Chamber and committees

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-32029

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding whether a pedestrian crossing might be appropriate outside the Canongate entrance to improve the safety of the public, MSPs and staff who cross at this location.

There is a pedestrian crossing directly outside the Parliament’s public access to facilitate safe travel. The SPCB has not been asked to consider whether a second pedestrian crossing would be appropriate. The current information provided by the City of Edinburgh council is that Canongate is being considered for redevelopment as part of a wider consultation through the Councils’ Street allocation framework ‘Our Future Streets’. We anticipate that the SPCB will be approached as part of the consultation process to assess and consider proposals by City of Edinburgh Council when developed and provide comment as appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-32028

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on the flag flying policy indoors and outdoors on the parliamentary estate with respect to how and by whom decisions are made on (a) which are flown, (b) for how long they should be flown and (c) what grounds the appropriateness of the presence of any flag is assessed.

The SPCB has a policy covering the flying of flags on the flagpoles outside Holyrood - Flag-flying | Scottish Parliament Website. The policy sets out which flags are flown and how exceptional requests can be made to the SPCB for approval.

During official visits by external dignitaries, a flag can be displayed inside the building, usually in a meeting room or event space, for the duration of their visit.

Question reference: S6W-32057

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation is underway with the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS) regarding the ScotRail proposal to reduce station ticket office opening hours across the network, in light of MACS reportedly indicating in its response to the 2022 consultation concern regarding the level of engagement there had been with it or other groups representing disabled people on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-32224

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposal in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill to have jury sizes of 15 with a majority of at least 10 required to convict, what that majority would be if either one, two or three jurors dropped out.

The Scottish Government considers that, if one or more juror is excused during a trial, that should not place the accused person at a disadvantage or an advantage: the majority required for a conviction should not fluctuate depending on the number of jurors who remain. The Scottish Government therefore considers that the requirement for at least a two thirds majority should remain constant in cases where the jury reduces in size. Specifically, the Government's proposal is that:

in the case of a jury consisting of 14 or 15 jurors, at least 10 jurors must be in favour of a guilty verdict for a conviction,
in the case of a jury consisting of 13 jurors, at least 9 jurors must be in favour of a guilty verdict for a conviction, and
in the case of a jury consisting of 12 jurors, at least 8 jurors must be in favour of a guilty verdict for a conviction.

The Government will be bringing forward Stage 2 amendments to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill which, if passed, would set these thresholds for conviction.

Question reference: S6W-32215

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Green Heat Finance Taskforce has met since July 2024, and when the next meeting will take place.

Question reference: S6W-32122

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of adopting ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology on the trade of Scottish beef in Europe.

Question reference: S6W-32146

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £100 million of funding that has been allocated in its draft Budget 2025-26 under the budget line Reform and Improvement Measures.

To address delayed discharge and reduce waiting lists, £200 million has been allocated in the 2025-26 Budget. Funding will be targeted at specialties with long waits to ensure that by March 2026, no patient will wait longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment or inpatient / day case treatment.

The ‘Improving Outcomes and Reform’ funding includes the following budgets: Access Support, Waiting Times Improvement Plan, Board Recovery (including NTC) National Treatment Centres, Modernising Patient Pathways (CfSD),Winter Funding, Urgent Care, Unscheduled Care, Detect Cancer Early (including new Manifesto commitment), Cancer Policy, Cancer Recovery Plan, Trauma Networks and Waiting Times.

Question reference: S6W-32211

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £349.1 million energy efficiency and decarbonisation expenditure announced in its draft Budget 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-32086

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) EU regarding the implementation of ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology in livestock, in light of EU regulation specifying low frequency.

Question reference: S6W-32085

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to conclude its review of the use of ultra-high frequency electronic identification in livestock.