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-16888

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enhance the financial support available to (a) individual developers and (b) community groups for Rural and Islands Housing Fund projects, in the event that the introduction of a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard adds additional costs to construction in rural and island areas.

Question reference: S6W-17222

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the April 2023 SkyeConnect survey, which reportedly found that 10% of self-catering or bed and breakfast businesses will close due to short-term let licensing, and that a further 20% are considering leaving the sector, and what impact it anticipates this could have on the availability of tourism accommodation in island communities.

Short-term let licensing and powers to designate control areas allow local authorities to strike a balance between the economic benefits of short-term lets and the needs and concerns of communities in their areas. It is for local authorities to use the powers available to them to achieve the right balance in their areas recognising the need for a thriving tourist economy, as well as having sufficient homes for people to live in.

The short-term let licensing scheme will ensure that all short-term lets in Scotland comply with basic safety standards. Many hosts will already be following these standards as a matter of compliance with existing law or best practice. We do not consider them to be onerous. Whether someone is sharing their own home or letting a portfolio of properties, in rural Skye or in central Edinburgh, safety matters.

Question reference: S6W-17221

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many businesses (a) have closed and (b) are considering closing as a result of short-term let licensing.

Question reference: S6T-01340

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of the grounding of MV Pentalina and any impact on ferry services to and from Orkney.

Question reference: S6W-16682

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16134 by Patrick Harvie on 28 March 2023, what specific delivery programmes and support are available to help people to move immediately to zero or low emissions heating systems, in the event there is a sudden unexpected failure of a fossil fuel boiler, and what the (a) average and (b) shortest time was in (i) 2020-21, (ii) 2021-22 and (iii) 2022-23 between initial inquiries or applications being made and financial support being provided through each of these schemes.

The Scottish Government’s heat and energy efficiency schemes are not designed to act as an emergency response for households who have experienced a sudden failure in their heating system.

Support is available through Scottish Government schemes for households who want to make the move to zero direct emission heating systems, including through the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme and the Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS) Scheme.

The HES Grant and Loan Scheme offers homeowners grant funding of up to £7,500, with an additional £7,500 of funding available as an interest free loan to support the installation of zero direct emissions heating. The scheme is delivered through a consumer-led model where funding is applied for by the household directly, who in turn is responsible for sourcing an approved installer and paying funding to them once works are complete.

The WHS Scheme is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme, designed to make homes warmer for those living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty through the installation of insulation and heating measures into individual properties. The scheme does not provide funding directly to applicants, but is claimed directly by the managing agent after the installation of measures. Measures are entirely grant funded in the majority of cases.

Question reference: S6W-16240

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it can request that Circularity Scotland voluntarily responds to any requests for information regarding the company's role in the operation of the Deposit Return Scheme in line with the principles of Freedom of Information legislation.

As a private company, Circularity Scotland Ltd is not obligated to comply with requests under Freedom of Information legislation. Circularity Scotland already engage with requests regarding their role in the Deposit Return Scheme, including providing evidence before the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 28 March 2023, and will be holding a Parliamentary drop-in session 03 May 2023. CSL also engage regularly with Ministers and officials as part of wider DRS assurance structures.

Question reference: S6W-16238

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons Circularity Scotland was not established using a similar model to Crown Estate Scotland and Scottish Water.

Question reference: S6W-16236

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the arrangement whereby the Deposit Return Scheme administrator is not subject to Freedom of Information legislation currently meets the principles of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents.

The Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents (also known as the ‘Tromsø Convention’) relates to official documents held by public authorities. Whilst the UK is not a signatory to the Convention, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of public access to official information held by Scottish public authorities. However, Circularity Scotland is a private not for profit company, and not a Scottish public authority.

Question reference: S6W-16237

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on relations between the Deposit Return Scheme administrator and producers where Circularity Scotland is not subject to Freedom of Information legislation.

Just like similar schemes around the world, Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being delivered and funded by industry. It is for them to determine the appropriate manner in which to meet their obligations under the Regulations, including whether or not to establish a private company to act as a scheme administrator.

Given that it is already standard that private companies are not covered by Freedom of Information legislation, and producers themselves formed and administer Circularity Scotland, the Scottish Government does not consider an assessment of any potential impact on relations between the DRS administrator and producers where Circularity Scotland is not subject to Freedom of Information legislation to be necessary.

Question reference: S6W-16235

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which minister decided that Circularity Scotland, as scheme administrator of the Deposit Return Scheme, would not be subject to Freedom of Information legislation, and on what date this decision was taken.

The Cabinet Secretary for The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform announced in Parliament on 8 May 2019 that Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) would be a privately operated scheme, in line with international best practice. This approach was then approved by a parliamentary vote on 13 May 2020.

These regulations enabled any public or private organisation to apply to be approved by the Scottish Ministers as a scheme administrator.

Only Circularity Scotland has applied to be a scheme administrator. Their application was considered in line with the regulations.

Any other eligible application received will be considered by the Scottish Ministers.