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-02927

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many adults have been diagnosed with (a) psoriasis and (b) psoriatic arthritis in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-02906

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01651 by Graeme Dey on 18 August 2021, what provisions there are for the recovery of costs in the event of mechanical failure in the time charter agreement between CalMac and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for the MV Arrow.

CalMac Ferries Ltd negotiated the time charter of the MV Arrow with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, in line with the industry standard practice. Responsibility for crewing, repairs & maintenance and regulatory compliance rests with the Seatruck, as the owner of the vessel. CalMac Ferries Ltd did not pay a charter fee for to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for the MV Arrow when the vessel was not available for deployment as a result of mechanical failure.

Question reference: S6W-02514

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01453 by Mairi McAllan on 23 August 2021, for what reason the response did not provide the information that was requested regarding what water conservation measures it has (a) introduced in the last five years or (b) plans to introduce, and whether it will now do so.

My response did seek to answer your question (S6W-01453) regarding the introduction of water conservation measures, however here is some further explanation.

To date, water usage has been controlled through SEPA abstraction licences, by Scottish Water investment in reducing leakage from its public water supply system, by the provision of advice and guidance to business and domestic water users, and via Scottish Water media campaigns . However more is required to encourage consumers to use water more wisely.

Leakage from the public water supply system has been reduced by over 55% since 2006 and Scottish Water achieved the economic level of leakage in 2013. This equates to a reduction in leakage from over 1,100 mega litres per day (ML/d) in 2006 to 463ML/d in 2021 (down from 495ML/d in 2016/17).

Work with Scottish Water’s non-domestic customers has been ongoing since long before 2014/15 to raise awareness of the importance of water efficiency and promote efficient water use to generate environmental and financial savings. The total reduction in volume of non-domestic water delivered between 2014/15 and 2019/20 was 7,961 mega litres (5.4%) and between 2015/16 and 2020/21, and 15,569 mega litres (10.7%) partly due to the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses.

The EU recast Drinking Water Directive, which we have committed to transpose by 12 January 2023, will provide an opportunity to look closely at water efficiency measures and leakage targets with a view to conserving water.

Question reference: S6W-02765

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported low score Scotland has in relation to the Biodiversity Intactness Index, and the ongoing wildlife losses reported in the State of Nature Report 2019, what plans it has to put in place mechanisms and structures for the (a) funding, (b) delivery and (c) evaluation of nature restoration, at scale, over the long-term.

The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, reflecting the many pressures in the past over which we now have no control. I am pleased to say that of the four UK nations, Scotland is highest in the list. However, our Statement of Intent on biodiversity published in December 2020 acknowledges that more needs to be done and sets out our ambition and our commitment to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

We have made a commitment to produce a new Scottish biodiversity strategy within a year of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of Parties (COP15), to be held in October 2021 in Kunming, China. A delivery plan will follow, to be developed in conjunction with NatureScot. These will set out our proposals for delivering the step change in our action to address biodiversity loss which is required.

Through the ground-breaking agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party, we have committed to introduce a new Environment Bill which will include targets for nature restoration that cover land and sea based on an overarching goal of preventing any further extinctions of wildlife and halting declines by 2030, and making significant progress in restoring Scotland’s natural environment by 2045.

The Statement of Intent has already made several other key announcements, including:

an ambitious commitment to protect 30% of our land for nature by 2030 (this has now been further strengthened with a commitment for 10% of land to be highly protected).
endorsement of the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, launched at the UN General Assembly in September 2020.
our work on National Planning Framework 4 will develop new proposals to secure positive effects for biodiversity through development.

We have made significant funding commitments to protect and restore biodiversity.

We will invest at least £500 million in the natural economy over the course of this Parliament, including: £100 million to increase forestry planting, £30 million to expand Scotland’s national forests and land, and £20 million to increase nursery stocks.
We have committed £250 million for peatland restoration over 10 years as part of our climate change plan.
We have committed £214 million through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) since 2015.
In July 2021 we launched the Nature Restoration Fund, which provides an additional £10 million capital funding for projects that will restore nature, safeguard wildlife and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss and climate change. We have now committed to extending that Fund throughout this Parliament and allowing multiyear funding.
The Nature Restoration Fund adds to almost £7 million already committed this year through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund.

Question reference: S6T-00195

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that staff shortages and a new criminal record system in Police Scotland are risking dangerous criminals being left on the streets.

Question reference: S6T-00184

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of staffing shortages at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital leading to health professionals warning about patient safety.

Question reference: S6T-00183

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding lorry driver shortages and related fuel shortages.

Question reference: S6F-00321

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had, and plans it has made, with key Scottish industries to support vulnerable households this winter.

Question reference: S6F-00322

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the ongoing economic impact on Scotland of Brexit.

Question reference: S6F-00319

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that, in the last year, ministers overturned almost 50% of planning applications.