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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-16209

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the cost of the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry in each financial year since the Inquiry was established.

The Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry publishes its expenditure on a quarterly basis on its website: http://www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/inquiry-costs

The latest published figures show that the Inquiry has spent £10.4m since its setting-up date on 30 November 2020 until 31 December 2022:

Financial Year	Expenditure
30 November 2020 – 31 March 2021	£0.8M
1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022	£5.1M
1 April 2022 - 31 December 2022	£4.5M
Total	£10.4M

It is for the independent Chair to direct how the Inquiry operates whilst fulfilling his duty to avoid any unnecessary costs.

Question reference: S6W-16185

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential of introducing advanced treatments, such as catalytic treatment and photo- or UV-based oxidation, to degrade pharmaceuticals that are reportedly contaminating water.

The methods used to treat sewage is a matter for Scottish Water to consider to ensure regulatory standards are met in an efficient manner. I refer the member to the answer for S6W-16184 on 11 April 2023 for further information on the discussions regarding the potential presence and impact of pharmaceuticals in water.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-16061

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason grant and loan support is not available through Home Energy Scotland for air-to-air heating systems.

The renewable heating element of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme provides funding for well-established technologies to support households to decarbonise heating their homes in line with the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Air to air systems are not currently included in the list of eligible measures because, unlike other heat pump solutions, they do not provide both heating and hot water.

There are, however, a range of grant funded heating measures available through the scheme, including air to water heat pumps and other electric heating measures which can be complemented by installation of solar panels and battery storage.

The measures delivered through the scheme are kept under review and the Scottish Government will consider future changes in line with developments in new and improved technologies.

Question reference: S6W-16306

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with housing developers regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Officials have met with housing developers throughout the preparation of NPF4. Most recently, Planning, Housing and Analytical officials met with members of the industry to discuss matters relating to Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) on 6 February 2023. This followed the Local Government and Housing Committee’s consideration of NPF4. We will continue to work with Homes for Scotland and their members as we move to deliver NPF4.

Question reference: S6W-16352

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to colleges to help make them wind and watertight.

The Scottish Government, through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), provides colleges with capital funding for the purpose of college lifecycle costs and backlog maintenance. The 2023-24 budget has increased the college capital budget by over 10%.

SFC’s College Infrastructure Strategy: The Approach to Delivering Scotland’s College Infrastructure recognises that investment in college infrastructure is needed. It describes the principles and approach to determining future investment needs in Scotland’s college estate and other college infrastructure and the need to explore new and existing funding arrangements to address the breadth of investment needed and this will be investigated as part of the work to develop the Infrastructure Investment Plan.

Question reference: S6W-16296

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many individual pieces of guidance have been issued to local authorities since May 2021.

Question reference: S6W-16347

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of aluminium materials has been collected for recycling in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-16307

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with Heads of Planning Scotland regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Officials meet on a frequent basis with Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS), including through a monthly catch up between the Chief Planner and the HOPS Chair and Vice Chairs to discuss key issues, and by officials attending the HOPS sub-committees on development planning and development management, where NPF4 is a regular agenda item.

The HOPS annual conference is attended by Scottish Government officials and the Minister with responsibility for planning, most recently on 31 st March 2023. HOPS is also part of the High Level Group on planning performance, co-chaired by Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

We are committed to continuing a collaborative approach with a range of key stakeholders in the delivery of NPF4, including HOPS.

Question reference: S6W-16037

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Deposit Return Scheme.

I attended the recent Inter-ministerial group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 March 2023 where Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was discussed. The next meeting of this group is scheduled for 17 April.

Officials also meet regularly with other departments in the UK, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations to discuss DRS. Recently the following meetings have taken place:

30 March – Senior Officials Programme Board
30 March – UK Common Frameworks Project Board
3 April – Scottish Government / Defra bilateral meeting

Officials are also in regular contact with counterparts in the UK Government outwith these engagements.

Question reference: S6W-16276

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Aberdeen to Central Belt rail enhancement project, when it expects to publish the outline business case that it had previously planned to publish in 2022.