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-17082

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to bring forward an updated strategy for disabled people during the current parliamentary session, following its publication in December 2016 of A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People.

We are working with Disabled People’s organisations and their members to develop a new Disability Equality Strategy. Our focus is on listening to what disabled people have told us are the challenges and obstacles they face, and finding solutions that we can deliver.

The steering group has met 5 times to identify priorities for the strategy and specific actions. Work is ongoing and the strategy will be consulted on with wider stakeholders and partners when the actions are defined.

Question reference: S6W-16881

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the announcement of a preferred (a) medium- and (b) long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful in Spring 2023 will change, in light of the appointment of a new Minister for Transport.

The Scottish Government remains committed to providing a resilient infrastructure solution to address the landslip risk at the Rest and Be Thankful. The preferred option for a medium-term solution was announced on 23 December 2022. A detailed programme for the proposed improvements is now being developed and it is expected that these works will be carried out on a phased basis starting later this year.

At the same time, Transport Scotland continues to take forward the necessary design and assessment work at pace with a view to announcing a preferred route option for the long-term solution this Spring.

I absolutely share the urgency communities and businesses place in maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, and remain absolutely committed to ensuring continuity of access to Argyll and Bute so that the region remains open for business.

Question reference: S6W-17078

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last held its disabled people’s summit, and whether it has any plans to hold another such summit during the current parliamentary session.

The last Disability Summit was held in December 2020 to evaluate the impact of A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Delivery Plan 2016-2021. Over 100 people attended online and the voices of disabled people with lived and living experience were heard.

The Scottish Government’s current priority is co-designing the Disability Equality strategy with Disabled People’s Organisations. This work has involved analysing research and reports which incorporate the lived and living experience of disabled people in Scotland and agreeing on the priorities for the strategy.

We will engage with disabled people, third sector organisations and delivery partners when the strategy is drafted to gather views and feedback. We expect this to take the form of a fully accessible consultation and engagement activities.

Question reference: S6W-16875

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide further detail on the reasons why it could not fully commit to the National Partnership for Culture recommendation that "relevant agencies should be charged with developing a national plan to embed artists and other creative practitioners in all schools, in ways that align with the curriculum".

Fully committing to charging relevant agencies to develop a national plan would contravene the Scottish Government position that Local Authorities and schools have autonomy to take these decisions at a local level.

As set out in our response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations, we will explore other opportunities to scope whether any of the established initiatives around the Creative Learning Plan could be scaled up.

Question reference: S6F-02002

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2023

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government's plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas, following the end of its public consultation.

Question reference: S6W-16057

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 17 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated towards the planned repairs of Bute House.

Question reference: S6W-16050

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 17 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set aside any contingency funding to meet any unforeseen additional costs associated with the planned repairs of Bute House, and, if so, how much it has set aside.

Question reference: S6W-16054

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04824 by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021, whether it will provide an update on how many website domain names that it owns and pays for are currently (a) active and (b) inactive.

Question reference: S6W-16152

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish new export statistics.

A date for the next Export Statistics Scotland publication has not yet been announced. Scottish Government statisticians are currently reviewing the methodology and results and will pre-announce the date of publication in line with the Official Code of Practice for Statistics as soon as possible. The timing and content of the Export Statistics Scotland publication is determined independently of Ministers.

Question reference: S6W-16151

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total running costs of the Scottish National Investment Bank have been in each year since it was established.

The following table (taken from the Scottish National Investment Bank’s annual reports) shows the Bank’s operating costs and income for 2020-21 and‎ 2021-22. The Scottish Government provides budget to cover all operating costs which are not covered by the Bank’s income.

Operating

Costs

£000s

Investment Income

£000s

Net Costs

£000s

2020-21 (November to March)

2,875

-423

2,452

2021-22

9,677

-1,905

7,772

2022-23: The Bank’s final outturn is still being finalised and it is too early to provide a provisional figure to Parliament. The Bank will lay its audited Annual Accounts in Parliament before the end of September.