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-12639

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11868 by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022, whether it will define which sources of bioenergy it considers “sustainable” in relation to alternative technologies to air source heat pumps.

In relation to question S6W-11868, the reference to bioenergy from sustainable sources refers to the sustainability of the biomass feedstock. The technology itself does not indicate sustainability but rather it is the feedstock which needs to meet sustainability criteria. The Scottish Government wishes to continue to align with EU standards and sustainability criteria as set out in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Any biomass used for energy should meet both the land and greenhouse gas criteria as a minimum to be considered as sustainable.

Scottish Government officials have formed a Bioenergy Policy Working Group which is considering how to ensure our bioenergy policy continues to be compatible with wider sustainable land use policy including the delivery of environmental goals and recognising public attitudes to land use change.

Question reference: S6W-12638

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11868 by Patrick Harvie on 17 November 2022, whether it will publish the underlying data that puts the number of homes deemed technically unsuitable for an air source heat pump at around 39,500 to 40,400 out of a total of 170,000 off-gas-grid homes.

Question reference: S6W-12709

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Drugs Mission Implementation Group has met in 2022, what dates any meetings took place, and whether it will publish the minutes for any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-12669

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the purchase of agricultural land by foreign businesses to create woodlands to offset their carbon footprint.

The Scottish Government has published a set of Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital, which set out our expectations of stakeholders in a high integrity, values-led market for responsible investment in natural capital. These principles highlight the importance of wider environmental, social and economic outcomes including maintaining the resilience of food supply and generating opportunities for agricultural tenants and crofters to benefit from new investments.

Any investment in woodlands for carbon credits should be both measurable and verifiable through the government-backed Woodland Carbon Code , the mechanism through which land owners and companies can purchase offsets in Scotland and the UK. The Code is backed by all the governments across the UK, and is a domestic standard for use by companies with UK operations to offset emissions in the UK.

Question reference: S6W-11609

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its publication, High rise inventory 2021: summary report, of the (a) 38 buildings in which aluminium composite material (ACM) panels were identified and (b) 23 buildings with Category 3 ACM panels, how many are owned by (i) registered social landlords, (ii) private owners or landlords, (iii) multiple private owners or landlords and (iv) a mix of registered social and private owners and landlords.

The High Rise Inventory provides information on the construction and fire safety of high rise domestic buildings. It was completed by Local Authority Building Standards departments for all relevant buildings, with data provided or verified to the best of the respondents’ knowledge at the time of completing the inventory. It should be viewed as a snapshot in time. The summary report was based on information held in the Inventory in February 2020.

On the basis of the information provided all of the 38 buildings, in which aluminium composite material were identified, and the 23 buildings with Category 3 aluminium composite panels are classified as owned by private landlords.

Question reference: S6O-01737

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures good governance in Scotland's colleges.

Question reference: S6O-01735

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the autism spectrum employment gap.

Question reference: S6O-01738

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many vessels operated by CalMac, Northlink or Scotland’s local authorities will be operating past their working life expectancy by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6O-01736

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has with the UK Government regarding reports of delays of payment of Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers.

Question reference: S6O-01733

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to supporting the gaming industry in Scotland during the cost of living crisis.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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