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-16021

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations of the Feeley Review of Adult Social Care that "priority is given to the establishing of the sector level body as a means to take forward the Fair Work recommendations in partnership" and "that body should also take the lead in creating national sector level collective bargaining of terms and conditions".

The Scottish Government have fully accepted the findings of the Feeley Review and we are working in partnership with stakeholders to implement its key recommendations. The Scottish Government are not waiting for the National Care Service to be established before we take action and we have continued to progress a number of key projects to take forward and improve Fair Work principles, including providing an additional £100m to increase the minimum rate of pay for adult social care workers to £10.90 per hour. Work is already underway to develop pay and bargaining arrangements ahead of the introduction of the NCS.

Through the National Care Service (NCS), The Scottish Government is going to continue to take forward its commitments to Fair Work for the social care sector, and to improve pay and conditions for workers, including through of national sectoral bargaining.

Question reference: S6W-16020

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position regarding uprating the pay of social care workers to at least £15 per hour, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

From April 2023, adult social care workers delivering direct care in commissioned services will see their pay increase to a minimum of £10.90 per hour; in line with the Real Living Wage rate for the 2023-24 Financial Year. This represents a 14.7% increase for these workers in the last two years.

To increase the minimum pay rate for these workers from £10.90 per hour to £15 per hour could cost up to an additional £1.1bn. To increase pay to £15 per hour for all social care workers could cost up to an additional £1.7bn. There have never been greater pressures on public finances and the Scottish Government have continued to call on the UK Government to provide additional funding, including to take into account inflation. However, in the absence of this, we are having to make difficult choices.

Question reference: S6O-02095

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will next meet with representatives from the GMB trade union MSP staff branch.

Question reference: S6O-02089

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP surgeries are not currently accepting new patients.

Question reference: S6W-15014

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much money (a) the Serco Caledonian Sleeper and (b) ScotRail has received from Network Rail, following national strike days since July 2022, as a result of any indemnification arrangements.

Question reference: S6W-15673

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Environment and Land Reform has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.

Question reference: S6W-15662

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.

Question reference: S6W-15680

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.

Question reference: S6W-15668

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.

Question reference: S6W-15676

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Equalities and Older People has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.