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-02531

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union to discuss the impact of any reduction in budget and services on communities, including in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S6W-20751

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce so-called "recreational vaping".

We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers.

Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

Officials are working to develop further action in this area, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

Any action that we seek to take will build on the regulations that are already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under-18s.

We are also supporting work with young people to help them understand the risks related to vaping.

We continue to work with the UK Government, alongside Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, over joint approaches where appropriate and welcome their commitment to help address underage vaping.

The Zero Waste Scotland report on the environmental impacts of single use vapes highlighted an increase in the number of people using vapes in Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to taking action on single use vapes, which includes our Programme for Government commitment to consult on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures. Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation, and informed by a stakeholder roundtable and engagement with the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Question reference: S6W-20754

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many working groups, reference groups, policy sub groups, network groups and other groups it has set up in relation to its delivery of the Women's Health Plan; what the full name of each group is, and who each group reports to.

There are two standing groups which support the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan .

The Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board provides strategic oversight for the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan programme and reports to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. An officials’ working group referred to as a Delivery Group supports the Programme Board.

There are a number of networks and short-term sub-groups which are taking forward particular priorities identified in the Plan. More information about some of this work can be found in our recent interim progress update .

Question reference: S6O-02502

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to invest in community midwifery services to ensure that they are consistently delivered in areas of need rather than in centralised, and often hard-to-access, locations.

Question reference: S6W-20444

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement to update the Parliament on progress in addressing racism in Scottish cricket at the earliest opportunity.

The Scottish Government have no current plans to publish a Ministerial statement.

Parliamentary scrutiny has been possible through two sessions the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has held with sport scotland and Cricket Scotland. In addition sport scotland publish quarterly updates on progress against the Changing The Boundaries report. The most recent update was published on 25 July and can be accessed on the sport scotland website.

We will continue to work with sport scotland and Cricket Scotland to ensure all recommendations in the Changing The Boundaries report are progressed and ensure lasting change within the sport.

Question reference: S6W-20445

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confidence that all necessary steps are being taken to root out racism in Scottish cricket.

The Scottish Government is clear that there is no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in sport, or indeed wider society and we are working to ensure there is real and lasting change on this issue.

While there is clearly a long way to go, there have been some significant positive steps taken towards delivering change within the sport in recent months, and the Scottish Government has confidence that the necessary steps are being taken.

To ensure transparency around the progress made against the recommendations, sport scotland are publishing quarterly progress updates. The most recent update was published on 25 July and can be accessed on the sport scotland website.

Question reference: S6W-20446

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how regularly it meets with sportscotland to receive updates on its efforts to tackle racism in Scottish cricket.

I have met with sport scotland and Cricket Scotland on a number of occasions to discuss progress against the Changing the Boundaries report and will be meeting the interim CEO on 21 September.

The issue is also regularly discussed at monthly meetings between myself and sport scotland’s Chair and Chief Executive.

In addition, Scottish Government officials meet on a fortnightly basis specifically to discuss the work resulting for the Changing the Boundaries report as well as the issue of racism more widely.

Question reference: S6W-20447

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role that it and relevant agencies and bodies have played regarding the UK and Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2028.

The Scottish Government is working in partnership with governments and football associations across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland on the joint bid to host EURO 2028. This bid was submitted jointly by the five football associations of the UK and Ireland on 12 April, 2023. The winning bid will be announced on 10 October, 2023.

Together with the Scottish Football Association and partners across the bid nations, we are continuing to develop legacy, sustainability and governance plans, in the event of a successful bid. UEFA EURO 2028 will have a significant global reach and has the potential to leave a positive lasting legacy in Scotland by generating significant economic, environmental and social benefits. The bid vision – Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future’ – is a promise to help the Football Associations and UEFA grow a more diverse and inclusive game.

Question reference: S6W-20262

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its plans for a National Care Service (NCS), whether it has given consideration to the provision of support for any care home residents who, during the period between any legislation being passed by the Parliament and it coming into force, are in the process of selling their home to fund their care, and, if so, whether such individuals would receive financial support so as not to have to sell their home, and what measures would be put in place where a charge is imposed by a local authority that is greater than the value of such an individual's property.

We are committed to delivering a National Care Service (NCS) to improve quality, fairness and consistency of provision that meets individuals’ needs. The NCS will have equality, dignity and human rights at its heart and will empower people across Scotland to make the choices that are right for them.

In the current system an individual can defer payment of part of their contribution to care home fees to avoid the need to sell their homes up front to meet these costs, this is a legal agreement between the individual and the council. Within the current system there are also provisions in place in the form of set capital levels to ensure an individual is not be charged more than the assessed level of resource they have.

Question reference: S6W-20063

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be an acceptable distance between existing residences and wind farm developments, and what its position is on whether the number of separate wind farms in proximity to a residential area should be taken into account when judging the suitability of a new wind farm development.

There is no recommended minimum distance between onshore wind turbines and residential properties. Policy 11: Energy of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) states that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations in the decision-making process. Additionally, the policy requires that project design and mitigation demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker and cumulative impacts will be addressed. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments.

Cumulative impacts are specifically referenced in Policy 11 and are a consideration in the determination of wind farm proposals. Furthermore, Planning Circular 1/2017: Environmental Impact Assessment regulations sets out guidance relating to the consideration of cumulative effects.