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-19999

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the original cost was for the planned National Treatment Centre Grampian, and what the revised cost is as of 30 June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19976

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the original timetable was for the (a) completion and (b) opening of the planned National Treatment Centre Forth Valley, and what the revised timetable is as of 30 June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19975

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the original cost was for the planned National Treatment Centre Forth Valley, and what the revised cost is as of 30 June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19660

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 800 additional nurses, midwives and allied health professionals recruited from overseas, as announced on 8 June 2023, have started their posts, as of 1 July 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19519

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 July 2023

To ask Scottish Government how many inpatient SARS-CoV-2 samples, across all NHS boards, underwent whole-genome sequencing as part of any research trials.

Question reference: S6W-19520

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to SARS-CoV-2 swabs that underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS), how many were identified as having as their likely source of transmission (a) healthcare associated and (b) community-acquired infection, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) each month in which the WGS took place, since March 2020.

Question reference: S6W-19521

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to SARS-CoV-2 swabs that underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and the likely source of transmission was identified, what infection prevention and control action was taken as a result of the WGS data, in each month since March 2020.

Question reference: S6W-18707

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 26 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13489 by Clare Haughey on 19 January 2023, whether it will provide an update on the development of a Graduate Apprenticeship in Social Work.

The Scottish Government remain committed to investing in the professional development of our valued social services workforce. A Graduate Apprenticeship for the profession is part of a range of options in consideration to widen access into social work. Officials are working with sector partners over the summer to provide Skills Development Scotland and Scottish Funding Council with updated evidence of employer interest and demonstration of the added value of an additional work-based qualification route for the social work profession in Scotland by Autumn 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19525

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of Lord Braid's opinion on the judicial review of the City of Edinburgh Council's short-term lets licensing policy, what discussions it has had with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities regarding the possible implications for other short-term let licensing schemes in Scotland.

We continue to engage regularly with stakeholders including COSLA, SOLAR and licensing authorities. We have highlighted the JR decision to licensing authorities and it is for them to consider this in the context of their own local policies.

During the development of short-term lets regulations between 2019 and 2021, we considered alternatives to licensing including whether regulations (made under Part 8 of the 2004 Act) might extend landlord registration to cover short-term lets. These alternatives were found to be unsuitable and could not deliver on all aspects of our short-term lets policy. A significant disadvantage of using a system designed for a different purpose is it imposes constraints on short-term lets regulation, and we consider it an integral aspect for local areas to be able to include additional conditions to address issues relevant to individual cases and local areas. Using the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, in particular, would also have had broader implications for short-term lets in the context of other legislation, for example the Tenancy Deposit Scheme regulations and Letting Agent Regulation, as well as restricted appeals to be dealt with by the Housing Tribunal, which would not have been sustainable.

Development of the short-term lets licensing legislation took place over four years with extensive consultation and engagement with stakeholders. This included through three consultations. Alternatives were considered but these do not provide the same level of provision as licensing. The approach that was taken provides powers to local authorities to set additional conditions to regulate the short-term let sector to empower them to implement a system that works for their area, which addresses the local needs and concerns of each local authority.

Question reference: S6W-19527

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 19 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it provided powers to local authorities to set additional conditions to regulate the short-term let sector, but not for the long-term market, including in relation to a recognised standard of assurance about the safety status of the accommodation.