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-29188

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place between Marine Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland in the year leading up to the 2024 General Election, and whether any discussions included the possibility of new borrowing powers being granted to the Crown Estate and any opportunity or implication of this for Crown Estate Scotland.

As Scottish Government sponsor directorate, the Marine Directorate meets regularly throughout the year with Crown Estate Scotland to maintain robust governance, accountability and positive relationships, ensuring the public corporation is effective, invests to grow and maintain the value of its assets, operates in line with Ministerial priorities and contributes to the public good. Discussions include considerations around the governance and operating model of Crown Estate Scotland to optimise the benefits the Scottish Crown Estate provides for Scotland and its communities.

Question reference: S6W-29187

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what policy development was undertaken by (a) Marine Scotland and (b) Crown Estate Scotland in the months leading up to the 2024 General Election in preparation for the prospect of Great British Energy being created and any strategic relationship and role that the Crown Estate in Scotland could have with Great British Energy in delivering accelerated growth in renewable energy production within Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-03709

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it plans to achieve its net zero and just transition goals.

Question reference: S6W-29191

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers considered the option of undertaking an independent review of the Community Right to Buy, and, if so, what the reasons were for deciding against this option.

Question reference: S6W-29189

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how its review of the Community Right to Buy will examine the role of the Scottish Government in the administrative processes of the Community Right to Buy and the internal legal interpretations of the statute and court decisions.

The review will examine all aspects of the four existing community rights to buy - Community Right to Buy, Crofting Community Right to Buy, Community Right to Buy Abandoned, Neglected or Detrimental Land, and the Right to Buy Land to Further Sustainable Development. This will include Scottish Government’s legislative and administrative processes and the various interactions between the Scottish Government, community groups, landowners and stakeholder organisations.

Question reference: S6W-29190

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the four most recent applications for a late registration for a Community Right to Buy have reportedly been refused.

The reasons for not approving the four most recent late applications are detailed in the decision notice for each. These can be found in the Register of Community Interest in Land (RCIL), which is held on the Registers of Scotland website. It is free to access. The four cases were:

Broomhill Community Trust Hub Limited (Ref:CB00263) – September 2023

Kinlochard (Cottages) Residents Association Ltd (Ref: CB00248) – January 2021

Kinlochard (Cottages) Residents Association Ltd (Ref: CB00247) – November 2020

Carty Port Community Company (Ref: CB00234) - April 2018

Question reference: S6W-28995

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next quarterly report for the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund.

Question reference: S6W-28996

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the next Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund checkpoint will be.

Question reference: S6W-28126

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the availability of hyperbaric treatment facilities within the NHS for offshore divers working in waters off the Scottish coastline.

Review of NHS Hyperbaric Medicine Services in Scotland is ongoing. Scottish Government officials have been in contact with NHS National Services Scotland as commissioner of these services and NHS Grampian who provide and co-ordinate hyperbaric medical services in Scotland.

NHS Grampian have continued to engage with the private service provider in Oban and agreed to undertake further review of the facility. This took place in early May. Findings from the visit are being compiled and analysed before next steps are determined.

Discussions with stakeholders regarding the service are an operational matter, however we are being kept updated as review of the situation continues and have been assured risk is minimised, service capacity is in line with demand and plans are in place for the timely transfer and treatment of patients.

Question reference: S6W-28128

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of (a) the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council, (b) the oil and gas industry and (c) trade unions to discuss employment rates for people from Scotland working in the offshore energy industry.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with all three of these stakeholder groups, as well as with other bodies, to discuss a range of issues related to ensuring a just energy transition, including rates of employment and other workforce considerations.

The Scottish Government routinely meets with the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) and other stakeholders to discuss a range of issues including skills and workforce. The last SOWEC meeting was held on 20 June 2024.

In relation to oil and gas industry, I met with Offshore Energies UK on 20 March 2024. The First Minister also met with representatives from a number of individual businesses in Aberdeen, including oil and gas companies, to discuss the energy transition on 17 May 2024.

In relation to trade unions, I met with representatives from the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC), UNISON, Unite, RMT and GMB on 29 February 2024. Ministers have also subsequently met with trade unions on matters related to transition in Scotland’s onshore energy system. Scottish Government officials also meet monthly, most recently on 3 June 2024, with representatives of STUC to discuss issues relevant to ensuring a just transition. Previous engagement with trade unions has been fundamental to our policy thinking about a just transition to date, including through the creation of the Just Transition Commission. The Scottish Government has committed to providing annual funding of £100k to support just transition capacity within the trade union movement, which will ensure this vital input continues, as we get on with delivering good, green jobs and a truly just transition.