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: S6T-00339

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what resilience measures are in place to tackle serious organised crime and terrorism, in light of reports that the Assistant Chief Constable in charge has been suspended.

Question reference: S6W-04671

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish a revised work schedule for the implementation of the provisions of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.

Question reference: S6W-04677

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03032 by Jamie Hepburn on 27 September 2021, whether it will list the organisations that have received funding through the Saltire Research Awards.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh have provided a full list of 2021 RSE Saltire Research Awards on their website. This includes 13 Scottish higher education institutions, across the 93 awardees:

Edinburgh College of Art
Glasgow Caledonian University
Heriot Watt University
Queen Margaret University
University of Aberdeen
University of Dundee
University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
University of St Andrews
University of Stirling
University of Strathclyde
University of the Highlands and Islands
University of the West of Scotland

The Scottish Funding Council Saltire Emerging Researcher Scheme awarded 9 Scottish university consortia funding to promote mobility between Scotland and European research partners:

EaSI-CAT (East of Scotland Industrial Catalysis) Doctoral Training Programme
Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities
Scottish Graduate School of Social Science
SAGES – Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment & Society
SICSA – Scottish Informatics & Computer Science Alliance
ScotCHEM – Scottish Universities Chemistry Research Pool
SULSA – Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance
SUPA – Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
MASTS – Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland

Question reference: S6W-04597

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Child Disability Payment pilot, and when a full evaluation will be carried out and published.

On 22 November Child Disability Payment was launched across Scotland. This has followed an initial pilot, whereby families of children and young people with a disability living in Dundee City, Perth & Kinross and Western Isles council areas, could apply for the benefit.

We have received positive anecdotal feedback throughout the pilot. Both parents and support workers have said that the application process has been easier and less daunting, and that the support offered by Social Security Scotland has been helpful and caring.

The first high level statistics covering the first 5 weeks of the pilot were published on 18 October 2021 and are available at gov.scot . The next set of Child Disability Payment statistics are due to be published in January 2022. This will cover the period from 26 July to 21 November 2021, and will provide us with the data that will allow us to carry out a more detailed evaluation.

We have also been inviting clients, staff and stakeholders to take part in research to share feedback and help us learn from their experience of the service during the pilot phase. This will be published in Spring 2022. Research will continue beyond national launch as we continue to look for ways to improve and enhance the service for the people of Scotland.

As set out in Evaluating the Devolution of Disability Benefits , we will begin a thematic evaluation of the policy changes that are being implemented with the roll-out of the disability benefits, including use of supporting information, client consultations and supporting information.

During 2021-22 the main focus will be to define the size, scope and research questions, and assessing the potential methods and data sources available. In addition, we have commissioned the evaluation of Child Winter Heating Assistance to report in Summer 2022.

Question reference: S6W-04636

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date its COVID passport scheme will recognise people who have received a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved vaccine outwith the UK and Common Travel Area.

Our COVID-19 Status Certification scheme already recognises people who have been vaccinated outwith the UK and Common Travel Area. People who want to attend a venue or event covered by the certification scheme should obtain proof of vaccination status from the country in which they received their vaccination.

If the person lives in Scotland they can upload their official proof of vaccination from that country to their Scottish vaccination record. This will mean they will have a combined fully vaccinated status to show for travel or domestic purposes. Further information on this is at NHS Inform: Request an update to your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination record This process will also update their record for the purposes of using the app.

If the person is visiting Scotland from outwith the UK and the EU, provided they have evidence of having had a MHRA approved vaccine that can be used for domestic certification in Scotland.

The Scottish Government have published ‘ Vaccine certification scheme – information for business and event organisers ’ and ‘ Vaccine certification scheme – information for customers ’. This provides guidance so both people attending events and the venue staff are fully aware what can be accepted.

Question reference: S6W-04585

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce prescribing of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in settings outside of sexual health clinics.

Question reference: S6W-04581

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reform the planning process to deliver at least 12GW of additional onshore wind and 11GW of offshore wind by 2030, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution.

The draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November, sets out how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045.

The draft NPF4 proposes a new policy which will ensure significant weight be given to the Global Climate Emergency in planning decisions. It also includes green energy policies which support renewable energy development other than in National Parks and National Scenic Areas, subject to an assessment of their impacts on a case by case basis. Through the draft NPF4, we are also proposing to designate a national development which would establish the need for a large increase in renewable energy generation and substantial reinforcement and expansion of grid infrastructure throughout Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-04583

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set a target of installing 1GW of solar PV capacity on public and commercial buildings by 2030, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of energy generated from solar PV in contributing to the decarbonisation of Scotland’s energy supply and contributing to the just transition to a net zero emissions society by 2045.

In support of this, the Scottish Government will, in consultation with the sector, establish a vision for the future of solar in the forthcoming Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. This vision will set out the scale of ambition for solar generation in Scotland.

We have also recently published guidance for public sector bodies: ‘Public Sector Leadership on the Global Climate Emergency’. The guidance sets out milestones for accelerated efforts towards the use of 100% renewable electricity on the public sector estate alongside continuing to reduce electricity usage, and, highlights the important role solar power projects can play in decarbonising the public sector estate.

Question reference: S6W-04577

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS Scotland Covid Status App is available through the Apple Store and Google Play only, and, if so, whether it will consider making it available on alternative platforms, including the NHS website.

Full details of how to access your Covid Status can be found on NHS Inform. This includes downloading the NHS Scotland Covid Status App or accessing your status on the existing online portal. From this portal, you can generate a downloadable PDF or request a printed copy to be posted out to you. See https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/get-a-record-of-your-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status/ .

Question reference: S6W-04442

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to the NHS to ensure there is provision through GP and dental practices for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children coming to Scotland.

Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children are able to access GP and NHS dental services on the same basis as domiciled residents.

GP practices receive a share of overall general practice funding from the Scottish Government based upon their estimated workload. This would reflect any unaccompanied asylum-seeking children registering with a GP practice.

Dentists are paid a range of fees and other payments by the Scottish Government for providing care and treatment to NHS patients.