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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-14867

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) plans and (b) policies it has in place to assist the fishing industry to (i) reduce its carbon emissions and (ii) ensure a just transition for the sector.

Scotland has a target to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045. The fishing industry has an important part to play, alongside all sectors of our society, in reducing emissions and helping to create a low carbon economy with clean, green jobs – and of course it already provides a low-carbon source of food in many cases.

As part of Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 (FFM Strategy) we have committed to developing a climate change action plan for sea fisheries in partnership with stakeholders. Our immediate focus has been on identifying and filling key evidence gaps. This has included a range of research projects, focused conversations with stakeholders and a wide-ranging survey to help us understand the industry’s attitudes and needs. We have also committed funding through Marine Fund Scotland to support innovation and development of fishing vessel adaptation solutions.

We have committed to establishing a Fisheries Climate Change Sub-group which will be part of our already established stakeholder forum – the Fisheries Management and Conservation Group (FMAC). Together with FMAC we will commence the development of a fisheries climate change mitigation project to focus activity and identify key actions for progression.

The transition to net zero will no doubt be challenging for the fishing sector, but also presents an opportunity to make a positive impact by adjusting practices and growing Scottish businesses and supply chains in a sustainable way. We are currently scoping our broader approach to Just Transition and this will be a key theme part of our climate change planning.

Question reference: S6W-15004

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to identify alternative sources of capital funding for Glasgow's seven unsuccessful bids for the second round of the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

As noted in my statement on February 7, the Levelling Up Funds should be devolved to the Scottish Government to disburse in partnership with our regions, including Glasgow City Region. Scottish Ministers are calling for a meeting with UK Government Ministers to discuss the future of this fund, requesting that the remaining £90 million be devolved for Scottish Government, for us to work with regions like Glasgow to ensure investment is targeted towards priority projects in areas where it will provide the greatest impact.

Question reference: S6W-15048

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to publish its Student Mental Health Plan.

The Scottish Government is currently working with partners to produce a Student Mental Health plan to be delivered in Spring 2023. The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group, that I chair, is driving this work forward. Membership includes NUS Scotland, Think Positive, Universities Scotland and Colleges Scotland. The Plan will provide a framework for mental health services in universities and colleges and will be linked to the wider Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-15044

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06730 by Mairi Gougeon on 8 March 2022, how many new local chill and processing units have been established through the £80,000 Covid Recovery Opportunities Fund.

Three pilot projects are being supported through this fund. These are located in North Argyll, Moray, and South West Scotland. All three have seen estimated costs increase significantly since the original funding offers were made and have had to adapt plans and budgets accordingly. Subject to planning consent in one instance, work is anticipated to commence within the next few weeks.

An announcement will be made as soon as all three projects get underway. A programme of open days and knowledge transfer is an important element of this project.

Question reference: S6W-14862

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings from the Cameron House Hotel Fatal Accident Inquiry, whether it will make further enforcement powers available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is an enforcing authority for fire safety in hotels and other relevant premises across Scotland and already has the necessary powers available to them to enforce fire safety .

As an enforcing authority, SFRS work with duty holders in relevant premises to achieve compliance in fire safety through an auditing framework and providing advice and support. Where partnership working does not produce compliance, SFRS may decide to take enforcement or prohibition action where necessary.

Question reference: S6W-14790

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of (a) incidents and (b) emergency service callouts there were for mountaineering accidents in each year since 2011.

Each year, Scottish Government receives a copy of the Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) ‘Annual Review’, which includes the total number of ‘incidents’ and ‘callouts’ involving SMR teams; the collated information from the reports, for each year since 2011, is provided in the following table:-

SMR Incidents
Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020		2021
Mountaineering	413	381	347	273	331	235	216	239	243	289		345
Non	160	162	239	260	248	201	207	349	259	308		315
Total	573	543	586	533	579	436	423	588	502	597		660

SMR Callouts
Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020		2021
Mountaineering	< No breakdown available for these years >										327		395
Non	< No breakdown available for these years >										389		558
Total	859	872	884	795	762	823	686	788	733	716		953

Question reference: S6W-14781

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on its proposed Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill will begin.

The Scottish Government intends to launch a public consultation on the Bill in the second half of 2023. We will confirm the exact dates of the consultation in due course.

The consultation will provide an opportunity for people across Scotland to express their views on policy options that could be included in the draft Bill, as well as on whether the Bill should establish a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner.

A decision on the timing of the Bill’s introduction to Parliament will be taken by Cabinet in the context of setting the content of future legislative programmes.

Question reference: S6O-01932

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the nationwide programme of inspection to assess the condition of, and the impact of climate change on, some of Scotland's most significant heritage sites, being undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland, is expected to be completed.

Question reference: S6O-01954

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent study by the University of Stirling, published on 20 February 2023, which showed that the curriculum is narrowing under the Curriculum for Excellence, with a reduction in the choice of school subjects.

Question reference: S6O-01946

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service, NHS boards and others, to support the health and wellbeing of people in prison and prevent deaths by suicide.