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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-07536

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme, how many (a) applications it has received and (b) loans have been approved, and what the total value of loans issued is, to date.

The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) to deliver the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

a) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has received 920 applications with a value of £37,822,348.

b) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has offered 662 loans worth £22,859,952 to taxi owners and operators who have passed the credit, affordability and eligibility checks. Owners/operators who are unsuccessful are given the opportunity to appeal the decision directly with EST.

c) To date Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has paid 574 applications to the value of £22,859,952. The remaining 88 applicants are finalising documentation or awaiting confirmed delivery dates for their new vehicles.

Question reference: S6W-07416

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey that over 97% of dog owners own three or fewer dogs, and what engagement it has had with the UK Government to encourage it to reduce the number of pet animals, which may enter Great Britain in a motor vehicle during a single non-commercial movement, to three, in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

The Scottish Government welcomes the research of the Dog’s Trust National Survey, and we will continue to engage with our stakeholders to improve animal welfare.

I would also like to refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07415 on 29 March 2022 regarding their query on engagement between Scottish Government and UK Government in relation to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

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-07535

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the interest-free Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme will reopen to new applicants, and what action it is taking to promote the loan scheme to (a) taxi operators, (b) vendors and (c) manufacturers.

The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland and its delivery partner Energy Saving Trust (EST), undertake a full review and evaluation of the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme at the end of each financial year. A decision on the future of this scheme will be made shortly.

To promote the loan scheme, EST undertakes comprehensive sector outreach each year, which includes sector events, business referrals, and the publication and dissemination of information and advice, including Vehicle Comparison reports to highlight the benefits of switching to an electric taxi.

Question reference: S6W-07506

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06967 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2022, whether it will provide an answer to the specific question regarding whether it has taken legal advice on whether it is legally competent to tax the same piece of property under both the business rates scheme and the workplace parking levy; if legal advice was taken, whether it will publish this advice in order to allow the official legal position, as opposed to ministers' views, to be considered, and, if no legal advice was taken, whether it will confirm this.

I can confirm that the legal position has been considered and I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06967 which sets out that the provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 were subject to policy and legal scrutiny and that there is no legal issue arising from this matter.

The content of any legal advice is confidential. By long-standing convention, successive Scottish and Westminster Governments have not disclosed the content of legal advice other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

Question reference: S6W-07989

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the Joint Business Plan for Unlocking Investment in Scotland’s Energy Sector.

The Scottish Government, in collaboration with the Scottish Energy Task Force, have committed to developing and publishing a Joint Business Plan for Unlocking Investment in Scotland’s Energy Sector.

This work is vital to identifying and overcoming many of the short-term barriers to decarbonisation and development of the energy system in Scotland, and enabling a green recovery from Covid-19.

I am pleased to say that the Joint Business Plan has now been published and is available here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781804350119 .

Question reference: S6W-07743

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 14 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many notifications the Building Standards Division has received from verifiers of building warrant applications, citing BS 8414 as a route to compliance, since the April 2021 update of the Building Standards Technical Handbooks, broken down by (a) type of building and (b) local authority.

Question reference: S6O-00988

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the agricultural and fishing industries with rising fuel costs.

Question reference: S6O-00986

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to proceed with its commitment to mitigate any impact of the UK Government benefit cap as much as possible within the scope of its devolved powers.

Question reference: S6O-00982

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with COSLA and Police Scotland to discuss safe access for all women to clinics and hospitals.

Question reference: S6O-00987

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is progressing with the replacement of unsafe cladding on tall buildings.