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-15510

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken in the last five years on the impact of noise pollution on health.

Through Scotland’s implementation of the European Commission Environmental Noise Directive (Directive 2002/49/EC), Scottish Government ministers have a responsibility to produce noise maps of Scotland every five years. The fourth round of noise mapping is currently being undertaken. Action plans for the current round of noise mapping will be submitted in 2024 and will include the provision of information, consultation, and ultimate decision making on the issues of noise management.

Question reference: S6W-15506

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any analysis that it has undertaken in the last five years of the effectiveness of the (a) recruitment and (b) retention policies of NHS boards.

NHS Scotland’s staffing levels are at a historic high, staffing levels have grown by over 2,900 whole time equivalent, permanent staff, representing ten years of consecutive growth.

NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring they have local policies in place to effectively recruit and retain staff. We support this through our National Workforce Strategy, which outlines the actions we will take in partnership with boards to plan, attract, train, employ and nurture the health and social care workforce.

NHS Education Scotland publishes official workforce statistics on the NHS workforce, providing evidence of the effectiveness of recruitment and retention policies of NHS Boards.

Question reference: S6W-15509

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of (a) medical and (b) non-medical staff in the NHS attending schools within the vicinity of their workplace to encourage local pupils to pursue a career in healthcare.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of encouraging pupils to pursue a career in healthcare. We have commissioned the Centre for Workforce Supply to develop an NHS Scotland marketing strategy to promote the NHS as an attractive employer.

We remain committed to supporting youth recruitment utilising our Developing the Young Workforce Strategy and the Young Person’s Guarantee.

We also support any initiative which encourages school pupils to consider a career in medicine. For example, Aberdeen University’s ‘Health Studies in Education’ programme which places medical students in local schools for a period of 6 weeks has been successful in establishing long term relationships between schools and the University, as well as providing a platform to introduce further activities including mentoring.

Question reference: S6W-15507

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the latest data showing the retention rate of (a) nurses and (b) doctors in the NHS.

The information requested on providing the latest data showing the retention rate of (a) nurses and (b) doctors in the NHS is not centrally available.

Information on vacancies by the three main staff groups, can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence

The turnover rate for all staff across NHS Scotland in 2021/22 was 8.1%.

Question reference: S6O-02037

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that there is sufficient police presence throughout the north east.

Question reference: S6W-14982

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any analysis of the potential impact of the Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan on oil and gas jobs in Aberdeen.

We commissioned EY to undertake a substantial piece of analytical work, this has now been published and is available to view here – Energy System and Just Transition Analysis

Early outputs informed the ESJTP to help us better understand the implications of the transition to net zero on the energy system, including oil and gas, and to help us plan for a just transition across the sector.

This research will help us determine how the sector can help deliver our net zero targets, and how meeting our own energy needs can help build a new low-emission energy industry.

Question reference: S6W-14983

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an impact assessment of its presumption against new oil fields on oil and gas jobs in Aberdeen, and, if so, on what date.

As the draft Strategy sets out, irrespective of the climate imperative, due to the maturity of the North Sea basin, planning for a just transition to a net zero energy system and diversifying employment and economic opportunities for workers is essential. Scotland’s energy transformation is therefore urgent and inevitable.

In establishing a renewed policy position on oil and gas, whilst licensing is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government is consulting on whether, in order to support the fastest possible and most effective just transition, there should be a presumption against new exploration for oil and gas.

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan is an open consultation and as such requires statutory assessments to be undertaken. Some assessments have already been published and the others will be available with the final document.

Question reference: S6W-15504

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the planning system (a) prioritises and (b) supports the (i) repowering and (ii) life extension of existing windfarms.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) signals a turning point for planning, placing climate and nature at the centre of our planning system and making clear that significant weight is to be given to the global climate and nature crises when considering all development proposals. NPF4 policy 11 (energy) supports all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies, including repowering, expanding, and extending the life of existing wind farms. Where proposals meet relevant thresholds, they will also be considered ‘National Developments’ meaning the need is established in principle, and does not need to be assessed again at the consenting stage.

Question reference: S6W-15512

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), what its key (a) priorities and (b) deliverables are in its implementation; what its key outcomes are, and within what timeframe those outcomes must be delivered.

Our NPF4 Delivery Programme, the first iteration of which was published by the Scottish Government in November 2022, is an important tool that sets out the approach for implementing NPF4, including delivery mechanisms, governance and funding. The Delivery Programme identifies a range of priority actions, delivery partners and anticipated timescales.

The Delivery Programme is available at https://www.transformingplanning.scot/mdeia/3136/national-planing-framework-4-delivery-programme-for-publication-2-November-2022.pdf.

Question reference: S6O-02023

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to dual the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead.