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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.

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Question reference: S6W-16490

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Ballet since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Scottish Ballet is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Companies and has met with Scottish Ministers on two occasions since May 2021.

On 22 February 2022 Scottish Ballet held an introductory meeting with Neil Gray following his appointment as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine.

On 11 January 2023 Scottish Ballet, along with the other National Performing Companies, met with the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to explore how their international tours could further enhance the reputation and brand of Scotland overseas.

As a National Performing Company the Scottish Ballet receive direct funding from Scottish Government. Scottish Government officials have met regularly since May 2021 with the Scottish Ballet as part of normal grant management processes.

The Scottish Government will continue to have regular dialogue with the culture sector and, given the recent changes in the Scottish Government Ministerial team, introductory meetings between relevant Ministers and the National Performing Companies are currently being considered.

Question reference: S6W-16077

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14616 by Lorna Slater on 6 March 2023, what specific steps it has taken to ensure that SEPA, as the Deposit Return Scheme regulator, has sufficient resources to provide “advice and guidance as the preferred route to achieving compliance for businesses who are striving to meet their obligations” under the scheme, in light of reports that Circularity Scotland is still unable to supply producers with all the information that they have requested.

SEPA has been provided funding by the Scottish Government to establish their regulatory service for the scheme. Once the scheme is operational, SEPA will be funded for the service via the producer registration fees collected. The Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) for Scotland 2020 regulations provide that businesses with a taxable turnover in excess of £85,000 will pay an annual £365 fee when registering as a producer for Scotland's DRS. This regulatory activity will include provision of advice and guidance to businesses to support them in achieving compliance.

Question reference: S6W-16094

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), in relation to the notice for a contractor to provide taxi services (Public Contracts Scotland reference FEB471362), how many (a) applications have been received, (b) applicants completed the required Declaration of Non-Involvement in Serious Organised Crime and (c) applicants were rejected as a result of, or following, advice provided to the SPCB by Police Scotland.

The SPCB’s procurement function operates in accordance with its published Procurement Strategy and established industry practice including guidance published by the Scottish Government. There are robust processes in place to deliver sustainable contracts that provide best value for money and resilient supply chain governance.

To support this strategy, and in line with procurement regulations, as a matter of policy the SPCB does not publish specific information regarding contracts or tenders which might prejudice fair competition, which would prejudice the commercial interests of any person or organisation or otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

I am therefore limited in the detail I can provide in response to your questions. I can confirm that two quotations were submitted for the contract advertised as FEB471362.

The SPCB has made the decision to award the contract to provide taxi services to City Cabs (Edinburgh) Limited in line with the advertised requirements.

Question reference: S6W-16027

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason decision making on grants from the Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learning Third Sector Fund has been delayed, and when those decisions will be made and communicated to applicants.

Scottish Government Ministers took the decision to extend all current funding for the 115 organisations funded under the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning & Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) third sector fund for three months and consider options for the existing fund together with fully considering bids under the new Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learning (CYPFAL) third sector fund. Following this consideration, Ministers took the decision to extend all existing funding under CYPFEI and ALEC for two financial years, providing £29m to 115 organisations to end March 2025. Officials wrote to all affected organisations on 20 March 2023 to communicate this decision. In addition, Ministers have decided to award an additional £6m to 22 further organisations under the CYPFAL third sector fund over the next two financial years to end March 2025.

Question reference: S6W-16853

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average time is for claimants to receive a decision following an application for the Adult Disability Payment.

Official statistics covering processing times for Adult Disability Payment are published as a part of the regularly scheduled quarterly publication. The latest Adult Disability Payment statistical publication was published on Tuesday 14 March 2023 and the next publication will be published in June 2023. Information on the average processing time by month is included in table 9. This publication is available from

https://www.gov.scot/collections/social-security-scotland-stats-publications/#benefitsforcarersanddisabilityassistance .

Question reference: S6W-16405

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessments have been conducted on any lost learning by pupils during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government undertook a suite of Impact Assessments during the pandemic to help inform key decisions and assess their potential impact on those at greatest risk from COVID- 19 and on vulnerable groups, including learners.

The Scottish Government and Education Scotland also published an Equity Audit on 13 January 2021 to share our understanding of the impact that COVID-19 and school building closures had on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This also set clear areas of focus for accelerating recovery from the pandemic.

The Equity Audit and the Impact Assessments were published on the Scottish Government’s website and can be accessed using the links below.

Question reference: S6W-16201

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to top up the Scottish Child Payment for parents under 25.

Question reference: S6T-01313

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Deposit Return Scheme, in light of the First Minister recently stating that he was actively looking at options around the scheme and that he was "taking advice".

Question reference: S6T-01312

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue it anticipates that local authorities would be able to raise, in light of its reported proposals to enable them to double council tax on second homes.

Question reference: S6F-02027

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2023

To ask the First Minister, in light of his recent visit to the Port of Aberdeen, what engagement he has had with the business community since taking office.