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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-17155

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many people under 22 in South Lanarkshire have registered for a free bus pass through the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme.

As at the end of the day 31 March 2023, there were 36,131 cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme in South Lanarkshire.

This data is supplied by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO). NECPO supports the 32 local authorities by assisting with the integration of various national and local public services on the National Entitlement Card (NEC) and are the joint controller with local authorities of this data. The figure includes travel products collected from the Transport Scot Pass Collect mobile app.

Question reference: S6W-16794

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to regulate the legal services profession.

The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on the 20 April 2023.

The overarching policy objective of the Bill, which builds on the existing regulatory framework, will, if passed, provide a modern, forward-looking regulatory framework for Scotland that will best promote competition, innovation, and the public and consumer interest in an efficient, effective, and efficient legal sector.

Question reference: S6W-16730

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many deer have been culled under licence from NatureScot in each of the last three years.

Data from cull returns for the last three years is not yet complete, and in particular most of the data for the 2022-23 season is still outstanding. The following table is a snapshot of the latest position.

Section of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996	Season	Male	Female	Calves	Total
10(4) - Emergency Measures
	2020-21	23	105	66	194
	2021-22	1	8	3	12
	2022-23	4	117	39	160
18(2) - Night Shooting
	2020-21	6467	7801	4418	18686
	2021-22	3479	4363	1881	6902
	2022-23	330	589	210	490
5(6) - Specific Out of Season
	2020-21	9781	4584	4301	18666
	2021-22	4044	1906	952	6902
	2022-23	257	149	84	490
5(6)f - Specific Female Out of Season
	2020-21	0	3	0	3
	2021-22	0	79	72	151
	2022-23	Awaiting returns	Awaiting returns	Awaiting returns
5(7) - Scientific Purposes		0	0	0	0

NatureScot regularly publish this data which can be found on their website.

Question reference: S6W-16644

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that young people with cancer have access to specialist psychological support (a) throughout and (b) beyond their treatment, wherever they live in Scotland.

Over the last year, the Managed Service Network for children and young people with cancer (MSN), reviewed the Psychology, Physiotherapy and Dietetic Resource. As a result, we agreed to make the existing provision of psychological service permanent to provide certainty and ensure young people have access to psychological support.

In addition, the Scottish Cancer Network, alongside the MSN, is currently undertaking a broader workforce mapping exercise and have established a short life working group to support this. The MSN’s review will be considered by the short life working group. This group, who will complete their mapping exercise this year, will specifically look at how we can upskill our current workforce as well as looking at wider service needs within this population group.

Question reference: S6W-16643

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to conduct a review of gender identity services for children and young people, similar to the Cass Review in England.

The Scottish Government does not seek to replicate the work of the Cass Review. However, as we have previously stated, the interim findings of that Review continue to be closely considered by both Scottish Government and NHS Scotland, alongside broader national and international evidence. As part of this, officials and senior clinicians from the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have also met with Dr Cass and members of the Cass Review team to discuss respective approaches.

Our Strategic Action Framework for NHS gender identity service improvement includes a commitment to support the establishment of nationally commissioned Young Person’s Gender Identity Service. Discussions and scoping with NHS National Services Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to consider current and future national provision, are ongoing.

Question reference: S6W-16414

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the creation of a Scottish Education Exchange Programme, and what the anticipated launch date of the programme is.

Question reference: S6W-15959

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of hearings involving tenants facing court proceedings to remove them from properties has doubled since 2021-22.

Social housing evictions are dealt with by the Sheriff Courts. The number of court hearings required in each case will depend on the complexity and circumstances of the individual case. Whilst the number of summary cause eviction applications registered by the Sheriff Courts has increased over the last year following the ending of the Covid protection measures, the number of applications remain s well below pre-pandemic levels.

Question reference: S6W-16242

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the 2019 Full Business Case for the Deposit Return Scheme needs to be updated in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent inflationary pressures and increased energy prices, and, if it considers that it does need updating, when that update will be carried out.

Question reference: S6T-01336

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report by Friends of the Earth Scotland, which suggests that additional investment is required in public transport if the Scottish Government is to meet its target of reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030.

Question reference: S6T-01332

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the SQA regarding the preparations for this year’s exams.