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-12252

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been found guilty of offences under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.

The latest available information on the number of people convicted under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament is provided in the following table.

Number of people proceeded and convicted under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (where main crime) in Scottish courts, 1999-2000 to 2020-21.

1999-00	14
2000-01	4
2001-02	6
2002-03	8
2003-04	14
2004-05	10
2005-06	26
2006-07	19
2007-08	27
2008-09	17
2009-10	11
2010-11	10
2011-12	12
2012-13	11
2013-14	11
2014-15	13
2015-16	9
2016-17	7
2017-18	5
2018-19	8
2019-20	2
2020-21	-

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database

Please note: Information for 2021-22 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2021-22 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-12293

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Emergency Budget Review, when it anticipates the joint taskforce with COSLA, regulatory agencies and business will convene, and when it anticipates it will conclude its work.

Scottish Government Officials are working towards holding the first meeting of the Joint Regulatory Taskforce as soon as possible and aim to hold before the end of 2022. Communications to key stakeholders to facilitate this will be issued shortly.

The Taskforce will also support and drive early progress towards meeting our commitments in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation to review and improve the process of developing, implementing and reviewing regulation to meet our economic and societal aims. Reviewing regulatory burdens on business will be a critical component of this work and we will seek to balance the essential role that regulation plays on driving innovation and achieving economic, societal and environmental goals with the concerns that businesses have expressed about the impact of new regulations during the cost crisis.

While the Taskforce was announced as part of the Emergency Budget Review in response to the ongoing cost crisis, it is also expected to help support the work towards the longer term goals. Therefore, there is no set date for the conclusion of its work but the terms of reference will be subject to ongoing review to ensure the group continues to be in the best position to support the delivery of these goals.

Question reference: S6W-12253

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many directors, managers or partners of corporate bodies have been found guilty of offences under regulation 44(1) of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 since 1 January 2011.

Question reference: S6W-12263

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it last discussed the proposed Rosebank oil field development with the UK Government, and what those discussions involved.

The Scottish Government has made clear to the UK Government our position that to support our just transition to net zero, new offshore oil and gas licenses should be subject to a stringent climate compatibility checkpoint.

My response to the UK Government consultation in March made clear that any credible and effective package of conditionality tests must include both domestic and international dimensions - extending to at least all of the six tests outlined in the consultation document.

The First Minister also called on the UK Government for a four nations’ discussions to agree on a final Climate Compatibility Checkpoint process which was ignored. It is extremely disappointing that the Climate Compatibility Test proposed by the UK Government is limited to new exploration, and that the bar has been set so low in terms of the Test itself. It is a lightweight version of the Test consulted upon earlier this year.

Question reference: S6W-12126

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has carried out on any impact of the recent cancellations and disruptions to ferry services on investment and employment in the islands.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific analysis, regarding the impact of disruption to ferry services on investment and employment in the islands, however, recognise the importance of the provision of safe and reliable lifeline ferry services for investment, employment and for our island economies.

Scotland’s ferry network has a wide ranging impact on National Outcomes: from connecting individuals to employment opportunities; supporting business and freight movements; facilitating access to essential public services and transporting tourists to/from the islands. These priorities are developed through evidence-based policy making, through which consideration is applied to relevant statistics and data, research evidence and publications.

A key objective of the National Islands Plan is to “Review the availability, usefulness of, and the wider barriers to, island level data both at an individual island level, groups of islands and consider the creation of a “Scottish Islands” data level in order to better understand the challenges faced by island communities.” Our National Islands Plan Survey has supported this process.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) submitted evidence to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s inquiry into a modern and sustainable ferry service for Scotland, evidence of which is published on the Scottish Parliament website . In their response, HIE referenced the impact on businesses of disruption to ferry services. The agency has sought feedback through its Panel Surveys on issues relating to transport. In response to a 2021 survey, a majority (71%) of islands businesses said that they relied on ferries and, for those reliant on ferries, the resilience and reliability of services was seen as particularly important.

We are determined to support, protect and enhance lifeline services for residents, communities and industries that rely on them. Ferry services are key to supporting the economic, social and cultural development of island communities and operators ensure where possible and when safe to do so, that services are provided to maintain service provision.

Question reference: S6W-12127

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has carried out on the impact of the recent cancellations and disruptions of ferry services on investment in the Scotch whisky industry in the islands.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific analysis, regarding the impact of disruption to ferry services, and how this impacts upon island economies. We recognise the important contribution that the Scotch Whisky industry makes to the Scottish economy, and meet with the whisky sector regularly, to discuss current issues and understand their impact.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has not undertaken any specific analysis of the impact of disruption to ferry services on investment in the Scotch whisky industry in the islands.

Question reference: S6W-12125

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis (a) it, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) VisitScotland has carried out on any impact of the recent cancellations and disruptions to ferry services on the depopulation of the islands.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific analysis, regarding the impact of disruption to ferry services on depopulation, however, recognise the importance of the provision of safe and reliable lifeline ferry services for our island populations.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has not undertaken any specific analysis of the impact of recent disruption to ferry services on depopulation. However, its ‘ My Life in the Highlands and Islands ’ research does explore issues around transport, including views on satisfaction/dissatisfaction with ferry services.

VisitScotland has not carried out any analysis on the impact of cancellations and disruptions to ferry services but recently shared relevant information with the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 8 November 2022, a transcript of which is published on the Scottish Parliament website .

Question reference: S6T-01012

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to tackle the illegal trade in puppies, in light of the Scottish Multi-Agency Strategic Threat Assessment report that the trade is funding serious organised crime.

Question reference: S6T-01010

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the cyber-attack on 4 August 2022 which reportedly targeted NHS Scotland's patient management software.

Question reference: S6T-01004

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle cancer inequalities.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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