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-12174

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from the Chinese police service, which is reportedly operating from Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-12173

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the number of any attacks by members of the Chinese Communist Party on former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-01598

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the right of disabled people to dedicated accessible spaces.

Question reference: S6W-11561

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 9 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 in deaf children’s education.

Under the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015, the Scottish Government has a British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan in place for 2017 to 2023 with 70 actions across ten long-term ambitions. The Scottish Government published the BSL Progress Report on 27 October 2021, which provided an update on the implementation of the National Plan. It shows progress on a range of fronts, including education, BSL/English interpreting, and public life. The report outlines how Scottish Government has funded BSL Partnership organisations to engage with and support public bodies in developing their BSL plans and notes important developments such as the decision that Scotland’s 2022 census would ask 'can you use BSL?' for the first time.

We will develop a new BSL National Plan for 2023 to 2029, which is due for publication in October 2023, and will undertake engagement and consultation to inform priorities.

Question reference: S6O-01505

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that affordable housing development plans have been put on hold because of its rent freeze.

Question reference: S6O-01467

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to improve attainment across primary education in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-10985

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in introducing pension-age heating assistance payments.

We are putting in place robust plans to deliver our replacement for Winter Fuel Payment from winter 2024 and we will consult on the proposals for this replacement in due course. Our priority in taking on full responsibility for all the devolved benefits is a safe and secure transition so that people continue to receive support at the right time and right amount.

From this coming winter (2022-23) the Scottish Government’s new Winter Heating Payment will guarantee an annual £50 payment to around 400,000 low-income households each winter. This is not dependent on age but will be targeted, reliable financial support to those most in need, including those in receipt of Pension Credit.

Question reference: S6W-10924

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether an eligible third sector organisation applying for use of its electricity framework agreement in the current economic climate will still receive the stated access to wholesale electricity purchased on the futures market long-term.

The national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity wholesale volumes are bought up to 2½ years in advance in tranches, following a proven ‘hedging’ purchasing strategy overseen by a cross-sectoral Risk Management Committee. The Committee comprises senior managers representing procurement, finance and energy management interests.

Whilst energy prices have risen to unprecedented levels because of global influences, the Scottish Government purchasing strategy has mitigated some of the increases for customers on the framework. However, given the substantially increased price risk that this market volatility has brought, the Risk Management Committee has temporarily suspended the on-boarding of all new customers with immediate effect in order protect the organisations currently using the framework from increase costs. Organisations that are currently customers (including some third sector bodies) will remain on the framework.

The Risk Management Committee will keep that decision under regular review and when market conditions and risk profile allow, will permit new customers to join.

Question reference: S6W-10925

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any envisaged benefits of its electricity framework agreement, such as a lack of market fluctuations and improved budget predictability, remain, despite escalating energy prices.

The national framework for the Supply of Electricity, wholesale volumes are bought up to 2½ years in advance in tranches, following a proven ‘hedging’ purchasing strategy overseen by a cross-sectoral Risk Management Committee. The Committee comprises senior managers representing procurement, finance and energy management interests.

Whilst energy prices have risen to unprecedented levels because of global influences, the Scottish Government purchasing strategy has mitigated some of the increases. As an illustration, if we were to seek a fixed price today on the wholesale market for Electricity 2022-2023, it would be more than double the contract prices that the Scottish Government framework currently enjoys.

The underpinning risk management strategy will continue to provide some mitigation against the unprecedented volatile market conditions.

Question reference: S6W-10923

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates the cost of living crisis will have on the framework agreements currently available to central government, the public sector and third sector organisations via its procurement contracts directory.

Scottish Government Framework Agreements include pricing clauses which may differ depending on the products and services being procured.

The majority of our frameworks have fixed prices for the duration of the agreements, therefore providing a degree of protection from inflationary pressures.

Where the frameworks do not include fixed prices for the duration of the agreement, any potential price increases, as a result of inflationary pressures, will be addressed in accordance with the framework terms and conditions.

The Scottish Government is reviewing its framework agreements to assess likely price increases, where applicable.