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-05316

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise on 15 December 2021 on Dalzell Historical Industrial Transactions, what parties comprise the "wider group" that he referred to.

Question reference: S6W-05314

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the typical environmental remediation costs for sites of former steelworks such as Ravenscraig; what sites it has considered in this regard, and whether it has calculated historic costs adjusted for inflation.

The Scottish Government has not carried out an overarching assessment of the typical environmental remediation costs for sites of former steelworks in Scotland. Due to Scotland’s long history of iron and steel making such activity has taken place in a range of locations and circumstances over differing time periods and has involved many different processes and scales of production. Hence land remediation costs at any particular former steelworks site will depend on a multitude of site-specific factors and the owners’ planned future uses of the land.

Question reference: S6W-05313

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the information it holds on the total potential environmental remediation cost of the Dalzell steelworks.

A soil and groundwater contamination liability assessment covering the Lanarkshire steelworks was prepared for the Scottish Government in 2016.

A copy of the report with redactions in line with FOISA exemptions is available from the Scottish Government website here:

( https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2021/07/foi-202100216003/documents/foi202100216003---information-released-2/foi202100216003---information-released-2/govscot%3Adocument/FOI202100216003%2B-%2BInformation%2Breleased%2B2.pdf ).

Question reference: S6W-05797

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact (a) of PAS 2035 and PAS 2030 ventilation standards, such as the creation of window vents and gaps under internal doors, on homes in exposed rural and coastal areas and (b) that these new standards could have on people's willingness to have Scottish Government-funded energy efficiency measures installed in their homes.

Question reference: S6W-05798

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Unite the Union hospitality workers regarding their reported grievances with MacMerry 300 in relation to pay issues and allegations of bullying, failing to investigate sexual misconduct and covering up a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government believes that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to go to work without fear of intimidation. The Scottish Government endorses the Fair Work Convention's Fair Work Framework and agree that every worker, regardless of status or position, should be treated fairly and with respect.

Scottish Ministers believe that all workers should receive a fair pay for the work they do, regardless of their age and status. The Scottish Government is committed to using all the levers it has at its disposal to promote fair work practices across Scotland including payment of the real Living Wage. We firmly oppose the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.

Scottish Ministers have not met with Unite directly on the issues raised in the question, however the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise meets periodically with Unite Hospitality representatives to discuss key areas of interest in relation to the hospitality sector. The most recent meeting with key trade union representatives included UNITE, PCS, Prospect, the Scottish Tourism League and the STUC and took place on 9 December.

Question reference: S6W-05451

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the medium-term resilient route through Glen Croe at the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83, including (a) whether Transport Scotland is on track to develop a finalised proposal by the beginning of 2023 and (b) when it expects construction to (i) commence and (ii) be completed on the medium-term resilient route.

As part of our plans for the Rest and Be Thankful, we are developing a medium term solution to provide resilience whilst the long term solution is progressed. A number of options are currently being assessed, including the possible use of the existing forestry track and improvements to the Old Military Road.

Depending on whether statutory consents are needed, it is envisaged that a finalised proposal for a medium term solution could be developed by late 2022.A timetable for the construction phase of a medium term solution can only be set once the scope of the proposals are finalised and any statutory procedures required have been successfully completed.

Question reference: S6O-00691

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the plans to dual the A75 between Dumfries and the A74(M).

The South West Scotland Transport Study, published in January 2020, did not recommended full dualling of the A75 between the A74(M) and Dumfries. Instead it proposed an option for localised measures to improve road safety and traffic flow.

Detailed appraisal within STPR2 confirmed the importance of the route and the need for improvements. These proposals will improve the reliability, resilience and safety on this key corridor to Stranraer and the ports at Cairnryan. Options include, but are not limited to, enhancing overtaking opportunities, widening or realigning carriageways (including around Springholm and Crocketford) and improving junctions.

Question reference: S6O-00717

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce trials for a four-day working week.

Question reference: S6O-00722

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £10 Christmas payment will continue to be paid by the DWP to recipients of Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment once the benefits are fully devolved.

Question reference: S6O-00719

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the outdoor education sector since December 2021.