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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-17142

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022, what action EventScotland is taking to promote the events industry in the islands.

Question reference: S6W-17168

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Training Federation has warned that thousands of young people across Scotland have been “left in limbo” as no new modern apprenticeships will be available “for the foreseeable future”, as a result of delays in Scottish Government funding to Skills Development Scotland, which is reportedly resulting in employers putting their recruitment plans on hold, and training providers looking at laying off staff due to the shortage of work.

Modern Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a skilled workforce set out within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

Our priority is for high quality apprenticeships that provide sustainable jobs and careers, supporting our transition to net zero.

SDS have issued contract awards for new Modern Apprenticeships for this financial year to support up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship starts in 2023-24. SDS previously issued contracts in March for over 39,000 Modern Apprentices in training for 2023-24 supporting businesses and individuals across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17136

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve infrastructure in order to enable all-year access to snowsports venues.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with the Scottish Snowsports sector and our economic agencies to contribute to the sectors financial sustainability.

Independent research commissioned by the Scottish Government ( Snowsports sector - Economic, Social and Cultural Impact: Research - Technical Report) was published in April 2023 and explored ways in which mountain resorts may improve their financial sustainability. In addition to improvements to the winter offer provided at resorts the research highlighted the need to expand the range of activities/sports which could be provided by venues all year round.

Financial support is available to snowsports venues via Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise. Both economic agencies provide support for capital investments with specific intervention rates applied. The necessary due diligence is carried out and all proposed projects are assessed on an individual business case.

Question reference: S6W-16125

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13799 by Kevin Stewart on 19 January 2023, whether it will provide an update on when further details will be available.

Question reference: S6W-17194

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15995 by Christina McKelvie on 11 April 2023, when the working group will next meet.

Question reference: S6W-16992

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S6W-00020 by Ash Denham on 27 May 2021, how many fatalities have resulted from house fires since 2020-21, and what assessment it has carried out of the statistics.

According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Statistics, in 2020-2021 the total number of dwelling fire fatalities was 46. For 2021-22 the total number of fatal casualties from fires in dwellings were 30.

SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .

Any death from fire is one too many and that is why effective fire safety, to prevent fires and reduce their impact, remains a priority for the Scottish Government and SFRS. Whilst fire safety priority groups, themes and actions are operational matters for SFRS, the Scottish Government actively supports measures to reduce fires and fire fatalities.

Question reference: S6W-16973

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00020 by Ash Denham on 27 May 2021, how many fatalities have resulted from house fires in the last 12 months.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) 2021-2022 Incident Statistics outline that the total number of fatal casualties from fires in dwellings during 2021-2022 was 30. As further information may yet come to light, for example from coroners reports, this figure is subject to change.

Question reference: S6W-17026

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on maintenance services for socially rented properties in each year since 1999.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. Individual social landlords are responsible for their own maintenance costs.

Social landlords are required, under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, to keep houses they let fit for human habitation and ensure that any repairs are carried out when they are needed.

We work closely with social landlords in our shared ambition to provide quality, affordable social homes and continue to have constructive engagement with them on a range of matters.

Question reference: S6W-17018

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support has been provided to third sector and charitable organisations that provide support to patients in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-16945

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent assessment is of expanding the use of non-invasive liver scans in (a) primary and (b) community care to improve early detection of liver disease.

The Scottish Government does not assess clinical diagnostic interventions.

However, non-invasive liver scans, including transient elastography devices such as FibroScan, are recommended by NICE in primary care settings and are currently used in several NHS Boards throughout Scotland to assess liver disease.

Currently, there is limited evidence on the efficacy of these scans in a community care context. Trials to test the expanded use of non-invasive liver scans are ongoing in both primary care and for populations at higher risk of liver disease in community care.