Chamber and committees

As referenced in the answer to S6W-34140 on 20 February 2025, the format in which locus information is recorded and in particular whether the locus for each case is a trunk road or otherwise would require a manual check of each case. This question cannot be readily answered by COPFS.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Our catering services contractor does not hold data on straws that were purchased prior to 2022. We do not procure plastic straws for use in the catering services, the table below shows the data held for paper and metal straws.

The total number of Parliament passes that have been reported as lost or stolen for the last five calendar years are set out below:

• 2020 – 14
• 2021 – 12
• 2022 – 15
• 2023 – 20
• 2024 – 21
  

These numbers do not include passes that were reported as lost or stolen but were subsequently found.

There are at present five ongoing Scottish statutory public inquiries, and a number of UK statutory inquires which could seek evidence from ministers in Scotland. The Edinburgh Trams Inquiry reported in September 2023 following hearings in 2017-2018 and the Penrose Inquiry reported in 2015, albeit from the records available we do not believe that external legal advice was taken in connection with those inquiries which falls within the scope of this question. The amount spent by the Scottish Government on external legal advice, including representation for current and former ministers, in relation to public inquiries is as follows:

The following table shows the overall speeding numbers grouped by financial year reported. Charges have been identified using the Scottish Government classification of level 2 of speeding. The format in which locus information is recorded and in particular whether the locus for each case is a trunk road or otherwise would require a manual check of each case. This information is not readily available.

The information held by our Building Maintenance, Mechanical and Engineering contractor, shows the following spend on TVs via the FM Works Requests budget.

2015-2016 - £1317.60

2016-2017 - £1784.60

2017-2018 - £296

2018-2019 - £6393.88

2019-2020 - £5075.71

2020-2021 - £11,160.00

2021-2022 - £12,133.18

2022-2023 - £6520.20

2023-2024 - £699.56

The beekeeper takes measures to prevent diseases and pests, maintains the hygiene and safety of the bee colonies  and ensures that all disease prevention treatments are provided. This includes checking for notifiable pests and diseases, which if found would be reported to the Honey Bee Health Inspectors.

The beekeeper maintains accurate beekeeping records, carries out hive inspections during the summer months and provides appropriate care and/or preventative maintenance as required.

The total cost for gardening and landscaping maintenance services in the last five years including financial year 24-25 is as follows. Costs exclude VAT.

• 2024/25 - £17,435.56
• 2023/24 - £17,144.11
• 2022/23 - £16,067.58
• 2021/22 - £14,593.62
• 2020/21 - £14,168.56

Following a public consultation (https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/change-to-basis-of-pitch-uprating-consultation/), the Scottish Government has confirmed its intention to update the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to change the presumed basis of pitch fee uprating from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index, for both existing and future contracts.

We also propose to make a further change so that the statistical basis for uprating pitch fees can be amended by secondary rather than primary legislation in the future. Provision for the change was included in the Housing Scotland Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March 2024 and is currently at Stage 2. No new regulations are being considered.

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 encourage communication and consultation between residential mobile home site owners and residents. For example, there is a requirement for site owners to provide documentary evidence in support and explanation of fees. There is a requirement for site owners to consult occupiers about improvements to the site in general and in particular about those which the owner wishes to be taken in to account in determining the new pitch fee. There is also a requirement to consult a qualifying residents association, if there is one, on all matters which relate to the operation and management of the site, or improvements to the site, which may affect occupiers directly or indirectly.