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-16726

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the consultation on its proposed Agriculture Bill.

Question reference: S6W-17354

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will initiate an independent review into the architecture of political integrity and transparency in Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of political integrity and transparency, and takes these issues seriously. We review and update guidance when necessary. Since 2016 Scotland has been a member of the Open Government Partnership, a global partnership with civil society that works to make governments more inclusive, responsive, and accountable. As part of this work, we will consider the options for a review of political integrity and transparency in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17157

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) foodbank providers and (b) other charities to discuss the demand for (i) nappies and (ii) other baby products.

Scottish Government officials meet regularly with food banks and other food aid organisations, including the Trussell Trust and Independent Food Aid Network to discuss overall demand for their services and any specific issues arising.

As set out in our Programme for Government, we will soon publish a plan, grounded in human rights, that sets out what we will do to improve the response to financial hardship so as to reduce the need for food banks. We are committed to improving access to emergency payments and wider supports for households facing crisis, and the Trussell Trust and the Independent Food Aid Network agree that cash-first is the best approach.

Officials recently convened a roundtable of stakeholders, including food banks and other charities, to discuss infant food insecurity and support provided to families with infants under 1 facing a crisis. The next steps for this work will be to identify good practice in emergency pathways and ensure that such mechanisms are in place locally across Scotland so that families receive timely and coordinated support in an emergency.

Question reference: S6W-16840

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Skills Development Scotland’s collaboration with the Ministry of Defence to support career transitions for veterans.

Following agreement of a memorandum of understanding between Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in March 2022, an action plan was agreed between SDS, MoD and the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) who deliver support to leavers of the armed forces as they transition to civilian life.

Actions underway include:-

SDS sharing labour market intelligence and other data to CTP for use by their career consultants;
the development of a joint referral process for those early service leavers who may be entitled to, or will benefit from SDS careers services;
jointly delivered training sessions on each organisation’s service offer to both CTP and SDS advisers;
SDS attendance at a CTP jobs event in Kinloss at the end of 2022 and at Murrayfield on 20 April 2023
work to ensure Modern, Graduate and Foundation Apprenticeships are promoted to early service leavers, veterans and their families.

Progress of the plan is being monitored at a joint senior level across SDS, MoD and CTP.

Question reference: S6W-16843

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.

Question reference: S6W-16714

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the financial impact of the delay to the delivery of vessels 801 and 802, which are currently under construction at Ferguson Marine.

Question reference: S6T-01344

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association that its plans for juryless trials would be an affront to justice and that any proposed pilot could result in boycott action.

Question reference: S6T-01340

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of the grounding of MV Pentalina and any impact on ferry services to and from Orkney.

Question reference: S6F-02068

Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the First Minister, in light of this being Deaf Awareness Week, what work the Scottish Government is undertaking to ensure that deaf people have their communication needs met.

Question reference: S6F-02070

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government plans to take in light of his declared support for the Daily Record’s “Our Kids … Our Future” campaign to tackle violence against young people.