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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-15481

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the report of the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process (NDAP) for The Baird Family Hospital and The ANCHOR Centre Project, which was undertaken in 2019, will be published.

Question reference: S6W-15085

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to fulfil its commitment to end the placement of 16- and 17-year-olds in young offenders institutions.

The Scottish Government is committed to ending the placement of under 18s in Young Offenders Institutions (YOI) and supporting care based alternatives. We have already made significant progress, with the number of under 18s in YOI down to 4 on 28 February from over 200 in 2007. The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, introduced to Holyrood on 13 December 2022, will end this practice if it gains Parliamentary approval.

Such action is integral to Keeping the Promise, a pledge which has cross party support and to which this government remains steadfastly committed.

Beyond legislative change we are working closely with Local Authorities and the third sector to create the conditions for change. A practice guide for community alternatives has been drafted with key partners for expected publication by May 2023. The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice are supporting engagement with key partners and children and young people on the future of secure care, including defining issues, developing options for change and delivering on this, where agreed with Ministers.

We are engaging with secure care providers and local authorities to increase secure care capacity for under 18s. We are exploring funding options to provide financial sustainability for secure care providers going forward.

Question reference: S6W-15179

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage members of the public to report instances of waste crime to Police Scotland.

SEPA and partners, such as local authorities and Police Scotland, regularly use social media to publicise how members of the public can report any suspicious activity in relation to environmental or waste crime. Targeted campaigns are used when there is a new type of waste crime activity or mode of operation, to encourage both reporting but also raising awareness to allow proactive prevention. For example, to landowners making them aware of potential flytipping on unsecured vacant land or warehouse.

SEPA has also recently targeted a specific area of Renfrewshire where it is tackling an illegal site, which has involved encouraging members of the public to report any information they may have in relation to the site and waste operations in and around the area. This has included social media, local press coverage and a local household leaflet drop.

Our consultation on a new National Litter & Flytipping Strategy included proposals to review and improve mechanisms for citizen reporting of flytipping in Scotland. The final strategy will be published in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-15147

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have been reported to Police Scotland for selling vapes and e-cigarettes to children and young people under 18, and how many of these sellers have been (a) charged and (b) convicted, in each year since 2019.

Question reference: S6W-15647

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is working on any further agreements regarding the private finance funding of nature restoration, in light of the recently announced agreement between NatureScot, Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium.

Through the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, the Scottish Government has committed to “establish a values-led, high-integrity market for responsible private investment in natural capital, supported by a national project pipeline for nature-based solutions”. This work is underpinned by our Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital, which can be found at the following link - https://www.gov.scot/publications/interim-principles-for-responsible-investment-in-natural-capital/ . These ensure investments deliver genuine benefits to the environment, support local communities and conform with the principles of a just transition.

NatureScot’s agreement with Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier and Palladium, announced on 1 March 2023, will help to deliver these commitments by creating new jobs, working with local communities and businesses, and bringing about landscape-scale restoration of natural capital. Neither NatureScot nor the Scottish Government are currently working on any other similar agreements. The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS), launched in February this year, will also support the establishment of a values-led, high-integrity market by helping organisations that seek to develop projects that use responsible private investment and market-based mechanisms to restore Scotland’s natural environment.

Question reference: S6W-15479

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what reviews have taken place to ensure that the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process (NDAP) action plan for The Baird Family Hospital and The ANCHOR Centre Project, which was undertaken in 2019, has been completed.

The NDAP process does not use the term, or produce an ‘action plan’. The process results in essential and advisory recommendations at the end of each of each Business Case stage which must be developed by the Board. The Board will submit evidence or a commitment to address the recommendations prior to their NDAP report achieving a ‘verified’ status.

NHS Grampian received the supported NDAP report for the Full Business Case stage of the Baird and ANCHOR project on 3 July 2020. This was followed up confirming the commitment from NHS Grampian to complete and close out all required actions. A tracker was developed which included all the required actions and the work to agree and close out the actions was carried out with NDAP and Graham Construction until May 2021. The actions were confirmed as closed by the NDAP team on 18 May 2021.

Question reference: S6W-15545

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding participating in the "subscription-style" payment model that has been established to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

I welcome the UK’s pilot Antimicrobial Purchasing Project which seeks to implement a novel payment model to incentivise pharmaceutical companies to do research and development into new antimicrobials which are vital in our fight against Antimicrobial Resistance. In June 2022, the Secretary of State for Health formally invited Scottish Ministers to join the next stage of the project. I agreed in principle for Scotland to engage in follow-on work and to progress towards being an equal partner in shaping the model’s evolution, with particular reference to Scotland's requirements. We await the formal proposition from UK which would allow us to proceed but are in regular contact with DHSC to ensure we are in the position to respond when an approach comes forward.

Question reference: S6W-15440

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency measures Transport Scotland has in place in the event that the A828 Connel Bridge closes for a (a) short and (b) long period of time.

When undertaking trunk road maintenance works, Transport Scotland and its operating companies plan operations to minimise disruption to the public and businesses. Closures are avoided where possible, with works’ timings and traffic management operations designed to suit. Consultation feedback from stakeholders is considered in these plans.

Transport Scotland‘s Operating Company, BEAR Scotland, is currently planning a programme of maintenance and construction works on the Bridge. This will see replacement of the concrete deck from Autumn 2024 for approximately 6 months utilising overnight closures. This will be followed by repainting of the structure commencing in 2025 with a duration of 2 years and with occasional overnight closures.

Any bridge closures or delay as a result of the works on the structure will be carefully planned during a rigorous consultation strategy. This will reduce the effect of the works on vital services, local community and key stakeholders but also allow the vital work to the structure to be undertaken safely.

Should the bridge close due to an unplanned or emergency situation, a strategic diversion via A82 Ballachulish Bridge roundabout and A82 Tyndrum has been agreed with local councils and Police Scotland to ensure continued safe access to the region.

Question reference: S6W-15095

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether Circularity Scotland is subject to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, and whether it is required to openly tender above threshold procurement opportunities.

Question reference: S6O-02060

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to eliminate any spillages of sewage from the sewer network into rivers and lochs.