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-24844

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corpora on 7 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to ensure that schools from all areas of Scotland are not prevented from visiting the Scottish Parliament due to high travel costs.

The SPCB provides a free school engagement programme. Our Education Services staff deliver sessions and tours at the Parliament, online, and visit schools across Scotland. Digital and outreach education sessions are popular and especially appreciated by those who don’t want to travel to Edinburgh or who find coming to Edinburgh to be too challenging. Last school year, we reached schools in 69 out of 73 constituencies, and expect to reach all constituencies by the end of June 2024.

The SPCB commissioned a review into how best to deliver our education services in the most effective and inclusive way post Covid. As part of this review, our education team has engaged with schools from across Scotland to fully understand their barriers to accessing our services.

We know from this that the cost of travel can be a significant barrier, and similarly so can time out of the classroom, support availability, and transport options. There is no single solution that addresses all barriers and we have asked officials to undertake some further work. The SPCB will consider the matter again later in 2024.

Question reference: S6O-03054

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in the next financial year to boost the confidence of those operating in the business sector and to promote entrepreneurship.

Question reference: S6W-23990

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the rates of migration from (a) the rest of the UK to Scotland and (b) Scotland to the rest of the UK, (i) in terms of absolute numbers and (ii) as a percentage of each respective population, since 2000.

I have asked Janet Egdell, Chief Executive of the National Records of Scotland (NRS) to respond. Her response is:

National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish migration flows as part of their mid-year population estimates. Estimates for in, out and net migration between Scotland and the rest of the UK (RUK), as well as net migration as a percentage of the population, can be seen in the following table.

In, out and net migration between Scotland and the rest of the UK (RUK), mid-2000 to mid-2021

Mid-year (30 June)	Inflow to Scotland from RUK	Outflow from Scotland to RUK	Net migration to Scotland from RUK	Net migration as a percentage of Scotland's Population	Net migration as a Percentage of RUK Population
2000	48,700	55,400	-6,700	-0.13%	-0.01%
2001	54,900	51,500	3,400	0.07%	0.01%
2002	54,400	49,700	4,700	0.09%	0.01%
2003	54,300	47,300	7,000	0.14%	0.01%
2004	61,900	46,400	15,500	0.30%	0.03%
2005	57,300	44,800	12,500	0.24%	0.02%
2006	53,300	44,400	8,900	0.17%	0.02%
2007	51,500	42,700	8,800	0.17%	0.02%
2008	53,300	41,800	11,500	0.22%	0.02%
2009	45,400	41,300	4,100	0.08%	0.01%
2010	45,000	41,700	3,300	0.06%	0.01%
2011	43,700	40,800	2,900	0.05%	0.01%
2012	45,100	42,100	3,000	0.06%	0.01%
2013	47,700	39,800	7,900	0.15%	0.01%
2014	49,200	39,700	9,600	0.18%	0.02%
2015	47,200	38,800	8,400	0.16%	0.01%
2016	46,300	37,500	8,800	0.16%	0.01%
2017	47,600	37,100	10,500	0.19%	0.02%
2018	47,700	37,700	10,000	0.18%	0.02%
2019	47,500	37,400	10,000	0.18%	0.02%
2020	41,800	32,800	9,000	0.16%	0.01%
2021	56,200	47,300	8,900	0.16%	0.01%

Note: Percentages have been calculated using rounded totals and may therefore differ from other published figures.

Sources: Total Migration to or from Scotland | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk) ; Population Estimates Time Series Data | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk) ; Population estimates time series dataset - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Question reference: S6W-24375

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential fire risks associated with electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging points, including any risk of fires in multi-storey car parks.

It is the responsibility of the organisation that fitted the EV charging point(s) to ensure that they are fitted to the correct standard, meeting any regulations and restrictions associated with such devices. This should also be informed by a risk assessment carried out by a competent risk assessor. It is the responsibility of Local Authority Building Control to verify construction projects against the relevant requirements.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service proactively assess the risks of lithium-ion batteries in buildings through incident analysis and provides information and training to operational crews. Where appropriate, businesses and communities are provided with further safety information and guidance.

In addition, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue to engage with the Scottish Government and other partners to consider emerging technologies and research relating to electric vehicle fires.

Question reference: S6W-24315

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that young people learn life skills and financial literacy while at school.

Curriculum for Excellence seeks to provide our young people with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to succeed as underpinned by its four capacities: successful learners; confident individuals; responsible citizens and effective contributors. Financial literacy and the life skills feature in learning about numeracy and maths, business studies and personal and social education.

Education Scotland provides support to schools through curriculum guidance, in particular the “ Building the Curriculum 4 ” publication which is relevant to literacy, numeracy and associated thinking skills; skills for health and wellbeing, including personal learning planning, career management skills, working with others, leadership and physical co-ordination and movement skills; and skills for enterprise and employability. Schools can also access the Skills for Development Framework from the Scottish Qualifications Authority relevant to their senior phase qualifications.

In the senior phase, financial literacy features in qualifications such as SCQF levels 4 & 5 Personal Finance awards and the Applications of Mathematics qualifications, which provides advanced learning in a range of core and practical maths skills; including finance. Education Scotland also provide a range of further professional learning resources on financial literacy. A range of organisations offer further support to schools to reinforce and enhance learning in financial education including HMRC, Barclays Lifeskills, NatWest MoneySense and the Young Enterprise ‘My Money’ Talks.

In relation to skills for life and work, examples of relevant senior phase qualifications and awards include: the SafeCert SCQF Level 6 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work; Prince's Trust SCQF Awards and certificates in Personal Development and Employability Skills; Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Youth Scotland Dynamic Youth Awards. These are in addition to a range of SQA technical and vocational qualifications. Total attainment for SQA Skills for Work, SQA Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards in 2023 was 72,120 passes, up 12.3% from 64,240 in 2022, the highest number on record.

Question reference: S6O-02993

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of its 2024-25 Budget on rural and island communities.

Question reference: S6O-02978

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any assessment of the potential impact of its Budget on its net zero ambitions.

Question reference: S6O-02949

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that teachers are fully equipped to safeguard the wellbeing of pupils.

Question reference: S6W-23580

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of new national parks.

On 12 October 2023, I announced the start of the nominations process and invited communities and organisations across the country to develop and submit their proposals for their area to become Scotland’s next National Park. Nominations are due to be submitted by 29 February 2024.

The Scottish Government is aware of at least 10 local groups who are actively engaging with their communities and developing proposals for a new National Park in their area.

Detailed guidance on the nomination and appraisal process for new National Parks has been published, and support is being made available to groups that are exploring or developing a proposal.

In Spring 2024 all nominations received by the deadline will be appraised against the criteria set out in the appraisal framework. This will inform the decision on which area or areas should go forward for designation as a new National Park.

In Summer 2024 the Scottish Government will commission a reporter to carry out a detailed investigation into the area or areas selected to become a new National Park. Based on the outcome of that investigation, secondary legislation is expected to be laid before the Parliament in order to designate at least one new National Park by 2026.

Question reference: S6W-23581

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any assessment of how effectively Scotland’s national parks are being governed.

Scotland’s two iconic national parks were established in 2000 as Non-Departmental Public Bodies and their governance arrangements were set down in Designation orders thereafter.

NDPBs operate at arms lengths from Scottish Government and are wholly accountable to the Scottish Parliament. The relationship with government is set out in a Framework Agreement between the body and Scottish Ministers, both national parks have these agreements in place.

Scottish Ministers regularly meet both National Parks to discuss a range of matters, including governance.