Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-02034

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its culture policies can help celebrate Scotland's rich social history.

Question reference: S6W-15923

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering introducing legislation to require professional dog walkers to hold a licence.

Question reference: S6W-15747

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, how many pieces of secondary legislation it has introduced in the Parliament under the "keeping pace" provision that were subject to the (a) affirmative and (b) negative procedure.

For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2022/eu-alignment--continuity-act--6-may.pdf

For the period 1 September 2021 - 31 August 2022 information is also in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/eu-continuity-act--draft-annual-report-for-laying--final--27-oct-2022.pdf

Since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, the Scottish Government has used the section 1(1) power to introduce secondary legislation once, in respect of The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022. This legislation was subject to the affirmative procedure.

Question reference: S6W-15748

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, since the enactment of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, how many pieces of primary legislation it has introduced in the Parliament under the "keeping pace" provision.

For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2022/eu-alignment--continuity-act--6-may.pdf

For the period 1 September 2021 - 31 August 2022 information is also in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/eu-continuity-act--draft-annual-report-for-laying--final--27-oct-2022.pdf

The Scottish Government has not used the ‘keeping pace’ power in regards to primary legislation. The ‘keeping pace’ power in section 1(1) of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 is a power to make secondary legislation, therefore primary legislation would not be made under the ‘keeping pace’ power.

Question reference: S6W-15525

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of (a) co-operatives and (b) employee-owned businesses, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-15429

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Scottish Government has regarding the cost of rail fares from March 2023, following the end of the rail fares freeze that was announced by the First Minister on 6 September 2022.

The Scottish Government has a strong record of maintaining lower rail fares compared to the rest of the UK, with our commitment to this shown by the rail fares freeze in our recent Programme for Government.

The decision was taken last year to freeze ScotRail fares to the end of March 2023 to support rail users during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

I am currently considering future fare options noting the current challenging fiscal climate facing rail passengers and funders.

Question reference: S6W-15470

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many eye surgeons are currently employed in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley.

Question reference: S6W-15162

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects ScotRail to complete repairs to the indoor shelter on platform 1 at Irvine Train Station, and how many days the shelter has been out of use.

Question reference: S6W-15428

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence-based appraisals of fixed links as solutions to strategic problems were carried out in preparation of Strategic Transport Projects Review 2.

The outcomes of the transport appraisal that supported second Strategic Transport Projects Review(STPR2), was published on the 8 December 2022 on the Transport Scotland website.

The appraisal was conducted in several phases which involved ongoing stakeholder engagement. The eleven regional and national Case for Change Reports were published in February 2021 and further details on these can be found here: STPR2 strategic approach | Transport Scotland .

Appendix D and E of the National Case for Change Report Initial appraisal: Case for Change - National - STPR2 | Transport Scotland , respectively detail those options sifted “in” and “out” for further consideration at next appraisal stage.

The outcomes of this final detailed appraisal, including details of the approach followed to appraise options, are contained in the published Final technical report - December 2022 - STPR2 | Transport Scotland .

Specific details on the results of the appraisal related to Recommendation 41 – Potential Fixed Links across the Sounds of Barra, Harris and between Mull and the Mainland can be found here: recommendation-41-potential-sound-of-harris-sound-of-barra-fixed-link-and-fixed-link-between-mull-and-scottish-mainland.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-15451

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support NHS Scotland to train new lung cancer nurse specialists to support the reported increasing number of lung cancer patients living five years or more following diagnosis.

The Scottish Government is committed to training Clinical Nurse Specialists. The Specialist Nursing and Care Report details how health boards have used the £2.5 million recurring funding announced in 2015 to enhance clinical nurse specialist in NHS Scotland.

We set out in Transforming Nursing, Midwifery And Health Profession (NMaHP) roles: review of Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner roles within Scotland , published in August 2021, how health boards can use a flexible approach to the education and training of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Education programmes can be provided through higher education institutions as well as modules provided by health boards; work based learning for training posts that have a specific specialisms with appropriate supervision; and digital learning to maximise access and flexibility to training.

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