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-11566

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all assets that rely on copper landline networks will continue to run after the switchover to digital landlines and in the event of a power cut.

It is important to note that resilience of the Communications Sector, which includes telecommunications and internet, is reserved and therefore the responsibility of the UK Government.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of mobile and broadband connectivity for almost all aspects of everyday life which is why we are working closely with BT, Ofcom, UK Government and other network operators to ensure the migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital based services is as seamless as possible.

Ofcom is closely monitoring the migration from PSTN to VOIP and they are clear that industry must protect customers during transition.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with the UK Government and the regulator (Ofcom) for assurance that resilience of the telecoms network in Scotland is a priority.

Question reference: S6W-11387

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless shelter beds have been available in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

The Scottish Government does not hold or collect information about the availability of homeless shelter beds.

The Scottish Government established rapid rehousing welcome centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2020 as part of our commitment with partners to end the use of night shelter and dormitory-style provision. The centres provide short-term and self-contained accommodation and assist people at risk of rough sleeping to move on to more settled accommodation. The Scottish Government has provided funding towards their operation during the last two winters.

Question reference: S6W-11389

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the gender of homeless people in Scotland, and what data it holds on this.

The Scottish Government does not make assessments of those who are homeless.

The Scottish Government collects information from local authorities that is recorded as part of the homelessness application. Data is collected on gender of the main applicant and partner (if applicable), with the response options of male or female.

The most recently published data can be found in the equalities tables on the supporting documents page of our annual homelessness statistics with time series starting in 2002-2003. Data is presented for the main applicant.

Question reference: S6W-11423

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the contractual obligations under which Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd may reject the vessel (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802, following its completion.

Question reference: S6W-11390

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding its definition of homelessness.

Question reference: S6W-11204

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £3 million earmarked for Long COVID care in the Programme for Government 2022-23 is the same £3 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 19 May 2022 during the Long COVID debate.

Yes. As previously stated during the long COVID debate on 19 th May 2022 we committed to allocate “ funding of £3 million to health boards across 2022-23 to bolster the support that they are already providing to people with long COVID ”. This was confirmed in the Programme for Government 2022-23, published in September 2022, which stated that “ we will invest £3 million this year through the long COVID Support Fund to assist those living with long-term effects of infection .”

Question reference: S6W-11496

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on current game licensing plans for deer management.

We are progressing the recommendations made in the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) report , published in December 2020. The DWG report made recommendations to improve deer management and included recommendations 19-21 which propose legislative amendments to modernise the licensing of venison dealers and improve information gathering. The Scottish Government response to the DWG report is at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/news/deer-working-group-response/ .

The recommendations relating to game and venison dealer licensing are being taken forward via the legislative work stream of the Deer Management Strategic Board which has been established under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Programme. We will provide further information on timing of changes to the legislation on venison licensing in due course. We expect to consult on any proposed changes to primary legislation in the normal way.

Regular updates on all of the work from the Deer Management Strategic Board can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.scot/groups/strategic-deer-management-board/ .

Question reference: S6W-11489

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm how much tax relief it has provided to (a) the games sector, (b) high-end TV production, (c) children’s TV production, (d) animation, (e) film, (f) theatre and (g) orchestras in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-11203

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make funding available for a face, arm, speech, time (FAST) campaign to raise awareness of stroke symptoms in 2023.

The Scottish Government assesses the need for public health awareness campaigns regularly. Scottish Government officials will work closely with the Stroke Improvement Team, which provides support and guidance to Managed Clinical Networks and the National Advisory Committee for Stroke, and other stakeholders to better understand what resources may be required for 2023, including the need for funding for a FAST campaign. Information regarding the symptoms of stroke, including the FAST test, is available on NHS Inform .

Question reference: S6W-11207

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme will include a recommendation on bringing back the face, arm, speech, time (FAST) campaign to raise awareness of stroke symptoms.