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-20192

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, as outlined in its suicide prevention action plan for 2023 to 2024, how it plans to roll-out suicide reviews and improve data to help redesign the way support is given to people who are suicidal, ensuring that support is both timely and effective.

Question reference: S6W-20190

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, as outlined in its suicide prevention action plan for 2023 to 2024, how it plans to use the work ongoing in West Highlands and Skye to build greater understanding of what encourages particular groups to seek help.

Question reference: S6W-20089

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its Climate Change Plan Advisory Group’s policy outcomes will be reported on.

Question reference: S6W-20067

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many children were home-schooled in each year since 2016-17, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-20086

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19682 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 19 July 2023, which local authority has asked for financial support.

Question reference: S6W-20443

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in exploring how Scottish higher education institutions can continue to benefit from Erasmus+ and pre-existing good relations with European higher education institutions following the UK's exit from the European Union.

As autonomous bodies, Scottish universities continue to strengthen pre-existing relationships with European higher education institutions through all available channels.

The Scottish Government is committed to addressing one of the most damaging consequences of Brexit for our universities and colleges – the fact that UK students can no longer take part in the Erasmus+ Programme.

Over the summer, the Scottish Government will work with partners to develop a 1-year Scottish Education Exchange test and learn pilot programme, to commence in 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-20615

Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 August 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards delivering sustainable fisheries management as part of its Fisheries Management Strategy.

The Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy sets out a clear approach for managing sea fisheries in partnership with our stakeholders in a way that balances environmental, social and economic interests.

The Scottish fishing industry is incredibly important to Scotland and we must recognise and nurture the socio-economic benefits derived from it, such as supporting employment and the economy in rural areas, and providing a source of healthy, high-protein food.

Whilst we are already delivering good outcomes, we know we need to deliver better. Our growing knowledge of the nature and climate crises has put into stark relief that ecosystems are degrading. In order ensure that our historic fishing industry thrives for generations to come we must safeguard and improve the marine ecosystems on which our fishing industry is built. It is a symbiotic relationship, and there must be space for fisheries to continue to operate – in a sustainable way.

We must embrace change to enhance our fisheries management and continue to develop solutions to difficult challenges. Through the development of a suite of measures, our Future Catching Policy, Remote Electronic Monitoring Policy and Inshore Vessel Tracking and Monitoring policy, we are taking steps to ensure we are at the forefront of establishing enhanced sustainable fisheries management measures.

The Scottish Government is pleased to announce the publication of the outcomes of last year’s consultations on the Future Catching Policy and Remote Electronic Monitoring. The Future Catching Policy will take positive action to increase the sustainability of fishing activity in Scottish waters, supporting fishers to avoid catching fish and other sensitive marine species which they do not want to land, or catch in the first place – reducing waste and increasing biodiversity outcomes.

Remote Electronic Monitoring will deliver increased accountability and confidence in our sea fishing activities, ensuring that we have the right data and knowledge available on which to base management decisions.

The Scottish Government has also published a consultation on the use of inshore vessel tracking and monitoring, with proposals for how we can improve fisheries data by requiring electronic tracking and monitoring technology on under 12 metre commercial fishing vessels. These proposals build on successful trials of vessel tracking, such as the Outer Hebrides Pilot, and will improve our understanding of where inshore vessels are fishing, delivering spatial data that will help us to manage fisheries sustainably for the future, deliver enhanced marine environmental protection, improve control and enforcement tools and, inform marine planning. We have a strong record of engaging with our stakeholders and I would encourage all of them to respond to this consultation.

The consultation documents can be found here: https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/improving-inshore-fisheries-data/ - Consultation on extending vessel tracking and monitoring technology on under 12 metre commercial fishing vessels

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805256595 - Analysis of Consultation: Marine Resources – Ensuring Long Term Sustainability: Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805256588 - SG Response to Consultation: Marine Resources – Ensuring Long Term Sustainability: Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805257165 - Future Catching Policy Consultation Analysis Report

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805259916 - Future Catching Policy: Scottish Government response to consultation analysis report

Question reference: S6W-20390

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in light of a recent independent study, which found that an urgent overhaul of Scotland’s producing theatre sector is needed if it is to survive.

I welcome the publication of this report and the solutions to the issues that the sector is facing.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the culture sector to identify barriers to immediate and long-term recovery and will continue to do everything within our powers and resources to help those most affected by current economic challenges.

The Scottish Government will discuss the recommendations contained within this report with Creative Scotland and also the trade unions.

Question reference: S6W-20604

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-20280

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents have (a) taken place and (b) been investigated where pods of whales have died as a result of becoming stranded on beaches in Scotland in each year since 1 January 2021.

The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) at the University of Glasgow, is funded by the Scottish Government to provide a coordinated approach to the surveillance of marine species (e.g. cetaceans, seal and basking sharks) strandings around the Scottish coast with the aim of investigating major causes of death.

A mass stranding event is described as incidents involving two or more cetaceans (porpoise, dolphins and whales). Since 1 January 2021, the SMASS programme have reported 14 mass stranding incidents, where cause of death has been attributed to live stranding. This includes the recent stranding of 54 long-finned pilot whales on the Isle of Lewis. In all cases, a selection of the animals underwent post mortem examination to assist the investigation into potential factors surrounding the cause of death.

All annual reports are published at https://strandings.org/publications .