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-30167

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 10 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to improving financial support for adoptive parents and families.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that adoptive families receive the support they need, when and where they need it throughout life. Despite the challenging fiscal environment, we are providing over £770,000 to organisations delivering services and support to adoptive families and practitioners in 2024-25.

As outlined in the Promise Implementation Plan update published on 19 September 2024, we will publish an adoption vision statement which sets out the place of adoption in Scotland today and our strategic priorities moving forward. This includes a focus on understanding the needs and priorities in relation to improving the consistency of post-adoption support across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-30169

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 10 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to (a) improve the consistency of data on the (i) number and (ii) outcomes of adoption placements across local authorities and (b) start monitoring any new data in relation to adoption placements to improve the understanding of adoption in Scotland.

The National Records of Scotland, a non-Ministerial office of the Scottish Administration, publishes data tables annually, including in relation to the number of adoptions per year in Scotland.

In addition, the Care Inspectorate publishes an annual fostering and adoption statistical bulletin which outlines data from local authorities’ annual returns, including in relation to their adoption services.

The Scottish Government uses this data, and direct engagement with stakeholders, to continually improve the understanding of adoption in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-30168

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 10 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to update the current allowance system for adoptive parents and families in order to improve consistency across local authorities, including through the potential introduction of a national set rate, as is the case with the Scottish Recommended Allowance payments for foster and kinship carers.

We are not currently considering the introduction of a national set rate for adoption allowances. A National Review of Care Allowances was published in 2018 which highlighted that each local authority is able to develop their own adoption allowance scheme within the parameters of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (‘the 2007 Act’). Under the 2007 Act, local authorities have a duty to assess someone’s need for adoption support services and to provide this support.

The Adoption Support Services and Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (‘the 2009 Regulations’) are designed to ensure that those persons identified in section 1 of the 2007 Act can access and receive the ongoing support for an adoption required to ensure the improved outcomes associated with adoption. It is the duty of local authorities to implement these duties to ensure that adoptive families receive this support.

The Regulations outline the circumstances in which adoption allowances may be paid and the factors that an adoption agency must take into account. Adoption allowances are not a universal entitlement, but are based on a child’s current and potential future needs.

Question reference: S6W-30516

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its energy policy and strategy, what its position is on the reported calls on the UK Government by Scottish Renewables and other trade bodies to rule out zonal pricing under the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), and to instead commit to a Reformed National Market (RNM) programme.

Question reference: S6W-30507

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 October 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Office of National Statistics mid-year population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries for mid-2023, which shows that Scotland experienced a natural population decline of 19,100 between 2022 and 2023.

Question reference: S6W-30171

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 8 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Adoption Support Services and Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2009 during the current parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government has no plans to undertake a review of The Adoption Support Services and Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2009, however we continue to keep adoption policy and practice under review. This is in close collaboration with stakeholders, as we work collectively to Keep the Promise by 2030. As part of this we will publish an adoption vision statement which sets out the place of adoption in Scotland today and our strategic priorities moving forward. This includes a focus on understanding the needs and priorities in relation to improving the consistency of post-adoption support across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-30170

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 8 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the Adoption Support Services and Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2009, and what conclusion any such review reached regarding the efficacy of the regulations in providing proportionate and equitable support for adoptive families.

A National Review of Care Allowances was published in 2018 which highlighted that each local authority is able to develop their own adoption allowance scheme within the parameters of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (‘the 2007 Act’). Under the 2007 Act, local authorities have a duty to assess someone’s need for adoption support services and to provide this support.

Adoption agencies should ensure that prospective adopters are made aware at the earliest opportunity of the adoption process about the purpose of an adoption allowance, as well as the process for applying.

In addition, the Adoption Support Services and Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (‘the 2009 Regulations’) are designed to ensure that those persons identified in section 1 of the 2007 Act can access and receive the ongoing support for an adoption required to ensure the improved outcomes associated with adoption. It is the duty of local authorities to implement these duties to ensure that adoptive families receive this support.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that adoptive families receive the support they need, when and where they need it throughout life. This includes the provision of over £770,000 funding in 2024/25 to organisations delivering services and support to adoptive families and practitioners.

Question reference: S6W-30481

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement (a) it and (b) its agencies have had with (i) the New Gorbals Housing Association and (ii) Glasgow City Council regarding the development of the North Laurieston regeneration masterplan.

Question reference: S6W-30057

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to deliver the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway, in light of the reported delay in implementation being cited as a concern in the Scottish Veterans Commissioner's 2024 progress report, and whether its delivery is expected to be further delayed following its emergency spending controls being put in place for 2024-25.

The Veterans Mental Health Advisory Group has been established to oversee the development of the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing pathway and the implementation of the principles laid out in the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan. The Advisory Group is chaired by Dr Lynne Taylor, the Scottish Government’s Principal Psychology Advisor. It held its inaugural meeting in March 2024 and has met another three times since. The Advisory Group has agreed the preferred model of delivery for the Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Pathway and will discuss further details when it meets on 14 October. This preferred model of delivery will then be recommended to Scottish Ministers for approval.

Two sub-groups, the Operational Working Group and the Stakeholder Network, have been established to ensure there is continued stakeholder engagement, from a broad range of partners, as the plans for implementation are evolved by the Advisory Group. The main remit of the Operational Group is to consider the operational and local requirements for the delivery of the pathway as well as determining where there are gaps in service and where there are established, effective practices, across Scotland. The wider Stakeholder Network will assess the recommendations of the Advisory Group and Operational Working Group and provide feedback.

The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing the principles of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan and to ensuring that all veterans living in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, including safe, effective and person-centred healthcare. The work to develop the new mental health pathway will be progressed this financial year with the intention that tests of change will be actioned at the earliest opportunity. We do not anticipate any significant impact from current spending controls.

Question reference: S6W-30051

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed the eligibility criteria for dental practices to access Scottish Dental Access Initiative grants, and what its position is on whether the eligibility criteria are proportionate to meet the needs of dental practices providing NHS care in remote and rural areas.