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-34259

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland supports food producers to meet labelling regulations.

To support food producers to meet labelling regulations, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has published various forms of guidance and training material which are designed to lay the relevant information out in an easy-to-understand way. This includes guidance on the Food Information Regulation, allergen labelling, food sold prepacked for direct sale and front of pack nutrition labelling along with online allergy training and MenuCal resource.

Question reference: S6W-34810

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has reportedly been limited progress in taking forward the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

The Ayrshire Growth Deal has faced significant challenges - including cost inflation, technical complexities and the COVID-19 pandemic - which have adversely affected project timelines and budgets. In addition, development of two key projects resulted in them no longer being deemed commercially viable. These challenges have largely been beyond the control of the Growth Deal,

Despite such challenges, partners across the three Ayrshire local authorities have been progressing substantive development work, including a reassessment of capital projects as part of a wider programme review aimed at accelerating progress.

Scottish Government officials continue to work closely with Deal partners to ensure projects are delivered within the remaining period of the Growth Deal and within budget.

Question reference: S6W-34928

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the assessment process for the Borderlands Solway Coast and Marine Project bid has been delayed, and by what date a decision will be made on the funding application.

The Solway Cost and Marine Pilot Project (SCAMPP), business justification case was assessed by the Scottish and UK Governments using HM Treasury Green Book guidance. Appropriate due diligence was undertaken and, following further work by the project development partners to clearly articulate its economic and environmental benefits and demonstrate value for money, it was endorsed by Scottish and UK Government on 20 February 2025. This will allow the research element to proceed.

Question reference: S6W-34623

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what revenue it has received from agricultural leases or tenancies involving livestock farming on land that it owns in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-34806

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the investment zone for the North East Scotland region to be in place.

Question reference: S6W-34541

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to carry out a new consultation regarding long-term chronic pain conditions; how this will be conducted, and take account of the differences between conditions; who will (a) organise and (b) carry out this consultation, and what the outcome was of its previous such consultation, including what improvements were recorded as a result of it.

We are exploring a new long term conditions strategy to better recognise the fact that many people living with long term conditions need the same types of support and care, regardless of their condition.

A long term conditions strategy will focus on ensuring equitable and sustainable access to the services that all people with long term conditions need, while still allowing for targeted action on condition-specific care and support where appropriate.

We have been engaging with clinicians, patients, carers and third sector organisations to find out what matters to them. We will shortly launch a full public consultation to ensure everyone can have their say.

This consultation will take place online via CitizenSpace and consideration will be given to include groups who will be unable to access the online platform.

In summer 2023 we engaged with stakeholders including clinicians, third-sector organisations and people with lived experience of chronic pain. Feedback received was used to inform the development of the updated Pain Management Service Delivery Framework – Implementation Plan.

Question reference: S6W-34804

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the proposed investment zone for the North East Scotland region.

Investment Zones in Scotland are being jointly delivered by the Scottish and UK Governments. The Scottish Government engages regularly with the UK Government regarding the proposed Investment Zone for the North East region. Weekly progress meetings are held between officials from both Governments to discuss the development of proposals and implementation of the Investment Zone. Additionally, the Scottish and UK Government jointly participate in scheduled fortnightly meetings with the North East Regional Economic Partnership, and more often where required, to ensure continued collaboration.

Question reference: S6W-34807

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what financial modelling has been done to evaluate any economic benefits of the proposed investment zone for the North East Scotland region.

The Scottish and UK Government jointly developed an evidence-led and objective place selection methodology for Investment Zones, adapting the approach taken by the UK Government in England when selecting Investment Zone regions.

As part of the place selection process, financial modelling was undertaken to assess the potential economic benefits of the proposed Investment Zones. This analysis considered a range of factors, including wellbeing economy need, employment growth, and the attraction of inward investment. The modelling also examined the anticipated fiscal impact, including potential revenue generation and cost implications for both governments. The place selection methodology was published on 18 August 2023.

In addition, the Scottish Government regularly engages with regional stakeholders including the North East Regional Economic Partnership to ensure that the Investment Zone continues to align with local economic priorities and maximises benefits for businesses and communities within the region. Further assessment and refinement of the financial modelling will continue as the Investment Zone proposals are developed through the Gateway process, to ensure its long-term success.

Question reference: S6W-34803

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the NatureScot licensing review will report, and by what date a decision will be announced regarding the agency charging for its licensing services.

Question reference: S6W-34621

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many livestock are kept on land that it owns, broken down by (a) species and (b) location.