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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 43013 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6O-03816

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the total monetary cost has been, including in relation to travel, accommodation and staff and ministerial working time, of all overseas trips taken by the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture since his appointment in 2021.

Question reference: S6O-03828

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure access to advice and advocacy for civil justice issues, especially for people in rural and island communities, in light of the reported recent reduction in funding for the Early Resolution and Advice Programme.

Question reference: S6O-03818

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the proposed closure of Edinburgh's People's Story Museum.

Question reference: S6O-03814

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Creative Scotland is fit for purpose as an arts funding body.

Question reference: S6W-30266

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to increase peatland restoration in order to achieve net zero by 2045.

Caring for our peatlands, and reducing peatland emissions, through protection, management and restoration is critical to achieving net zero by 2045.

Through the Peatland ACTION partnership we are funding the restoration of our peatlands. We are also working hard with our Peatland ACTION delivery partners to tackle the many barriers to upscaling peatland restoration in this relatively young sector

In addition to interventions on herbivore control as well as other farm management interventions, we are also considering the regulatory and fiscal measures that could further incentivise peatland restoration and create the conditions to keep our peatlands in good condition.

Alongside this, work continues towards implementing a ban on the sale of peat in Scotland and we have established an expert group to develop the guidance and tools needed to inform decisions on windfarm development on peat.

Question reference: S6W-30011

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on airport drop-off fees in Scottish airports and any equalities impact that they have on people with mobility issues or who rely on vehicular drop-off and pick-up when no other option is available or suitable.

Question reference: S6W-30019

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether reducing the working hours of 8,000 civil servants while increasing pay by 3% represents value for money.

A key condition of the agreement for the Scottish Government to move to a 35-hour week was that productivity levels are maintained, and that costs are not increased as a result. These conditions are consistent with the findings of research into shorter working weeks, which point towards the wellbeing benefits of such improvements to terms and conditions and, in some cases, even positive impacts on productivity.

The Scottish Government’s position is that the 3% (of which 2.25% was in-year) pay award for 2024-25, alongside the introduction of the 35-hour week, does represent good value for money. Both elements formed part of a two-year pay deal, which was reached during a period of high inflation, and is consistent with pay awards reached across the Scottish Public Sector. Achieving agreement on pay with the recognised trade unions for this extended period has also meant the Scottish Government has avoided the costly impacts of industrial action.

Question reference: S6W-30005

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Audit Scotland report, Scotland’s colleges 2024; what its position is on the ongoing viability of Scotland's colleges, and how it plans to address any financial shortfalls in funding for this sector, in light of the role that it plays in skilling the next generation of Scotland's workforce.

Ministers recognise the crucial role that our colleges play and notably, the Audit Scotland report recognises that the courses that college students undertake contribute not only to their own development but also to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth.

Against a challenging backdrop of financial pressures across the public sector, a priority has been to protect investment in the college sector as far as possible. It is the responsibility of each college to manage its operations in line with the funding allocated by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). As part of this we expect each institution to continually reassess operational models and explore avenues for cost reduction and revenue maximisation in this demanding climate.

We are committed to work alongside colleges and the SFC through the Tripartite Alignment Group to provide greater flexibility for institutions in how they use the investment that is available. The SFC has proposed modifications to the college funding model to provide short-term relief to colleges and has expressed plans to revamp the funding model for future sustainability; while Scottish Government has progressed work on college disposals in order to help deliver flexibilities to colleges in their approach to managing their estate.

The Audit Scotland report recognises there are important opportunities coming from reform. As we progress with reform, we will work closely with colleges and other stakeholders to ensure that they have a sustainable future.

Question reference: S6W-30008

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to review the principle and methodology of council tax as a taxation method to contribute to the funding of local authorities, and what its position is on whether the current local taxation model is fit for purpose.

The Scottish Government is committed to fairer, more inclusive and fiscally sustainable forms of local taxation. We are exploring proposals for meaningful long-term changes to Council Tax in partnership with COSLA through the ‘Joint Working Group on Sources of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform’.

We continue to partner with COSLA and local authorities on local empowerment measures in the spirit of the Verity House Agreement. We have undertaken intensive collaborative work on a Fiscal Framework for local government. This includes facilitating opportunities for greater local fiscal empowerment in the future, with the aim to give councils more flexibility. Through the ‘Joint Working Group’ we can explore opportunities for local empowerment collaboratively with local government.

Question reference: S6W-30093

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the junction improvements on the A75 at Haugh of Urr will be completed.

The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Casualty Reduction programme of works, is delivering improvements at the A75 Haugh of Urr junction. Construction of static sign improvements, relating to advanced direction signage and rationalisation of existing signage, is currently programmed for November 2024. An electronic vehicle-activated sign system to warn drivers of vehicles turning or waiting to turn at the junction is also proposed at the junction. This may be delivered this financial year subject to the approval of a non-prescribed sign application.