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: S6F-02368

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 September 2023

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the first UN global stocktake report on the Paris Climate Agreement.

Question reference: S6F-02348

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to maximise the economic benefits, including the number of new jobs, that result from any growth in renewable energy sources, including onshore wind.

Question reference: S6O-02484

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to eliminate sexual harassment in schools.

Question reference: S6O-02388

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to strengthen tenants’ rights.

We believe that a well-regulated private rented sector is good for landlords and tenants.

Since 2016 we have ended no-fault evictions and expanded access to tribunal services. We strengthened eviction protections, both in the Coronavirus Recovery and Reform Act and the Emergency Cost of Living Act, introducing a rent cap for most in-tenancy rent rises in the private sector. Just this month I announced our intention, subject to Parliamentary approval, to retain that cap until March next year.

Further reform is needed and we have set out our proposals in our draft New Deal for Tenants.

Question reference: S6W-18106

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 31 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding distributed by (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) South of Scotland Enterprise in each of the last three financial years was issued to cooperatives, and what proportion of overall funding this represented.

Research shows that co-operatives, and other inclusive business models, are fair and inclusive places to work and as a result enjoy financial and social resilience. Co-operative business models can play a critical role in economic recovery, supporting the Scottish Government’s aim to create a fairer, stronger and more democratic economy.

We will continue to work through Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) and the enterprise agencies to support the growth of co-operative and other alternative business models. The funding distributed by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise to cooperatives is an operational matter for each agency and I have therefore asked the agencies’ Chief Executives to respond to you directly.

Question reference: S6F-02173

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what impact the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund is having on communities on Arran.

Question reference: S6W-17110

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policy position to encourage businesses not to trade with Russia, how it determines whether or not a business in Scotland is continuing to trade with Russia, and whether it is making use of the lists compiled by organisations such as Razom We Stand, #LeaveRussia and the Yale School of Management.

In March 2022 the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy wrote an open letter encouraging all businesses to sever links with Russia. The Scottish Government policy of not supporting trade and investment activity with Russia is in addition to the UK’s legally binding sanctions regime; ultimately we cannot force businesses to act if what they plan is otherwise lawful, including not breaching the UK sanctions regime.

Our economic agencies undertake a number of checks on businesses to identify any ongoing investment, trading, or other links with Russia, and steps they have taken to withdraw from them, while recognising where it may not be feasible, for example due to contractual obligations or if staff safety might be jeopardised.

Question reference: S6O-02156

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether businesses, which make use of unpaid trial shifts, should be disqualified from receiving public sector grants and procurement contracts.

Question reference: S6W-15971

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to revise national planning rules in relation to domestic energy microgeneration, such as photovoltaic arrays on roofs, in conservation areas, following the publication of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Question reference: S6W-15976

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the position of Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) when the current Chair’s term comes to an end on 31 August 2023, and whether it will set out the potential implications for the new qualifications body that is to replace the SQA in 2024.

As we work towards the introduction of the Education (Scotland) Bill prior to the summer recess and the creation of the new Qualifications Body, visionary and resilient leadership is essential for the SQA and its successor organisation. This will guide it through the process of transition and embed the required reforms set out in the findings of the Muir report and on which the Government is determined to deliver. I am therefore announcing an appointment round for the position of Chair of the SQA, with the successful candidate taking up post in September 2023.

It is my intention that the new Chair of the SQA will transfer to the new body and will become the Chair of the new Qualification Body. Provisions to allow this transfer to happen will be included in the upcoming Bill and will be subject to Parliamentary approval.

This approach will support the crucial transition period allowing the new Qualifications Body to take full advantage of the changes in leadership, culture and governance necessitated by the Government’s Reform Programme. This will also be shaped by the National Discussion, the findings of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment, the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape.