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: S6O-02709

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it is providing through the next phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme for schools in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S6O-02710

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Strathclyde Pension Fund and what was discussed.

Question reference: S6O-02708

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports small businesses in the Mid Scotland and Fife region.

Question reference: S6O-02707

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that notice of industrial action has been served on Scottish Water.

Question reference: S6W-22432

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider donating period products to assist the humanitarian response in Gaza, in co-ordination with local authorities, other public bodies and the supply chain involved in delivering Scotland's free period products scheme.

We recognise that hygiene related needs in Gaza are acute. However, it is generally accepted as good practice to defer to the expertise of local humanitarian organisations that are best placed to assess and prioritise needs.

We have consulted with a number of UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations operating in Gaza who have also indicated a preference for sourcing locally.

This is why the Scottish Government has no plans at present to donate period products. Instead, we are providing £500,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s flash appeal in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These funds will support the immediate food, health, shelter and protection needs of people seeking safety.

With the escalation of violence, the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza is extremely challenging. A ceasefire from all sides is urgently needed to allow the creation of a secure and sustained humanitarian corridor to ensure the protection of innocent civilians, and the delivery of essential supplies including food, fuel, water, and medical provisions.

Question reference: S6W-22297

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21732 by Dorothy Bain on 11 October 2023, how many of the 4,460 post-mortem examinations were in relation to suspicious deaths.

A post-mortem examination may require to be instructed by the Procurator Fiscal to determine the cause of death, to ensure the circumstances surrounding the death are fully investigated and to exclude criminality.

When a death is reported to the Procurator Fiscal, it may not be possible to determine from the facts and circumstances known at that time whether the death is suspicious. That may only be possible when the results of further enquiries – such as the findings of a post mortem examination – are known.

A post mortem examination conducted by two pathologists will be instructed where there are grounds for believing that a criminal prosecution is likely and there is a reasonable belief that a charge requiring a corroborated cause of death will follow. Of the 4,460 post mortem examinations instructed by COPFS from 1 January 2023 to 31st August 2023, 130 of those were conducted by two pathologists.

Question reference: S6W-22298

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21732 by Dorothy Bain on 11 October 2023, whether it can provide details of the use of chemical substances in the brain removal process.

Pathology service providers have confirmed that, where a brain requires to be removed and examined as part of the post mortem examination, no chemicals are used in that process.

On the rare occasions when the pathologist requires to retain the whole brain, the brain is removed and placed intact in 10% formalin (a colourless solution of formaldehyde in water used chiefly as a preservative for biological specimens) and fixed for a few days before detailed examination. The body does not leave the mortuary until that examination has been completed and the brain is returned to the body. Whole brains are not stored in Scotland.

As detailed in my previous answer, in less than 10% of post mortem examinations the pathologist may decide they do not require the whole brain to be examined by a neuropathologist but do require a specialist neuropathology report to be prepared based on the examination of small brain samples. In such cases, the brain is cut fresh and brain regions are selected which are then placed in 10% formalin for a few days before becoming histology blocks and then histology slides. No tissue is retained beyond what is contained within the blocks and slides.

Question reference: S6W-22351

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill will be reintroduced to the Scottish Parliament at reconsideration stage.

I moved a motion for Scottish Parliament to reconsider the United Nations Convention on the Rights Of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill on 14 September 2023, which was passed unanimously by Parliament. The amendments to the Bill were formally lodged with Parliament on 18 September and the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee is currently taking evidence on the amendments. It is for Parliament to set the date for the Reconsideration debate which it is hoped will be before the end of the year.

Question reference: S6W-22369

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers became concerned about Biffa's role in the Deposit Return Scheme following Biffa's acquisition by Energy Capital Partners on 27 January 2023.

Biffa were contracted by Circularity Scotland Ltd to provide logistics for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme. This was a commercial arrangement between two private businesses - this is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry responsibility at its heart. As such, it would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to get involved or raise concerns.

In appointing BIFFA, an extensive tender process was carried out by Circularity Scotland over a period of around 12 months and was open to businesses of all sizes. The process involved extensive due diligence by Circularity Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22265

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the decision to reinstate the £6.6 million reduction of the Creative Scotland budget.

Over the last five years, Scottish Government has provided over £33m to Creative Scotland to compensate for the continuous shortfall in National Lottery funding.

As a result of rising costs and pressure on budgets across government, we are unable to make up the ongoing shortfall this year.

On 27 September the Board of Creative Scotland agreed to provide £6.6m for this financial year from its funding reserves, which totals £17m, to cover the shortfall in National Lottery funding. Therefore this means that none of Creative Scotland’s Regularly Funded Organisations will receive reduced funding this financial year.

Subject to the usual Parliamentary processes we will provide the National Lottery shortfall funding of £6.6m to Creative Scotland in 2024-2025.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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