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-02153

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported longstanding calls for a modern prison to replace HM Prison Barlinnie, for what reason such a replacement will reportedly not be ready until 2026.

Prison infrastructure projects are large and complex. The timing of the HMP Glasgow, which will replace HMP Barlinnie, has been impacted by challenges in identifying and securing a suitable site as well as market conditions. An extensive search was required to identify a suitable site within the Glasgow City boundary and the acquisition of the site near Provanmill was completed in December 2020. Procurement activity is now underway and construction work is currently scheduled to commence in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-02260

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate against any fall in fuel revenue at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and what effect any fall in fuel revenue might have on the future viability of the airport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government, in compliance with our obligations under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU.

Prestwick Airport continues to develop as a specialist airport, carving a niche in a very competitive aviation market. It is for the airport’s management team to consider all potential business opportunities to maximise the use of the assets of the airport and build on the progress which has already been made.

Question reference: S6W-01960

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will carry out the review of nature-based, green and blue interventions that were referred to in its Air Quality Strategy.

The Scottish Government's new air quality 'Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 - Towards a Better Place for Everyone' is accompanied by a Delivery Plan which summarises the strategy actions, the dates by when they will be achieved and the organisations responsible for delivering each action.

The Delivery Plan confirms that the Scottish Government will undertake a review of nature based, green and blue interventions which can benefit air quality, using the outcomes to develop a database of potential solutions for both regeneration and new developments, by 2024.

Question reference: S6W-02139

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been provided with a short-term mobility aid since the roll-out of guidance on the provision of these earlier in 2021, broken down by health and social care partnership.

Question reference: S6W-02210

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it has in place to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to private ownership, if negotiations with the current preferred bidder fall through.

The process to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector continues and decisions have still to be taken in relation to the prospective sale of the business. With the process to return Prestwick Airport to the private sector continuing, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment further at this time.

We have committed to updating Parliament on the sale process at the appropriate stage and to protect the integrity of the process we will not be making any further comment at this time.

Question reference: S6W-01998

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) theatres, (b) music venues, (c) dance halls and (d) cinemas have permanently closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government is concerned that some cultural venues have permanently closed since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions essential to helping safeguard the health and wellbeing of the country.

We are aware of the personal and professional impacts that these permanent closures continue to have on the Creative Industries and on individuals. The Scottish Government has worked with Creative Scotland throughout the pandemic to deliver essential funding to prevent insolvency and the closure of venues with funds such as the Grassroots Music Venue Stabilisation Fund.

It is deeply disappointing that, despite the efforts of the Scottish Government and its public bodies, cultural venues still faced permanent closure during the pandemic. The Scottish Government will work with Creative Scotland to explore the impact of the pandemic on venue closures nationally.

Question reference: S6W-01962

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure diversity in its Environmental Champions.

The First Minister’s Environmental Council encompass a diverse range of global experts. The group’s membership and remit was announced on the 22 nd of August (details here ). Appointments were made in line with the guidance and requirements set out in the Scottish Government’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, People Strategy and guidance on arranging advice for Ministers. Whilst the First Minister’s Environmental Council is an ad hoc group we have also aligned to the Code of Practice published by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Question reference: S6W-01925

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress regarding its peatland restoration targets.

Question reference: S6O-00089

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact parental smoking has on child poverty.

Question reference: S6O-00092

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help protect people participating in football activities, particularly children and young people, in light of research suggesting a link between repeated heading of footballs and dementia later in life.