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-18326

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what targeted interventions it has planned to ensure that vulnerable or disadvantaged groups have access to reliable broadband services.

The Scottish Government has already undertaken work to ensure that vulnerable or disadvantaged groups have access to digital services.

Connecting Scotland aims to reduce digital exclusion by providing people with opportunities to access and utilise the internet effectively. The programme delivered internet enabled devices and connectivity, as well as providing training and support to individuals and communities who are digitally excluded. Over 61,000 devices have been issued since the programme launched in 2020.

Connecting Scotland continues to provide internet connectivity to current users, thereby ensuring that they have reliable access to internet services.

Question reference: S6W-18325

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a target date to achieve 100% gigabit-capable broadband coverage across the whole of Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not set a 100% gigabit-capable broadband coverage target for Scotland.

Given the reserved nature of telecoms legislation, the UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme has set an 85% UK-wide coverage target to be met by 2025, and aims to achieve ‘nationwide’ coverage by 2030.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the UK Government on Project Gigabit activity in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18406

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether producers who sell less than 5,000 articles in a year of all products and have already registered as a producer within the Deposit Return Scheme will be released from their producer agreement, and, if so, whether this will be automatic or by application.

Producers who will sell less than 5000 articles in a year of all product lines are eligible to be a listed producer. Listed producers must still be registered with SEPA, but these low-volume drinks will not attract a deposit.

SEPA and Circularity Scotland are working together to identify those who are already registered, eligible and wish to become a listed producer. Any producer in this category is encouraged to contact Circularity Scotland. These producers will not have to re-apply to SEPA, or provide additional information on their products for the first year of DRS.

Questions about the scheme administrator producer agreement should be directed to Circularity Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18305

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report by Changeworks, which reportedly found that homes in the Highlands and Islands have lower Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings than the rest of Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to the similar question, S6O-02277, on 25 May 2023. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at Meeting of the Parliament: 25/05/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website

I reiterate my thanks to Changeworks for this important report.

The average energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of Highland and Island properties is lower than the national average rating because of the typically more expensive fuels that are used or available, how those are reflected in the current EPC metric, and the historically lower energy efficiency standards.

We propose that all housing in Scotland should meet the equivalent of EPC rating C by 2033, following reform of EPC metrics. We intend to consult on reformed EPCs shortly.

We offer support to improve the energy efficiency of rural homes, including a funding uplift to our Home Energy Scotland grant and loan scheme, and targeted fuel poverty support.

Question reference: S6W-18315

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many public buildings it has inspected since the start of 2021 to determine whether they were constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), broken down by building type, and how many of these were confirmed to have been constructed with RAAC.

Question reference: S6W-18312

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of office buildings that it owns that are fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what funding has been made available to fix any such buildings.

Question reference: S6W-18306

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) individual local authorities and (b) COSLA regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in public buildings.

The Scottish Government has recently engaged with Councils regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, including through the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland and Scottish Heads of Property Services networks. The Scottish Government has had no direct contact with COSLA on this issue. Safety in public buildings is a matter for the owner and we expect them to provide a safe environment for all users.

Question reference: S6W-18096

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications with no capital expenditure elements were successful in the first round of funding from the Circular Textiles Fund broken down by funding awarded.

Question reference: S6W-18258

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17750 by Lorna Slater on 19 May 2023, how many beaver carcasses have been submitted to NatureScot for an independent post-mortem, since it became a legal requirement.

The beaver kit dependency period is between 1 April and 16 August and no licences to control beavers have been issued in this period. As such, there has been no legal requirement for carcasses to be submitted to NatureScot for an independent post-mortem.

The legal requirement for licence holders to submit carcasses for independent post- mortem to NatureScot will take effect when new licences granted by NatureScot commence on 17 August 2023 and thereafter.

Question reference: S6W-18399

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what financial impact assessments have been undertaken in relation to any potential for termination of the Deposit Return Scheme at (a) 10, (b) six and (c) three months before the planned launch date of 1 March 2024.

The Scottish Government is committed to the benefits of our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The financial assumptions contained within the related Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) showed the projected cost of compliance with Scotland’s DRS regulations which were passed by this Parliament. A full suite of impact assessments were published at the time of the original regulations and these have been updated in light of subsequent amendments – we will shortly publish revisions to reflect the amendment regulations laid last month. Termination of the DRS was not considered.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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