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: S5W-16715

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the report, National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018, that drug trafficking "remains a high volume threat with two-thirds of [organised crime groups] in Scotland involved".

The recently published National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018 by the National Crime Agency presents a high-level picture of serious organised crime in the United Kingdom and contains a section on Scotland which draws on existing information largely provided by Police Scotland.

Although the proportion of organised crime groups involved in the supply and distribution of drugs has remained consistent over a number of years, the assessment does not reflect the level of activity being taken by Police Scotland to disrupt these groups. Through the Scottish Government’s forthcoming refreshed drugs strategy, we will also ensure that treatment and support better meet the needs of those who are most at risk as a result of their substance use.

Question reference: S5W-16719

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01083 by Michael Matheson on 15 May 2018 (Official Report, c. 3), what discussions it has had or plans with Police Scotland regarding the report's comments about the escalation in threat from organised crime groups in Glasgow and the central belt, including these groups continuing "to have ready access to firearms".

Question reference: S5O-02174

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 31 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 42% of problem drug users in Scotland are in treatment, compared with approximately 60% in England.

Whilst we have seen significant reductions in treatment times for those who need help with their drug use, we are aware that much more must be done to engage with those who are not currently in contact with treatment or support services.

The percentages cited though must be approached with caution as they are not directly comparable, and in the Scottish case capture only those in specialist treatment during the year, and not those in GP services who received prescription-based treatment.

Question reference: S5W-16717

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish an updated 7 Cities Summary briefing on the city regions and, if so, by what date.

Question reference: S5W-16716

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 29 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the SGN gasholders in Glasgow and Dunfermline are of national significance and, in light of OFGEM's position that all such structures should be dismantled by 2029, whether it is reconsidering their category B listing.

Four appeals have been lodged with Scottish Ministers against the decision by Historic Environment Scotland to include in the list of buildings of special architectural interest gasholders in Glasgow and Dunfermline. In keeping with the majority of appeals to Scottish Ministers a reporter from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Government has been appointed by Ministers to examine the cases and make the final decisions on them.

The reporter has undertaken inspections of the sites relevant to the appeals. In all four cases, the reporter is now considering whether he has enough information to determine the appeals or if he will require to obtain further information from parties involved in the appeals.

As the appeals are live, you will appreciate that it would be inappropriate to comment on the merits of the cases.

Question reference: S5W-16443

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 18 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) provide a list of stakeholders that it consulted in relation to the UK Government’s Race Disparity Audit; set out concerns raised by them regarding the audit and confirm whether any were in favour of Scotland participating in the audit.

Stakeholders whose views were considered in relation to the UK Government’s Race Disparity Audit included BEMIS - Empowering Scotland Ethnic & Cultural Minority Communities, Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations, Coalition for Racial Equality & Rights, Equality & Human Rights Commission and a number of academics.

Concerns raised were in three broad areas: the lack of applicability of the new system to meet Scottish needs (the Equality Evidence Strategy and the reporting regime in the 2012 Regulations address this); the ultimate use to which the data might be put and associated questions around ownership; and the additional resources which would be required to ensure data compatibility with the new system, which would detract from our own work on evidence gathering as well as from public authorities’ delivery of the public sector equality duty.

There was a range of views among stakeholders about participation in the Audit. On balance, having considered a number of factors including the concerns above, the decision was taken not to participate.

Question reference: S5O-02116

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the attainment gap.

Question reference: S5W-15773

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the rate of looked-after children per 10,000 children in Scotland is higher than that for the rest of the UK.

When considering comparisons of looked after populations between individual countries within the UK, it should be borne in mind that differences exist between the legislations and social work systems of each country, as well as the categorisations of looked after status.

Differences in the figures for Scotland and the rest of the UK can be explained in two ways.

Firstly, in contrast with the rest of the UK, Scotland’s definition of looked after children is broader as children placed at home in Scotland under a supervision order are considered to be in the care of the local authority. Scotland gathers data on this population of children looked after at home and includes these in its looked after statistics; the other UK administrations do not. Further information on comparability of statistics between the UK administrations can be found here: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/socialservicestats .

Secondly, if we were to compare only those children who are looked after away from home the figure for Scotland would remain slightly higher. This, however, reflects the Scottish Government’s early intervention approach and our commitment to identifying and acting more quickly to support children and families at risk - ensuring that children receive the right support at the right time - as well as the extended support we offer to young people in receipt of aftercare up to the age of twenty-six.

Ultimately, the picture presented by our statistics is a positive one. The total number of looked after children fell by 3% last year and is in its 5 th consecutive year of decline; the number of children looked after at home continues to fall, and placement stability and permanence are also improving.

Question reference: S5W-15770

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the number of such carers has doubled over the last 10 years, what support it provides to kinship carers who offer accommodation and support to looked-after children.

The Scottish Government does not collect information about the number of kinship carers however we do hold figures for the number of children who are looked after in kinship care, which between 2007 and 2017 has risen from 2094 to 4138.

We recognise the important role played by kinship carers in providing secure, stable and nurturing homes for children who cannot be cared for by their birth parents. The Scottish Government is providing local authorities with an additional £10.1 million per annum, to ensure kinship carers receive the same allowance as foster carers in their area. Funding has also been provided to a number of other organisations, including Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver the Kinship Care – Advice Service for Scotland and Mentor UK to provide an enhanced service which meets the changing needs of kinship carers across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-15772

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, in 2016-17, 793 looked-after children did not have a care plan in place.

Children who are looked after by a local authority should each receive a care plan including information about the child’s care, education and health needs, as well as the responsibilities of the local authority, the parents and the child.

The Scottish Government publication “Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland 2016-17”, http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00533421.pdf , shows that approximately 5% or 793 out of 14,897 looked after children did not have a current care plan.

The data presented in the Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland publication is a snapshot, recorded as valid on 31 July 2017. This will therefore include newer entrants to the care system whose plans may be in development to ensure that they meet the needs of that young person.

This factor is noted in the publication to acknowledge variation between local authorities in how they record the stages of development of their care plans (Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland 2016-17, p6, footnote 1).