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-34569

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to establish an independent body to oversee and regulate park home sites.

Question reference: S6W-34565

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure transparency in the fees and charges imposed on park home residents.

The Mobile Homes Act 1983 controls the consumer rights of mobile home owners in relation to their pitch. The terms of the Written Statement, set out under the Mobile Homes Act 1983, include a number of provisions to ensure the transparency of fees and charges.

There is a requirement for site owners to provide documentary evidence in support and explanation of pitch fees, charges for gas, electricity, water or sewerage and other charges, costs or expenses. There is also a process set out for annual review of pitch fees which requires the site owner to issue a written notice setting out the proposed increase in pitch fees 28 days in advance of the review date. The notice must set out the services which are included in the pitch fee. The Written Statement also sets out what should be taken in to account in determining a new pitch fee, for example any sums expended on improvements since the last review date, and sets a presumption that the pitch fee does not increase or decrease by more than the rate of the retail prices index, unless this would be unreasonable.

Question reference: S6W-34568

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives are being introduced to improve the legal rights of park home residents.

Question reference: S6W-34570

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that park home residents have access to affordable and reliable legal advice.

The Law Society of Scotland provides information at https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/professional-support/legal-aid/ on how to access legal aid and how to identify a solicitor who has knowledge of their area.

Scottish Government officials have met with the Law Society of Scotland, along with the Scottish Confederation of Park Home Residents Associations, to discuss some of the difficulties residents have encountered in seeking to find a solicitor.

Question reference: S6W-34567

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that park home residents are informed about their rights and the protections available to them.

The Mobile Homes Act 1983 governs pitch agreements for permanent residential mobile home sites. It requires that the site owner provides a prospective resident with a copy of the Written Statement setting out the rights and responsibilities of both parties alongside other relevant information.

The Scottish Government published guidance (https://www.gov.scot/publications/guide-mobile-home-owners-scotland/) for mobile home owners in Scotland which explains the rights and responsibilities of residents of mobile homes sites.

The Scottish Government also publishes website information for mobile homes site residents and owners at https://www.mygov.scot/browse/housing-local-services/mobile-homes, which is in the process of being updated, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-34168

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers are employed on a (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) supply contract, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S6W-34170

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers have been signed off work due to stress in each year since 2018, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S6W-34612

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected lifespan is of any solar panels installed on government-owned buildings, and what the estimated cost is of their (a) maintenance and (b) eventual replacement.

The solar panels installed on core Scottish Government buildings have an output warranty of 25 years. The panels will continue to operate past 25 years, however their output will be lower than new panels. Maintenance costs are included in the overall building maintenance costs and cannot be disaggregated. The cost of replacing the panels at the end of their life cannot be estimated due to the timescales involved.

Question reference: S6W-34609

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many government-owned buildings have had solar panels installed, broken down by (a) department, (b) agency and (c) local authority area.

Scottish Government core owned estate has six buildings with solar panels installed.

They are in the following local authority areas:

The City of Edinburgh Council – 3 buildings (Victoria Quay, St Andrews House, SASA)

Scottish Borders Council – 1 building (Tweedbank)

Aberdeenshire Council – 1 building (Thainstone)

Argyll and Bute – 1 building (Cameron House, Oban)

The Scottish Government does not hold data on solar panels installed on buildings owned or occupied by its agencies or other public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-34614

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the installation of solar panels on government-owned buildings.

Installing solar panels on owned Scottish Government buildings will be considered as part of holistic approach to decarbonising our buildings. Feasibility studies will be carried out to look at the suitability of roof structures, roof orientation, available space and shading. Not all buildings will be suitable for installing solar panels. We will continue to pursue innovative solutions which may provide opportunities to support the broader energy transition.