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-11025

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review access to regular scans for patients who have been treated for primary breast cancer.

Follow-up scans are agreed on a local basis. Women over 71 who have a history of breast cancer have the option to self-refer for screening.

However, with the development of the Scottish Cancer Network we are working towards the development of clinical management pathways, with breast cancer being one of the first three in development. The Scottish Cancer Network is a dedicated national resource to support and facilitate a ‘Once for Scotland’ approach to cancer services, which will assist in enabling equitable access to care and treatment across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-11124

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will consult with communities local to proposed Freeports as part of the bid assessment, and what the timescale is for any such consultation.

The Scottish Government wants green ports to promote regeneration in local economies and communities by driving inclusive and sustainable growth locally, regionally and nationally, unlocking the potential of our regions for the benefit of the national economy, businesses, workers, and local communities.

The joint bidding prospectus , delivered in partnership by the Scottish Government and the UK government, confirmed successful applicants should explain the steps taken or planned to engage with local communities to consider how proposals will maintain and, where possible, enhance the quality of the locality.

Question reference: S6W-11043

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it made of the time required to complete the public consultation phase of the (a) draft National Islands Plan, (b) recommendations from Project Neptune and (c) procurement of the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Engaging effectively with people and stakeholder organisations is a key part of our public engagement and we always seek to follow Public Guidance for Consultation.

The consultation process for the National Islands Plan and Islands Communities Impact Assessments was led by the Scottish Government’s Islands Team and was designed to encourage island communities to help shape the polices that were published on 27 December 2019 in the National Islands Plan.

The member will know that Angus Campbell, Chair of the Ferries Community Board, has agreed to lead the work on stakeholder engagement for Project Neptune. I look forward to meeting Mr Campbell next week to discuss a timescale for the engagement required.

Question reference: S6W-11035

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons its Rural Entrepreneur Fund (a) has not yet been introduced, in light of its inclusion in the Programme for Government 2021-22 and (b) is not included in its Programme for Government 2022-23.

The Rural Entrepreneur Fund was a 2021-22 Programme for Government (PfG) commitment to invest £20 million over the lifetime of the current parliament.

In light of the challenging financial environment, we need to prioritise our investments to ensure that they are deliverable, impactful and affordable. Consequently, there has been no money made available for Rural Entrepreneur Fund to date.

Our PfG 2022-23 prioritises support for households, businesses and public services. Following the UK Government’s Emergency Budget we will carry out a budget review to assess opportunities to redirect additional resources to those most in need.

Question reference: S6W-11013

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its direct involvement in the setting of water charges for 2022-23, whether it will use its powers of direction to require the Water Industry Commission to consult it or seek its approval on any actions that the Commission proposes that could require, or otherwise press, Scottish Water to propose a water charges scheme that would raise charges above the rate of inflation in 2023-24 and beyond.

Question reference: S6W-11007

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to decarbonise the (a) Glasgow-East Kilbride, (b) Glasgow-Barrhead, (c) Fife Circle and (d) Borders Railway line.

I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government's rolling programme of electrification continues to make good progress.

Delivery has already commenced on electrification of the lines from Glasgow to Barrhead and East Kilbride.

Likewise, construction began earlier this year between Haymarket and Dalmeny, the first phase of electrification between Edinburgh and Fife.

Development work for decarbonisation of the Borders Railway is also progressing well.

Question reference: S6T-00904

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's report, Ending the exclusion: Care, treatment and support for people with mental ill health and problem substance use in Scotland.

Question reference: S6T-00897

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to meet air quality limit values, in light of the recent report from Environmental Standards Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-01433

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to curb the reported sharp rise in e-cigarette use amongst teenagers.

Question reference: S6F-01422

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, Poverty in Scotland 2022.