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-32376

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether a young person between the ages of 16 and 25 can make more than one application to the Independent Living Fund.

ILF Scotland operate two funds that support disabled people: the Independent Living Fund which pays on-going weekly awards to disabled people to help them live more independently; and the Transition Fund which pays grants to disabled young people to support them with the transition to adulthood.

Previously, young people who were eligible could make second and subsequent applications to the Transition Fund. Since 1 January 2024, once an applicant has been successful in gaining a Transition Fund grant they are not able to apply again. This does not include receiving a Technology Grant for an IT device, which applicants can receive in addition to a full grant.

Young people who meet the criteria are also able to apply for support from the Independent Living Fund. If an application to the Independent Living Fund is not successful the applicant may reapply if they meet the criteria.

Question reference: S6W-32244

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of the revised costs of upgrading the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the grade separation of Sheriffhall roundabout as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

The latest scheme cost estimate, current at Quarter 4 2018 prices, indicated a total cost of approximately £116.5 million, excluding non-recoverable VAT.

We continue to progress the proposed scheme through the statutory process so we can deliver improvements at this key junction as soon as possible. Following the Public Local Inquiry for the scheme, the Reporter’s conclusions and recommendations have been submitted to the Scottish Government and are currently under active consideration before a decision is made by Scottish Ministers whether to progress the scheme.

As with other road infrastructure projects, the estimated cost of the scheme will be updated following completion of the statutory authorisation process and in advance of procurement commencing.

Question reference: S6W-32408

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when its population health framework will be published; whether this will include regulations to restrict the promotion of food and drink products that it considers are high in (a) fat, (b) sugar and (c) salt content and, if so, by what dates it expects these restrictions to come into force.

The Scottish Government and COSLA are co-producing the Population Health Framework which will be published in Spring 2025. Extensive engagement has been undertaken throughout 2024 with public, third and private sector partners to support development of priorities and areas of action.

The public consultation on detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) closed on 21 May 2024. The Scottish Government will publish an independent analysis report of these consultation responses in early 2025, alongside next steps and timelines for future regulation.

Question reference: S6W-32285

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the findings were of the 10-year trial of the 50mph speed limit for HGVs on single carriageway sections of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

We are firmly committed to supporting Scotland’s freight industry and recognising the vital role hauliers play in driving economic growth and prosperity.

In October 2014, the speed limit for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway sections of the A9 between Perth and Inverness was increased from 40 mph to 50 mph. Simultaneously, the A9 average speed camera system was introduced. A comprehensive review conducted in 2018 assessed the safety performance of the route three years after these measures were implemented. The findings demonstrated a consistent reduction in collisions and casualty numbers involving HGVs over 7.5 tonnes. This evidence highlights the positive impact that increasing the HGV speed limit has had on road safety along the route.

On 27 November 2024, the Scottish Government launched a public consultation as part of the National Speed Management Review. This initiative seeks to ensure that speed limits across Scotland are both appropriate and effective in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. The proposals include lowering the national speed limit for motor vehicles on single carriageways from 60 mph to 50 mph while increasing HGV speed limits to 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways. The consultation is open until 5 March 2025, and we encourage all stakeholders to share their views. Once the consultation responses have been analysed, any resulting changes will be announced alongside the next steps for implementation.

Question reference: S6W-32648

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what cumulative savings have been achieved to date through its 10-year programme of public sector reform.

The Public Service Reform Programme was established in December 2023. Through the programme we are working to address both the efficiency and effectiveness of services, whilst also working to move the public services system to prioritise prevention.

The update to Parliament in September 2024 set out the details of Scottish Government’s key efficiency programmes and projected savings. These programmes include: Commercial Value for Money (CVfM), Collaborative Procurement, Central Government Procurement Shared Services, Single Scottish Estate, The Shared Services Programme, the Intelligent Automation Centre of Excellence and the Digital Programme.

These programmes are securing significant cost avoidance and cash releasing savings, expected to reach up to £280 million over a two-year period (by end 2024-25), with further projected savings of nearly £300 million over the following two financial years to the end of 2026-27.

In terms of further detail, examples include:

An overall total of £36M direct Scottish Single Estates benefits have been secured in the first year of the programme. This includes cash savings of £5.5M in 23-24 and £15M in 24-25
The Commercial Value for Money programme has delivered almost £7m of cashable and £600k of non-cashable savings.
The Intelligent Automation Centre of Excellence has delivered 143 automations with a further 469 in the pipeline. £3.9M in cost-avoidance benefits have been achieved to date.

As the programme develops further, building on the data and capacity around savings, and the embedding of reform and efficiency in the budget process, we will look to drive and quantify other savings opportunities.

Question reference: S6W-32649

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) external agencies and (b) consultancies are engaged in its 10-year programme of public sector reform.

The Scottish Government cannot deliver reform alone and is working with local government, public bodies, third sector and the private sector to build a consensus and common vision for achieving sustainable public services and establishing the infrastructure that enables us to collectively make progress.

The Scottish Government has not engaged any consultancies in developing or progressing the Public Service Reform Programme.

Question reference: S6W-32661

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the merits of introducing digital activation codes for lasting powers of attorney, rather than requiring the use of paper documents as proof of registration.

The Scottish Government recognises that the present system of presenting paper copies of powers of attorneys as proof of authority to act could be improved by digitisation of the process. Digital activation codes are used in England and appear to be a successful way of doing this. Digitisation of this process in Scotland is an operational decision within the remit of the Office of the Public Guardian, which is part of the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.

Question reference: S6W-32655

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were banned from keeping animals in 2023-24.

Question reference: S6T-02268

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in tackling child sexual abuse, in light of reported calls for a full UK national inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs.

Question reference: S6T-02270

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to reported increases in instances of youth crime and antisocial behaviour.