Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-09318

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the potential impact of an independence referendum on the organisation.

Question reference: S6W-09990

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 July 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Dorothy Bain on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the Lord Advocate’s reference to the Supreme Court on whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence relates to reserved matters.

I have decided to publish the written case in the matter of my Reference under paragraph 34 of schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998 in relation to whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence contained in the proposed Bill relates to reserved matters. The written case is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/reference-to-the-supreme-court-publication-of-the-lord-advocates-written-case .

I will represent the Scottish Government’s interests at the hearing and will argue the case personally .

Question reference: S6W-09319

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the potential impact of an independence referendum on the (a) organisation and (b) businesses it represents.

Question reference: S6W-09344

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated any money to bidding to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023 and, if this is the case, how much has been allocated, and from which budget.

Question reference: S6W-09552

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what its position is on and (b) whether it supports the continued use of Asulox for the purposes of bracken control.

The Scottish Government has approved an emergency authorisation for the use Asulox for bracken control in 2022 in limited and controlled circumstances.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders to explore options for long-term sustainable bracken control. Officials have been instructed to begin talks with the other UK administrations and the Health and Safety Executive, to further engage stakeholders and those working on alternative solutions, to ensure we have more sustainable forms of bracken control going forward.

Question reference: S6W-09251

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the average day rate is of the contractors in its Cladding Remediation Unit.

Question reference: S6W-09672

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to delivering dedicated units for women experiencing baby loss and/or pregnancy complication in NHS board areas as an immediate priority rather than a medium to long term target.

As outlined in the Programme for Government 2021 – 22 A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) published in September 2021, the Scottish Government is committed to establishing a dignified and compassionate miscarriage service. As part of this, the Scottish Government wants to ensure that NHS Boards are able to provide dedicated facilities for women who are experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications.

A scoping exercise into the availability of services within NHS Boards for miscarriage and unexpected pregnancy complications is underway. The results of this exercise will be analysed over the summer and will help to inform improvements to miscarriage services, including timescales.

Question reference: S6W-09673

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many dedicated units for women experiencing baby loss and/or pregnancy complication there are in Scotland's hospitals.

Question reference: S6W-09675

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to delivering a dedicated unit for women experiencing baby loss and/or pregnancy complication in every NHS board area.

As outlined in the Programme for Government 2021 – 22 A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) published in September 2021, the Scottish Government is committed to establishing a dignified and compassionate miscarriage service. As part of this, the Scottish Government wants to ensure that NHS Boards are able to provide dedicated facilities for women who are experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications.

A scoping exercise into the availability of services within NHS Boards for miscarriage and unexpected pregnancy complications is underway. The results of this exercise will be analysed over the summer and will inform improvements to miscarriage services.

Question reference: S6W-09544

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) budget and (b) outturn has been for the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) in each year since 2016.

The Scottish Government budget and outturn for the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) in each year since 2016 is in the following table:

	SG Budget First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber)	Budget Outturn
2016-17	Information not held	995,376
2017-18	1,796,000	1762411
2018-19	4,333,000	3,147,000
2019-20	3,494,000	4,219,000
2020-21	3,494,000	3,694,000
2021-22	3,494,000	3,848,000

These figures are for the Scottish Government budget which part funds the costs of the First Tier Tribunal Housing and Property Chamber.

The First Tier Tribunal is an independent judicial body. As such, information on operational costs are held by the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body.

Chamber and committees