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: S6F-01389

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that police officer numbers dropped to 16,610 at the end of June, below Police Scotland’s “full officer establishment” of 17,234.

Question reference: S6F-01384

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2022

To ask the First Minister how the recent fall in the value of sterling will affect the finances of the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6F-01377

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01376

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6T-00893

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's fiscal statement last week.

Question reference: S6T-00876

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote participation in Scotland’s Climate Week 2022, which runs from 26 September to 2 October.

Question reference: S6W-10995

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 26 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023 to tackle isolation.

The Scottish Government recognises that Social Isolation and Loneliness is a public health issue, which has been exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to be affected by the ongoing cost crisis.

As part of the COVID response, £1 million was allocated by the Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights to organisations working to tackle social isolation and loneliness up to the end of March 2022. This funding has supported work including helplines, befriending, and practical support. The Scottish Government is also providing funding to 48 organisations through the Equality and Human Rights Fund (2021-2024); many of these organisations make a valuable contribution to tackling social isolation.

In addition, £21 million has been spent in 2021-22 via the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, which helps to tackle priority issues including social isolation and loneliness. This fund has been continued for 2022-23 with a further £15 million.

A total of £48 million has been spent via the Connecting Scotland programme to improve connectedness through digital inclusion.

Tackling social isolation and loneliness is a shared responsibility across government and the wider public sector, as well as the private and third sectors. There is a range of work being carried out across Scottish Government which will also make a positive impact on social isolation and loneliness in the short, medium and longer term. This work will be referenced in the forthcoming Social Isolation and Loneliness Plan.

I have continued to meet regularly with the Social Isolation and Loneliness Advisory Group during 2022. The Advisory Group has been instrumental in developing the Social Isolation and Loneliness Plan referred to above. Engagement with the Advisory Group, and work to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and the cost crisis on groups most adversely affected by social isolation and loneliness, will continue during 2023 and beyond.

Question reference: S6W-10932

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has undertaken regarding storm overflows and their impact on public health.

The independent Scottish EPA is required by law to identify unsatisfactory CSOs, primarily for water quality or sewage related debris impacts, in order to reduce those impacts on the water environment. SEPA also identifies unsatisfactory CSOs that impact on bathing water quality classification at the 87 designated Bathing Waters to reduce the risks to public health. Between 2010 and 2021 Scottish Water invested £335m improving 279 CSOs previously classed as unsatisfactory. The Scottish Government takes very seriously the issue of sewage spills, and my statement in Parliament last December set out comprehensive plans to reduce sewage spills over the coming decade.

Question reference: S6W-10812

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding the potential impact on Scotland, to reports that the UK Government plans to ban the sale of horticultural peat for use in the amateur gardening sector.

The Scottish Government welcomes UK Government plans to ban the sale of horticultural peat for use in the amateur gardening sector in England. This is a positive step for environmental protection which aligns with our own commitment to take forward work to consult on a ban on the sale of peat related gardening products as part of our wider commitment to phase out the use of peat in horticulture (21-22 Programme for Government). The UK Internal Market Act, which was imposed by the UK Parliament without the consent of the Scottish Parliament, could undermine the policy effect of a ban in one part of the UK. Given this, we are considering how best to implement our devolved policy effectively.

Question reference: S6W-10623

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide to the owners of (a) permanent and (b) mobile abattoirs who are seeking to sell their business, in order for a new owner to be found.