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-19604

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what applications or notes of interest it received in the creation of Investment Zones in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19359

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is in place to address the use of mobile phones in schools.

The Scottish Government believes that effective and appropriate use of digital technologies, such as mobile phones, can improve educational outcomes.

We encourage local authorities and schools to think carefully about how to incorporate the safe and responsible use of smart and mobile phones into learning and teaching. However, it is a matter for authorities to make their own decisions about the use of mobile phones in their schools, including imposing a ban if they so choose.

The Scottish Government published ‘A Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy for Scotland’ in 2016. The strategy will help ensure that schools can deploy digital technologies appropriately and effectively and deliver educational improvements.

Question reference: S6W-19280

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17755 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 May 2023, whether it will provide details of the outcome of the discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs on the points raised.

Question reference: S6W-19767

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount of funding was that was allocated to support the work of the National Youth Arts Advisory Group in each year since it was established.

The total amount of funding that was allocated to support the work of the National Youth Arts Advisory Group in each year since it was established is as follows:

Year	Funding from Creative Scotland for the National Youth Arts Advisory Group
2014	£34,342
2015	£16,140
2016	£10,020
2017	£70,000
2018	£ 9,978
2019	£80,000
2021	£65,000
2022	£40,000

For the period 2014 – 2016, this work was funded by the Scottish Government, via Creative Scotland, as part of the £5m Young Scot Fund.

Since 2017, the National Youth Arts Advisory Group programme of work has been supported through Creative Scotland’s National Lottery budgets.

Question reference: S6W-19766

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government who sits on the National Youth Arts Advisory Group, and which local authority area each member is from.

Question reference: S6W-19711

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on any performance payments that Creative Scotland has awarded to staff at executive level in each year since its creation.

Question reference: S6W-19811

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) COSLA and (b) Homes for Scotland regarding any need for the creation of data sets relevant to planning performance and housing need and demand.

The creation of data sets relevant to planning performance and housing need and demand has been discussed recently with COSLA and Homes for Scotland in the context of the following:

Housing to 2040 Strategic Board – the role of data in the housing sector was discussed. Both COSLA and Homes for Scotland are represented on the Board.
Housing Review Group – the group is using data to inform responses to pressures on affordable housing availability. COSLA is represented on this group.
Meetings with Ministers and/or officials – the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning and the Minister for Housing met jointly with Homes for Scotland in June 2023 and discussed data sets in the context of additional data to supplement existing Housing Need and Demand Assessments (HNDAs). Scottish Government officials have also met with Homes for Scotland to discuss the HNDA process.
Digital Planning Data Strategy – this aims to unlock the value of planning data. COSLA is engaged in the future implementation of the strategy.
Developing research proposals for a Gypsy / Traveller Accommodation Needs Toolkit – COSLA has been involved in the development of the research bid.

Question reference: S6W-19735

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Federation of Scottish Theatre since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Since May 2021, Scottish Ministers have met with the Federation of Scottish Theatres (FST) on two occasions.

On 28 July 2021, the Minister for Culture, Europe and international Development, held an introductory meeting with various stakeholder from the culture sector which the FST attended. The discussion included the challenges brought on by Covid-19 restrictions.

On 7 September 2022, my predecessor, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, Neil Gray met with the FST to discuss the impacts inflation and the cost crisis were having on FST members.

As part of Scottish Government’s regular engagement with cultural organisations, officials continue to meet with the FST at regular intervals to discuss support for the culture sector and the ongoing recovery from the pandemic. Officials have also attended two of the regular FST members meetings during the period in question and discussed the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the culture sector’s recovery.

Question reference: S6W-19765

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Youth Arts Advisory Group has met since it was established, and when it is next due to meet.

Question reference: S6W-19729

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Since May 2021 Scottish Ministers have met with, or attended events at, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society on the following dates. We have included meetings with the strategic umbrella organisation for Edinburgh festivals, Festivals Edinburgh.

The discussions at formal meetings included: support for the festival and culture within Scotland; the challenges of, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic; helping the sector develop a strategic approach to resilience; the unique challenges and opportunities Edinburgh has as a destination city and; the progress towards delivery of the outcomes within the relevant Scottish Government strategies.

These Ministerial engagements are in addition to Scottish Government’s regular engagement with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society at Official level.

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

30 June 2021

Roundtable meet and greet with the major festivals

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

24 September 2021

Meeting with Benny Higgins Chair of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

26 January 2022

Meeting with Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

18 May 2022

Meeting with Festivals Edinburgh

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

27 July 2022

Meeting with Edinburgh Festivals Directors

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

04 August 2022

Meeting with Chief Executive & Head of External Affairs for Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

04 August 2022

Attend Fringe performance - Made in Scotland - Pain and I

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

16 August 2022

Attend Made in Scotland - Showcase opening event – Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society