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-12685

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11996 by Lorna Slater on 22 November 2022, how many species control (a) agreements and (b) orders have been issued in each of the last five years.

A species control agreement (SCA) is a voluntary agreement between a relevant body and a land owner or manager. NatureScot has not issued any species control agreements within that period. Scottish Forestry has issued a single species control agreement for Rhododendron ponticum, while SEPA issued a species control agreement for North American signal crayfish in 2019. The Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) issued four species control agreements for Didemnum vexillium in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

A species control order (SCO) is a compulsory instrument which can be used to compel certain actions in regard to invasive non-native species and these may be used in situations where an SCA has failed. None of the relevant bodies have needed to make a species control order because there has never been a situation where an owner has failed to cooperate with a species control agreement.

Question reference: S6W-12675

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to create new formal flood protection schemes, and whether these are part of any future Flood Risk Management Strategies.

Flood Risk Management Plans for the period 2022-2028 were approved by Scottish Ministers in December 2021 and published by SEPA in January 2022. They coordinate the efforts of all organisations that tackle flooding to where the risk of flooding and benefits of investment are greatest. They state the objectives, as agreed by responsible authorities, for tackling floods in areas at risk of flooding. Actions that will then deliver these objectives are described and prioritised in six-year planning cycles.

The plans contain proposals for a number of new flood protection schemes. Local authorities are now in the process of preparing Local Flood Risk Management Plans (LFRMPs) which are due to be published by the end of December 2022. The LFRMPs will provide more detail on how, and when, the actions set out in the Flood Risk Management Plans for 2022-2028 will be delivered.

Question reference: S6W-12672

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to reduce the planting limit of Sitka spruce in a forestry plantation to 50%.

Scottish Forestry is leading a review of the UK Forestry Standard in partnership with the other UK administrations. Stakeholders are currently being consulted on a revised draft of the Standard which includes a proposed reduction in the maximum threshold for use of a single species from 75% to 65%. This change will help enhance the resilience of Scotland’s forests to a changing climate and increasing threats of pest and diseases. It will not alter the balance of objectives and does not change the proportion of fast growing conifers that can be used.

Question reference: S6W-12738

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Continuity Act draft Annual Report 2021-22, which was considered by the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 17 November 2022, and states that the Scottish Government plans to "implement certain requirements" of the Directive (EU) 2020/2184 ("Recast Drinking Water Directive"), whether it will confirm which requirements it plans to implement and/or align with; within what timescale these requirements will be adopted, and what consultation will be carried out with relevant stakeholders.

The Scottish Government proposes to take a phased approach to the alignment with the recast Drinking Water Directive. This prioritises the health based standards that can be implemented now and recognises that some parts of the Directive apply at a later date.

A more detailed description of the approach to alignment is provided in the policy note which accompanies The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 (draft). This is contained in the Clerk’s papers for the 32 nd Meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee ( 4647 (parliament.scot) ).

Consultation will be undertaken with relevant stakeholders as the various parts of the Directive are introduced to ensure that they are proportionate and in Scotland’s interests.

Question reference: S6W-12741

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have closed in each of the last five years in NHS (a) Grampian, (b) Highland, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Western Isles.

Question reference: S6W-12761

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Bute House Agreement, whether it plans to update inshore spatial management for Scotland's inshore fisheries prior to the agreement of regional marine plans or the next National Marine Plan, and outwith the marine planning process.

The Scottish Government deploys a range of spatial and technical measures to manage Scotland’s fisheries. In addition, we have delivered a number of projects over the past four years to improve spatial management of inshore fisheries. These have included the Mull Crab Box and the Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Pilot, which have been delivered as part of a co-management approach with our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups. Fisheries management measures are not a regional marine planning matter.

Under the Bute House Agreement we will also soon consult on measures that will improve spatial management of our inshore waters, namely proposals to cap (to current levels) fishing activity within the three nautical mile area. The Agreement outlines further protections for our marine environment by introducing Highly Protected Marine Areas covering at least 10% of our waters by 2026, and delivering management measures for existing Marine Protected Areas where these are not already in place, as well as for Priority Marine Features at risk from bottom towed fishing gear out with these sites by 2024.

Question reference: S6W-12758

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates a cap on fishing activity in inshore waters, up to three nautical miles, limiting activity to current levels, as per the Bute House Agreement, to impact the level of discards, in light of the relevant proposals in the Future Catching Policy.

The Scottish Government anticipates that the proposed cap on fishing activity (up to three nautical miles) will contribute to our efforts to deliver a step change in marine protection. We will consult on our proposals to apply an activity cap in due course.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government published a draft future catching policy for consultation. The policy is intended to address long-running operational issues with the landing obligation, which bans the discarding of fish. The policy seeks to improve upon current rules, whilst staying true to the principles of the landing obligation, to support fishers to reduce waste and delivering sustainable and responsible fisheries management. We received 244 responses to the consultation, covering the full range of policy proposals, and are now undertaking analysis and evaluation.

Question reference: S6W-12708

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether Crown Estate Scotland has powers to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order, and, if this is the case, how these powers can be exercised.

Question reference: S6T-01046

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, after Scotland experienced its coldest night of the year with temperatures as low as -15.6C, what action it is taking to ensure that homeless individuals have access to safe, warm housing during this winter period.

Question reference: S6T-01041

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a suspect involved in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has been detained in custody by US authorities.