age childcare, for those on the lowest incomes, that will integrate food and childcare provision where appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-17432

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage victims of cyber fraud to report the crime to the police, in light of the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) findings that, for most types of cyber fraud, a majority of victims did not report the incident.

The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) details a variety of reasons why people do not always report instances of cyber fraud to Police Scotland. This includes dealing with the issue personally or reporting it to another authority, such as a bank.

Both the Scottish Government and Police Scotland encourage anyone in Scotland who may have been the victim of cyber fraud to call 101 or report it to any Police Officer or at any Police Station. Police Scotland will investigate all crimes reported to them whilst being mindful of the need to provide support and advice to the victim. Where an individual or organisation is subject to a cyber dependant crime, Police Scotland actively encourage reporting in order that their specialist investigative teams can offer support and guidance on mitigation.

Question reference: S6W-17443

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set any targets in relation to its commitment to maximise the economic, supply chain, and employment opportunities of renewable hydrogen projects, and onshore and offshore wind, as set out in its publication, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership – A fresh start.

As a government, we are convinced that hydrogen, alongside renewable electricity, will play an extremely important part in our energy system going forward. We are scaling up renewable energy and taking action to transform and expand Scotland’s energy generation sector. The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan which is open for consultation until 9 May, sets out actions to ensure that Scotland is home to a multi-skilled energy workforce, boosting our domestic supply chain and manufacturing capabilities.

Through the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET), the Scottish Government is driving forward the transformation of Scotland’s Economy by committing to six programmes of action that will focus on stimulating entrepreneurship; opening new markets; increasing productivity; developing the skills we need for the decade ahead; ensuring fairer and more equal economic opportunities; and creating a new culture of delivery. We have established a clear set of metrics, which we will use to assess our performance against the long-term objectives set in NSET, and have been chosen to represent the key areas where NSET seeks to shift the dial.

Question reference: S6O-02225

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to promote free bus travel through the National Entitlement Card scheme, particularly amongst people with a qualifying social security entitlement.

Question reference: S6O-02223

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, prior to the signing by the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity of the Memorandum of Understanding between NatureScot and financial partners, how much financing it had identified would be required to meet its net zero targets for tree planting.

Question reference: S6O-02221

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures can be taken to accelerate the prosecution of criminal cases.

Question reference: S6O-02220

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the gender pay gap.

Question reference: S6O-02226

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Transport Scotland regarding the Swallow roundabout in Dundee.

Question reference: S6O-02224

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure the involvement of Scotland's financial sector in efforts to tackle the climate emergency.