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: S5W-30925

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it is providing to local authorities to ensure that schools take account of the needs of pupils with visual impairment when implementing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including those related to social distancing.

I recognise that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs such as a visual impairment, will require support to return to school. Schools and local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the individual needs of their pupils and have been working hard to develop plans to do so as schools reopen.

Following the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 30 July confirming the reopening of schools on 11 August, accompanying guidance to support a safe return to school for all children, young people and staff was published on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-preparing-start-new-school-term-august-2020/ . The guidance takes full account of the scientific advice received and the advice of the Education Recovery Group and other key stakeholders.

We have also published continuity in learning guidance, which sets out the latest advice on what education authorities and schools should consider for pupils with additional support needs, including those with complex support needs. This focuses on reviewing individualised plans in discussion with parents, carers, children and young people, with support from partner services. It also recognises that some children and young people will have new needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the guidance outlines, individual provisions and interventions will require constant review to ensure they continue to meet children and young peoples’ learning and wellbeing needs as they return to school.

Question reference: S5W-30854

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the purpose is of the Memoranda of Understanding signed by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland with other countries; how many such memoranda involving the Commission (a) have been completed and (b) are under negotiation; what the average cost of concluding each memorandum was, and what its assessment is of the cost benefits of such arrangements to water consumers.

As a body designated under the Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland is working to support the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation initiative. The Commission makes a positive contribution to this initiative through collaborating with other regulators and water industry stakeholders, sharing Scotland’s expertise and best practice and to build capacity in economic regulation and water sector governance. As a founding member of the European Water Regulators Network (WAREG), WICS has built strong working relationships with water regulators across Europe. The Commission’s collaboration with WAREG members has been the foundation for developing memoranda of understanding (MoU) with 8 European water regulators. This allows it to exchange information, share knowledge and build the capacity of staff across organisations. There are no MoUs currently under negotiation.

WICS does not hold detailed information on the average cost of completing each memorandum. However, all revenue generated from international projects makes a significant contribution to the Commission’s overheads. This brings direct benefit to Scottish customers by reducing the levy it would otherwise charge Scottish Water which is money that would ultimately come from customers in the form of higher bills. In addition, the insights learnt from international partners helps the Commission to stay at the forefront of regulatory best practice.

Question reference: S5W-30857

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government on how many days the work of the Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has been charged out under contracts entered into with other countries in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-30856

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Water Industry Commission for Scotland keeps separate accounts for any contracted work that it undertakes in other countries in support of the Hydro Nation initiative.

Question reference: S5W-30855

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the amount of time spent outside of Scotland each year on official duties by the Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, whether it considers that the post requires to continue to be filled on a full-time basis.

Question reference: S5W-30827

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many passengers have used Glasgow Prestwick Airport (a) in each year since 2013 and (b) to date in 2020.

Question reference: S5W-30823

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in grants or loans since it acquired the airport, setting out details of each occasion that funds were provided.

Question reference: S5W-30828

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much freight has been handled by Glasgow Prestwick Airport (a) in each year since 2013 and (b) to date in 2020.

Question reference: S5W-30850

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to offset the carbon emissions created by the domestic and international air travel of its Chief Executive in the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-30848

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it calculates the carbon use attributable to the domestic and international air travel of the Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has been in the last five years.

Year	No. days charged out (includes weekend working)
2016	0
2017	0
2018	55.3
2019	33.0
2020	31.3

Year	Loan funding (£m)
2013-14	4.5
2014-15	6.3
2015-16	10
2016-17	9.6
2017-18	8.0
2018-19	1.5
2019-20	3.5