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-23902

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland, and what actions it plans to take.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report from the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland, and knows that there is work to be done to support improvement of audiology services across the country.

We accept all of the recommendations in principle, and will now establish a National Implementation Group to examine how best to implement the recommendations.

This Implementation Group will be formed with partners from the third sector, as well as the health service, which will allow us to ensure the voices of those with lived experience are front and centre as changes are made.

We will ensure that Parliament is kept updated with progress.

Question reference: S6O-02925

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scotgold Resources Ltd regarding any support that can be provided to employees who may lose their jobs at its Cononish Gold Mine near Tyndrum, in light of the reported announcement that the company has gone into administration.

Question reference: S6W-23322

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by George Adam on 28 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the analysis of the responses to its recent consultation on access to information rights in Scotland, and what its position is on the issues considered in the consultation.

The response to the analysis of responses to the Access to Information Rights in Scotland consultation will be published today. The response concludes that the fundamentals of the access to information rights regime, provided by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), remain fit for purpose. The Scottish Government therefore does not propose to introduce new primary legislation to amend FOI law within the current session of the Scottish Parliament.

Rather, the Scottish Government proposes to address issues which have been raised in the post-legislative scrutiny process within the framework provided by the existing primary legislation – including through the use of existing secondary legislation making powers.

This includes a commitment to a future consultation on extension of FOISA to private and third sector care homes, and care at home services, with that consultation to take place once the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has been passed by the Parliament. The full response will become available shortly on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835217252

Question reference: S6O-02823

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to ensure that any subsidised bus routes are maintained.

Question reference: S6W-21843

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the impact in Scotland of the Statutory Health Attestation that will be required from 13 December 2023 to certify exports of POAO (Products of Animal Origin) to the European Union.

This new certification procedure is a direct consequence of the choices made by the UK Government when it negotiated a hard Brexit from the EU. As such, the Scottish Government is left with no alternative but to implement these new requirements. Scottish Government officials continue to work with all of the UK’s administrations to ensure that these changes are as simple as they can possibly be and to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and burdens.

As part of these new requirements for export, livestock keepers must demonstrate that an annual veterinary farm visit has taken place. Membership to a recognised farm assurance scheme automatically fulfils this requirement. To support our livestock keepers, exporters and stakeholders who are not part of a recognised farm assurance scheme, the Scottish Government is working together with ScotEID to implement an innovative digital solution. This will allow annual veterinary visits to be recorded digitally and be readily available on the ScotEID system throughout the food chain journey. Furthermore, Scottish Government officials have been corresponding and meeting with stakeholders to understand their concerns and discuss the upcoming changes that will be taking place. As soon as the digital solution is finalised, full guidance documents pertaining to the situation in Scotland will be issued.

Question reference: S6O-02590

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-02505

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its Programme for Government 2023-24 will have on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Question reference: S6W-20264

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on work in relation to addressing health inequalities within the national screening programmes.

Inequalities within the screening programmes are complex issues; tackling them will require sustained focus over the longer term, and an acceptance that improvements are likely to be incremental. This in turn will require leadership, collaboration and ambition, and this work must be a priority for Scotland’s national screening programmes, and everyone who supports them.

The National Screening Oversight (NSO) with the support of Scottish Government have developed the Equity in Screening Strategy which, combined with an action plan, will be published on 27 th July 2023. The vision of the strategy is for equitable access for all eligible individuals, across the full screening pathway.

The Strategy will launch alongside the Equity in Screening Network, which will support the strategy by capturing local and third sector research activity, and allow individuals that work across screening to share evidence, best practice and learning around screening inequalities.

Question reference: S6O-02432

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what facilities the recently-opened HMP Stirling will provide to ensure the rehabilitation of female prisoners upon their release.

Question reference: S6W-18830

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the availability of funding for community groups and local authorities to build and provide Changing Places toilets.

We published our Changing Places Toilets: Planning Guide and an accompanying easy read in November 2022 for people who are planning to develop Changing Places Toilets now.

Timeframes and processes for the distribution of funding for the construction of Changing Places Toilets are still being finalised. Further information on this investment will be available over the course of this parliamentary term.