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-04150

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the data that shows the efficacy of the Hawick flood defences that are soon to be completed.

Question reference: S6W-04183

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce the composition of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.

The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, committed to establishing a Green Heat Finance Taskforce by the end of 2021. The purpose of the Taskforce is to develop a portfolio of innovative financial solutions involving the private, public and third sectors for building owners in Scotland to ensure that by 2045, our homes and buildings no longer contribute to climate change, as part of the wider just transition to net zero.

The Taskforce will forge a new partnership approach between the Scottish public sector, heat decarbonisation experts and the financial sector to explore potential new and value for money innovative financing mechanisms for individual and community level investment in zero emissions heat. The Taskforce has a crucial role in shaping how the transition to zero emissions heat in Scotland’s buildings is financed, therefore the membership of the Taskforce will be drawn from expertise including green finance, the heat and energy efficiency sector and consumer groups. Further details of the composition of the Taskforce will be provided by the end of 2021.

Question reference: S6W-04325

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-04156

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing legislation in the current parliamentary session that aims to deter men who pay women for sex.

Programme For Government includes a commitment to develop a model for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution.

This model will aim to reduce stigma and criminalisation experienced by women and encourage better access to services. Ensuring that women are supported and that services are responsive to their needs is central to this work. We have also committed to engaging with those with direct or lived experience to shape services, and design measures which will protect them from harm and provide service users the support they need.

There are several considerations which must be made in designing the model, including ensuring it’s alignment to the Equally Safe Strategy and our unique legal landscape in Scotland. The model must operate effectively not only to hold those who buy sex to account, but to deter them from purchasing sex. Any changes proposed to the current criminal law would require legislation.

The criminal law is only one aspect of the model and it is vital that a package of measures is developed in parallel to underpin any changes which are brought forward.

We will continue to work across government and with stakeholders as our work on Scotland’s future approach to prostitution progresses. A Short Life Working Group with key stakeholders considering the fundamental principles to underpin a model for Scotland will hold its initial meeting, later this month.

Question reference: S6W-04427

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many severe mental impairment evidence forms have been issued by medical professionals in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-04273

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the geographical breakdown is of the 22,660 renewable energy industry jobs that have reportedly been created.

Research carried out by the Fraser of Allander Institute found that Scotland’s renewable activities support 22,660 full-time equivalent jobs in Scotland 2019.

https://www.scottishrenewables.com/assets/000/001/718/2021_FAI_Economic_Impact_of_Scotland_s_Renewable_Energy_Sector_original.pdf?1622564058 ).

No data is available to provide additional geographic breakdowns below the Scotland level at this time.

Question reference: S6W-04388

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an £86,000 cap on care costs, in light of reported plans for such a cap to be introduced in England from 2023.

Question reference: S6W-04458

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Clare Haughey on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 will be fully commenced.

Question reference: S6W-04006

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported adoption of the UNECE Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention decision VII/8s, and whether there are plans to reform judicial expenses in light of the decision.

The Scottish Government notes that paragraph 1(b) of response VII/8s published by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) endorses the findings of the ACCC's response VI/8k that progress has been made by Scotland. However, the ACCC considers that more needs to be done in respect of the requirements set out in paragraph 2(a), (b), and (d) of VII/8s. We are considering what action to take in respect of this and, as requested by the ACCC, will be submitting a plan of action, including a time schedule, by 1 July 2022.

As stated in the Programme for Government in September 2021, we will be introducing a Legal Aid Reform Bill in this Parliament and consulting on a Human Rights Bill in this Parliamentary year. In addition, in the next few weeks, we will be consulting on court fees for the years 2022 to 2025. In drafting these consultations and this legislation, we will give serious consideration as to how we can improve access to environmental justice.

The ACCC indicated that it had concerns about the operation of the system of protective expenses orders (PEOs). PEOs are the responsibility of the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) and the Scottish Government will raise the matter with SCJC.

Question reference: S6W-03982

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Court of Session judgement on beaver licences issued by NatureScot, what steps it is taking to ensure that all other species licences are legally compliant.

The Scottish Government and NatureScot are currently considering the wider implications of the Court of Session judgment in relation to licences issued for the purposes of beaver management.

Of the five complaints under consideration by the Court, four were rejected entirely. The fifth point, which was accepted by the Court, relates to the inclusion of a statement of reasons for licences issued. This finding will be reflected within licensing procedures going forward and reasons will now be published with all beaver and other European Protected Species licences issued.