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-29876

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether any senior civil servants have received a non-consolidated performance payment and a pay increase in the same year since 2023, and what the total amount was of any such payments.

Question reference: S6W-29306

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with sports governing bodies that may be affected by the decision of sportscotland to dispose of its headquarters at Caledonia House, Edinburgh.

In 2009, sportscotland’s headquarters moved to Doges, Templeton on the Green, Glasgow and Caledonian House was retained as a “House of Sport”. A full cost-benefit analysis of Caledonian House was conducted in March 2023, and it was concluded the building was not a good use of public money. All existing tenants, including relevant Scottish Governing Bodies of sport, were part of a sportscotland consultation process, have been kept up to date with the process throughout, and were provided ample time to consider their future office needs and find alternative office space.

sportscotland continue to support tenants with information and guidance on alternative accommodation and where possible, have facilitated introductions to wider partners where there is potential to co-locate.

Question reference: S6W-28026

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has over mineral mining activity in Scotland, in light of written answer HL3093 in the House of Lords on 20 March 2024, in which the Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade states that “mineral planning policy is also a devolved matter”.

The Scottish Government is responsible for overseeing Scotland’s statutory planning system which manages the development and use of land in the long-term public interest. Applications for planning permission for the extraction of minerals in Scotland must be made to the relevant local planning authority and Scottish Ministers only rarely intervene. Our Fourth National Planning Framework, published and adopted by Scottish Ministers in 2023 guides spatial development, sets out national planning policies, designates national developments and highlights regional spatial priorities. It is part of the development plan, and so influences planning decisions across Scotland.

Where any mineral extraction takes place, relevant environmental authorisation requirements will apply ensuring continuing environmental protection.

Question reference: S6W-29910

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29351 by Gillian Martin on 12 September 2024, what measures (a) it has taken to expand the provision of reuse options at household waste recycling centres and (b) will be taken forward as part of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 to expand the provision of such options.

Local authorities are responsible for service provision at household waste recycling centres, and for any decisions regarding any expansion of reuse options. The Scottish Government has, through the Recycling Improvement Fund, supported projects led by Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Stirling Councils to improve reuse at household waste recycling centres. This includes setup of a reuse shop and enhancing on-site facilities to enable storage of reuse items. In addition, guidance was published by Zero Waste Scotland in June 2024 to help local authorities move to a reuse first approach at Household Waste Recycling Centres. The guidance, Making reuse happen at Household Waste Recycling Centres: Guidance for local authorities, is available on the Zero Waste Scotland website: mf-kq5rq09l-1720088177d (zerowastescotland.org.uk).

The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 requires Scottish Ministers to prepare a circular economy strategy. In preparing the strategy Scottish Ministers must have regard to the waste hierarchy, including preparing for reuse.

In addition, a new statutory Household Recycling Code of Practice, which will be co-designed with local authorities and other stakeholders, will set out standards expected of, and steps to be taken by, local authorities in carrying out their waste management functions in so far as they relate to the collection and recycling (including preparation for reuse) of household waste. The co-design process may also create an opportunity to agree that information is provided to householders about reuse and repair opportunities in their area. However, the new Code could not prescribe mandatory requirements for reuse or repair services as these do not fall within local authority statutory waste management functions.

Question reference: S6W-29813

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ending of the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot, what alternative incentives it is considering to encourage the use of public transport over car travel.

I have instructed ScotRail to offer a 12 month 20% reduction on the price of weekly, monthly and annual season tickets also to amend the Flexipass terms so it offers 12 return journeys for the same price as 10.

Passengers will be able to make significant savings with these discounted products.

For example, in the Member’s constituency, if someone travels between Ayr and Glasgow at least 4 days a week, the equivalent of the daily return with an annual season pass would be £11.48, and £9.18, if they commute 5 days a week, which in both cases is lower than the off peak fare of £13.40 or £20.10 - the new all day fare. For those traveling less regularly, flexipass could be an option to consider, with this pass a return journey would cost an equivalent of £13.62.

It would be most welcome if the Member could help promote these discounts to her constituents.

Question reference: S6W-29806

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a full impact assessment of the public health implications of its recently announced decision to reduce funding for public health information marketing campaigns.

For clarity, the Scottish Government has not suspended public health information marketing campaigns.

The Scottish Government is fully aware of the importance that campaigns have in communicating public health priorities, and essential public health marketing activity in 2024-25 is continuing, including Public Health Scotland targeted communications work for particular vaccine programmes, including Winter Flu, to encourage people who often do not get vaccinated to take up the offer this year.

Paid-for activity is also continuing where costs have already been committed, or where an essential need is identified, such as campaigns on Sexual Assault Response and Care Service; Abortion Safe Access Zones; dementia, and our Detect Cancer Early campaign, which launched last month.

Marketing activity will also continue across portfolio areas through low or no cost channels, such as social content, public relations and work with partner organisations.

Question reference: S6W-29807

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs could potentially be lost as a result of its recently announced decision to reduce funding for public health information marketing campaigns.

Question reference: S6O-03807

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the provision of levelling up funding for areas of multiple deprivation such as Drumchapel in the Glasgow Anniesland constituency.

Question reference: S6O-03808

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on public services of an increased population in areas such as Midlothian.

Question reference: S6O-03811

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the recent Oxfam Scotland report, Cleared for Take-off: A Private Jet Tax for Scotland.