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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: S6O-02551

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any benefits to islanders of restoring the monthly season ticket on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry route.

Question reference: S6O-02546

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Question reference: S6W-20845

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable housing supply programme units it approved in the period from 1 April to 31 August 2023.

Question reference: S6W-20751

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce so-called "recreational vaping".

We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers.

Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

Officials are working to develop further action in this area, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

Any action that we seek to take will build on the regulations that are already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under-18s.

We are also supporting work with young people to help them understand the risks related to vaping.

We continue to work with the UK Government, alongside Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, over joint approaches where appropriate and welcome their commitment to help address underage vaping.

The Zero Waste Scotland report on the environmental impacts of single use vapes highlighted an increase in the number of people using vapes in Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to taking action on single use vapes, which includes our Programme for Government commitment to consult on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures. Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation, and informed by a stakeholder roundtable and engagement with the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Question reference: S6W-20754

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many working groups, reference groups, policy sub groups, network groups and other groups it has set up in relation to its delivery of the Women's Health Plan; what the full name of each group is, and who each group reports to.

There are two standing groups which support the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan .

The Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board provides strategic oversight for the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan programme and reports to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. An officials’ working group referred to as a Delivery Group supports the Programme Board.

There are a number of networks and short-term sub-groups which are taking forward particular priorities identified in the Plan. More information about some of this work can be found in our recent interim progress update .

Question reference: S6W-20757

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the cost to NHS Scotland of treating diseases caused by smoking was in the last year for which figures are available.

Question reference: S6W-21029

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the view expressed in responses to the consultation on its proposed Agriculture Bill that the proposed payment system could be complicated or unwieldy for some users, what measures it is taking to adapt the proposed four-tier payment system to take such views into account.

A consultation on the Bill’s proposals ran from 29 August 2022 to 5 December 22, where a wide range of views were received. On 22 June 2023, the Scottish Government published the Agriculture Bill - Analysis of Consultation Responses which details the findings of this extended engagement.

As is convention, following consultation on proposed legislation, Ministers are considering the views received to inform a new Agriculture Bill which will be introduced in 2023. In turn, Parliament will consider the proposals and provide further comment on draft proposals, accordingly.

Question reference: S6W-21030

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total level of attendance was at the workshops on its proposed Agriculture Bill that took place in 2022 on 5 October in Inverness, 6 October in Skye, 25 October in Inverurie, 1 November in Oban, 3 November in Melrose, 8 November in Stirling, 10 November in Dumfries, 14 November in Ayr, and 28 November in Orkney.

Question reference: S6W-20844

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications from (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have been (i) received and (ii) approved for the National Acquisition Plan since it was announced on 19 July 2023.

The following table shows the number of homes approved from applications received from (a) registered social landlords (b) local authorities since the National Acquisition Plan was announced on 19 July 2023. This information is to 24 August 2023:

National Acquisition Programme	Applications for nos. of homes received	No. of homes approved
Registered social landlord	3	3
Local authority	52	52
Total	55	55

It should also be noted that, in addition, applications were also received and approved prior to the announcement on the 19 July.

Question reference: S6W-20791

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many contract inflation claims have been made by house builders and contractors for the construction of social housing in each of the last two years, and whether it will provide a list of the successful claims in that period.