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: S6O-01720

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what help it is providing to suicide support services, including SAMH and its recently launched campaign, Ask Them About Suicide, ahead of the festive season.

Question reference: S6O-01657

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the construction of the new women’s prison facility to replace HMP Cornton Vale in Stirling.

Question reference: S6O-01614

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any further engagement is planned with the UK Government regarding the proposed Rural Visa Pilot scheme.

Question reference: S6F-01563

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that gender-based violence is being tackled in Scotland, in light of the start tomorrow of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.

Question reference: S6W-12353

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its public consultation on potential restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland.

I have today published our public consultation paper on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland, as set out in our Programme for Government 2022-23. This is available at https://consult.gov.scot/alcohol-policy/alcohol-advertising-and-promotion .

Restricting alcohol advertising and promotion is a crucial element in changing our troubled relationship with alcohol and is one of the World Health Organization’s three best buys to reduce alcohol-related harms.

Alcohol advertising and promotion is seen by, and appealing to, large volumes of children and young people in Scotland. International evidence shows that seeing alcohol marketing is associated with an increased likelihood that children and young people will start to drink alcohol or, if they already drink alcohol, drink more . This is harmful to them in both the short and long term.

It is also likely that alcohol advertising and promotion influences higher-risk drinkers and can be a trigger for those in recovery to drink alcohol and relapse . This is in addition to the likely impact marketing has on our wider society, by normalising alcohol and presenting it as fun, sociable and commonplace. Young people in Scotland , as well as people in recovery and their families , have told us directly that they see a lot of alcohol marketing and want us to take action to tackle this

The consultation paper is wide ranging and covers potential restrictions on all of the major sources of exposure to alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland, including advertising on TV, outdoors, through sports and events sponsorship as well as through branded merchandise and online.

The aim of any restrictions would be to reduce exposure to marketing generally in Scotland which should in turn reduce initiation of drinking and levels of consumption in young people, reduce the potential of relapse for those in recovery and reduce attractiveness of alcohol, and thereby consumption, amongst the general population.

We are seeking responses from all stakeholders to fully understand their views and any concerns they may have about any proposed restrictions. The Scottish Government will be carrying out a programme of engagement with key stakeholders throughout the consultation period to ensure all voices are heard.

Question reference: S6O-01551

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to highlight the risks of drink spiking as the Christmas party season approaches.

Question reference: S6O-01494

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what investment is being made in safe active travel routes in the Stirling area, including any missing links in the National Cycle Network at Manor Powis and between Doune and Callander.

Question reference: S6W-11257

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect users of pre-payment energy meters during winter, in light of reports that they could be impacted first in an energy cost crisis.

We know that households using prepayment meters are at particular risk of self-rationing and self-disconnection this winter.

While many of the powers in relation to price setting in the energy market remain with the UK Government, the Scottish Government is using all of its available powers to help these vulnerable consumers. The Emergency Budget Review will extend our Fuel Insecurity Fund through 2022-23, making available a further £10million to Third Sector Organisations to support those facing fuel insecurity. We have also provided an additional £1.2million to advice services across Scotland to enhance support available to those seeking advice on paying their bills and energy efficiency.

Question reference: S6W-11258

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with the UK Government to ensure that people in rural areas in Scotland, who may not be connected to mains gas and are reliant on heating oil, are supported during winter.

I know that many consumers in rural and remote areas of Scotland, already facing higher living costs rely upon heating oil to heat their homes.

I am very disappointed at the inadequate support announced by the UK Government for users of these fuels, especially since the additional £100 offered does not come close to the increases in heating oil and LPG costs seen in recent months.

We have raised these concerns directly with the UK Government, and will continue to do so.

Question reference: S6W-10969

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, in light of reports from First Bus of just a 50% uptake since the scheme went live in January 2022.

We’re seeing many young people already benefitting from the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, with well over 20 million journeys having been made since its commencement in January. We have now launched a national marketing campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the scheme and, ultimately, encourage more young people to apply and enjoy the benefits of free bus travel.

Transport Scotland has also provided communications and promotional resources for stakeholders at freebus.scot, and these have been shared with over 300 public, private and third sector organisations who work with young people and families, and within the transport sector.