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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-30797

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26654 by Jenny Gilruth on 10 May 2024, whether it has any plans to seek to amend section 42(4) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to alter the statutory walking distances of (a) two miles for children aged under eight and (b) three miles for children aged eight or over.

As part of their statutory responsibilities in relation to home to school transport local authorities are also required by the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to have regard to the safety of pupils.

Where local authorities conclude a route used by pupils to walk to school is unsafe transport should be provided even though the distance falls short of their normal distance criteria. Existing guidance sets out that Ministers expect local authorities to keep their criteria for providing school transport under review and be flexible enough to take into account factors, relative to the nature of the route, which might affect pupil safety.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity and I have commissioned an update to the Scottish Government’s school transport guidance for local authorities to provide further clarity on our expectations in relation to safety.

The statutory minimum walking distances set out in legislation are a long-standing feature of our education system and there are no plans to change them. The Scottish Government published guidance for local authorities regarding home to school transport in 2021.

Question reference: S6W-30830

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29283 by Jenny Gilruth on 24 September 2024, when it will publish the review of the 2024 Higher History paper.

Publication of the 2024 Higher History marking review is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in its independent role as an examination body.

SQA published the review on 6 November 2024, and it can be accessed at:

Higher History Review finds marking standards did not change - SQA

Higher History Review 2024

Higher History Review 2024 – Summary Version

SQA’s Process for Awarding Graded National Courses – Infographic

Question reference: S6W-30814

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that the Trade Union Education Centre will be able to provide an extensive range of trade union learning opportunities beyond June 2025.

Question reference: S6W-30811

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of the Trade Union Education Centre in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-30870

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many new skilled workers the renewables industry estimates will be needed for renewable energy and grid upgrade projects.

The Scottish Government is aware of a number of reports that set out the potential opportunities for workers in the renewable energy and electricity grid sectors. For example Robert Gordon University research suggests that there could be between 7,000 and 33,000 offshore renewables sector jobs in the North East of Scotland by 2030 while SP Energy Networks suggest that there could be between 40,000 and 80,000 jobs in 2035 in Scotland in electricity networks and related infrastructure.

Independent analysis prepared by EY to better understand our energy requirements as we transition to net zero suggests that with the right support, there could be almost 80,000 low carbon energy production sector jobs in Scotland in 2050.

Question reference: S6W-30812

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that staff at the Trade Union Education Centre are being prevented from planning and offering courses beyond June 2025.

Operational decisions on course planning and delivery are for individual colleges to determine. I encourage the City of Glasgow College and the Trade Union Congress to build upon its recent partnership agreement and work together to ensure sustainable delivery of trade union education at the College on a longer term basis.

I raised this issue with the Principal of City of Glasgow College on 29 October 2024, who assured me the College remains committed to providing trade union education.

Question reference: S6W-30813

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate (a) it and (b) the City of Glasgow College has made of any lost revenue for the College resulting from unions reportedly being unable to secure places at the Trade Union Education Centre beyond June 2025.

Question reference: S6T-02197

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that its income tax increases on the highest earners may have reduced the revenue raised.

Question reference: S6F-03553

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported calls to widen access to Scotland’s Redress Scheme to allow survivors of abuse at Fornethy House to seek redress.

Question reference: S6F-03550

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

To ask the First Minister, in light of reported figures that over 2,000 people were killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads last year, what the Scottish Government’s position is on whether 2024 could see the highest number of road accidents and fatalities on record.