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-30594

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, whether it (a) has assessed and (b) will assess the potential impact on support for new or renewal ballots for business improvement districts from those firms liable for the new levy.

The Scottish Government has not assessed the specific impact of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on support for new or renewal ballots for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and there are currently no plans to do so. However, the Scottish Government continues to engage with a broad range of stakeholders to understand the impact of Non-Domestic Rates policies and would welcome any contributions from Improvement Districts.

Question reference: S6W-30542

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting any vulnerable children who have lost a parent to a drug-related death, in light of The National Drug-Related Deaths Database (Scotland) Report, published by Public Health Scotland, which indicates that 602 children lost a parent or parental figure as a result of a drug-related death in 2020.

A child losing a parent to a drug-related death is a tragedy. We understand that children, young people and families affected by substance use must be supported in their own right. Our framework to improve holistic family support sets out principles of how we will improve support for families affected by drugs and alcohol by taking a whole family approach and using family inclusive practice. The framework is supported by investment totalling £6.5 million per year over the life of the Parliament.

In partnership with an expert national working group, we are working with local areas to improve family support and implement family inclusive practice across alcohol and drug services. This, alongside our work to support young people affected by substance use, will support the delivery of The Promise by making significant change in the way services work with families.

Additionally, we are investing nearly £4 million to expand the successful Routes model, run by Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs. Routes supports young people with substance use in their families, by helping them meet their own goals and break inter-generational cycles of addiction. With investment from Scottish Government, Routes will be expanded to Falkirk, Aberdeenshire, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, East Lothian and Orkney.

Question reference: S6W-30588

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards about providing recurring funding for the Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects beyond 2024-25.

Funding of over £3.5 million was issued between 2021-2024 to support 12 pilot projects across Scotland to deliver a single point of contact (SPoC) to people diagnosed with cancer. A further £1.5 million during financial year 2024-25 has ensured continuity of this programme of work.

A scalability assessment, commenced in early 2024 and led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, will consider how we best support the design and delivery of SPoC services for the future to ensure that all patients with cancer in Scotland benefit from the approach. Each project is actively evaluating their local impact to support this work.

Question reference: S6W-30586

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 12 Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilot projects provide support for people diagnosed with blood cancer, and in which NHS boards any such support is available.

Question reference: S6O-03873

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it has been undertaking with disabled people’s organisations regarding the delivery of its Disability Equality Plan.

Question reference: S6O-03875

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland’s extension across Scotland of the north east pilot of not investigating "low-level" crime.

Question reference: S6O-03872

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £12.5 million of funding that it plans to provide for education in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia was set out in the Budget for 2024-25.

Question reference: S6O-03870

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to support those affected by historic forced adoption.

Question reference: S6O-03874

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the health secretary last met the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss rural ambulance provision.

Question reference: S6O-03871

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed.