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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 48973 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6F-01727

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government has made in clearing the reported backlog of people waiting for key diagnostic tests.

Question reference: S6F-01716

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government has taken to bring the strike action by teachers to an end.

Question reference: S6F-01709

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01708

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-13401

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the membership of the (a) Bioenergy Policy Working Group and (b) Bioenergy Expert Panel is, and when it will publish the minutes of the meetings of these two groups.

a) The Bioenergy Policy Working Group comprises Scottish Government officials from a number of policy areas.

Agriculture Transformation for Environment and Climate Change
Bioenergy
Biodiversity
Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)
Critical Energy Infrastructure & Commercial Projects
Domestic Climate Change
Environmental Protection - Air Quality
Environmental Quality and Circular Economy
Heat Strategy
Hydrogen
Industrial Decarbonisation
Industrial Strategy and Technologies
Just Transition
Land Use Strategy
Land Use Transformation
Natural Capital and Land Management
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser (OCEA)
Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS)
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA)
Scottish Forestry
Sustainable Aviation
Transport - Supply Chains and Alternative Fuels
Whole Energy System

Minutes from the meetings will be published as soon as practical. However the group are still in the process of developing policy and considering options.

b) The Bioenergy Expert Panel has still to be assembled, and we are currently reviewing when and how it will be established.

Question reference: S6W-13414

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure the wellbeing of patients with chronic urinary tract infections.

The Scottish Government has supported the development of many urinary tract infection (UTI) resources to support people with these conditions and reduce the risk of infection. This includes evidence-based information and support available on the symptoms, treatment and prevention of UTIs on NHS Inform . We have also supported local access to support through the development of Pharmacy First in community pharmacies across Scotland which allows women with less complex UTIs to access free advice or treatment where appropriate.

We expect all healthcare workers in Scotland to follow best practice when providing care for people with UTIs. In support of this, guidelines on management of suspected UTIs were developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in 2020. These support clinicians to provide advice to patients and carers on appropriate treatment, risks and lifestyle and behaviour issues which can support management and prevention of UTIs. The guideline was accompanied by supporting materials for clinicians and patients to improve dissemination and engagement with the new guidelines including a quick reference guide and patient booklet.

Question reference: S6W-13428

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what research has been undertaken to ascertain whether minimum unit pricing has led to consumers to switch from lower strength, lower volume products to higher strength, higher volume products.

Evidence from the evaluation of minimum unit pricing (MUP) has shown that consumers have responded to the introduction of MUP in a variety of ways including reduced purchasing of products whose price has increased, switching to smaller pack sizes, to more premium products and to lower strength products.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) are undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of MUP, which includes assessing the impact of MUP on health, crime, public safety and public nuisance in Scotland, and the impact on the alcohol industry. A final evaluation report will be published in 2023.

All published studies are available on the PHS website: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/

Question reference: S6W-13294

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to legislate to end unlimited recovery of hydrocarbons.

Oil and gas exploration and production, including licensing, remains reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government is clear that unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with our climate obligations and is not the right solution to the real cost of living crisis families are facing. To reduce energy costs we need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. This means investing more in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

We are also supporting the fastest possible just transition for the energy sector and the oil and gas workforce, the communities in which they live and work, and the regional economies that have greatly benefited from oil and gas activities and have much to gain from the transition to net zero.

Our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan was published for consultation on 10 January 2023.

Question reference: S6W-13422

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Reform of NHS Dental Services Survey, when a public consultation will take place on any proposed changes to sevices.

Question reference: S6W-13336

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10697 by Tom Arthur on 21 September 2022, and in light of its draft 2023-24 Budget published on 15 December 2022, how it will ensure parity with England for commercial premises liable for the higher property rate, in line with the independent Barclay Review of non-domestic rates recommendation, and its commitment in its Framework For Tax to "reduce the combined poundage rate for the largest properties to match the equivalent rate in England over the course of the Parliament".

On 1 April 2020 the Intermediate Property Rate (poundage +1.3p) was introduced for properties with rateable values between £51,000 and £95,000 which would previously have been liable for the Large Business Supplement (2.6p).

On 1 April 2023 we will further reduce the number of properties liable for the Higher Property Rate, by increasing the rateable value threshold at which this applies from £95,000 to £100,000.

Combined with the lowest poundage in the UK, these reforms mean that over 95% of non-domestic properties are already liable for a lower property tax rate than anywhere else in the UK.

Tax policy decisions are made at annual budgets in line with prevailing economic decisions.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer