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-24903

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Glasgow Science Centre Limited and (b) Glasgow City Council regarding effecting the repair works required to reopen the Science Centre's Millennium Bridge across the River Clyde to marine traffic.

Question reference: S6W-24923

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it is taking to improve the take-up of languages in education.

Since 2013 the Scottish Government has provided local authorities and third sector partners with funding of over £50m in support of the implementation of the 1+2 languages approach in schools.

A 2021 survey of local authorities confirmed that pupils across Scotland are now learning languages from primary one and continuing throughout their broad general education, up to the point when they make their subject choices.

We remain committed to language learning in the broad general education and the senior phase. We continue to work with Education Scotland which provides national guidance, resources and professional learning programmes for teachers. We also continue to fund third sector partners such as Strathclyde University who host Scotland’s National Centre for Languages (SCILT). SCILT provides professional development, classroom resources and undertakes activity to promote language learning. We are also happy to meet with other partners and interested parties to discuss further ways of supporting languages in schools.

In terms of post-school education, universities and colleges are responsible for their own course provision. In line with our Purpose and Principles for the post-school education and skills system, the Scottish Government will continue to work with both sectors to ensure that they deliver the best outcomes and impact for learners, the economy and society.

Question reference: S6W-25189

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding any risks associated with an increasing number of battery storage facilities.

Question reference: S6W-25020

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, whether it has estimated the level of additional retail sales that would be required each year by retailers to offset the cost of the surtax.

Question reference: S6W-25593

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 February 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Emma Roddick on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to publish an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, as committed to in the First Minister’s policy prospectus and in the Programme for Government 2023-24.

Today, the Scottish Government publishes its new Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, which sets out our approach to the issue of population decline affecting some communities in Scotland. The Plan builds on the work of the Ministerial Population Taskforce in delivering Scotland’s Population Strategy, which was published in March 2021.

This new Action Plan describes a range of work which will be delivered in partnership with local authorities, enterprise agencies, communities and other local actors, alongside a range of current and future Scottish Government national delivery priorities to support communities affected by population decline.

Building on this Action Plan, the next phase of our work will be informed by the small area outputs from Scotland’s Census 2022, which are due to be published in Spring 2024. These data will enable us to consider even more targeted and focused interventions in support of community sustainability.

The publication can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835217177 .

Question reference: S6W-25250

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of local authorities decreasing relief on non-domestic rates for empty, listed properties.

Empty Property Relief was devolved to local authorities on 1 April 2023, and it is for individual local authorities to decide how they will tailor any support for unoccupied property, including listed buildings, to best support their local needs.

As indicated in the recommendations of the New Deal for Business Non-Domestic Rates sub-group, the Scottish Government will undertake an initial review of the devolution of Empty Property Relief before the next revaluation in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-25096

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what deadlines it will set for compliance with the restrictions on XL Bully-type dogs; what process it will undertake to set these deadlines, and whether the process for setting any deadlines will take into account (a) animal welfare, (b) the number of dogs affected, (c) police capacity, (d) veterinary capacity and (e) rescue sector capacity.

The Scottish Government has met and continues to meet with a range of stakeholders to help to inform our policy approach on XL Bully dogs and consider any issues or possible barriers to implementation in relation to the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs. We engage regularly with the Scottish SPCA, the Dogs Trust, The Dog Control Coalition (whose members include the British Veterinary Association), individual clinical dog behaviourists, the National Dog Warden Association, local authorities and Police Scotland.

We are taking a two-stage approach for the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs, subject to Parliamentary approval.

The first stage will mean that from 23 February 2024, XL Bully owners must ensure their dogs are muzzled and on a lead when in a public place. Selling, gifting or exchanging XL Bully dogs will be prohibited. It will remain legal to own an XL Bully dog.

The second stage will mean that from 1 August 2024, it will be an offence to own a XL Bully dog without an exemption. Owners of an XL Bully dog will need to apply for an exemption on or before 31 July 2024 to be able to continue owning their dog.

The details of the exemption scheme such as the start date for applications, requirements to receive an exemption as well as arrangements for compensation for any XL Bully dog owners not wishing to retain their dogs, will be published in the coming weeks as legislation is brought forward.

In the meantime, helpful and practical support and guidance has been published on the Scottish Government website to ensure owners are made aware of how to comply with the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs, with further information to be published in the coming period: https://www.gov.scot/publications/xl-bully-dog-rules/ .

Question reference: S6W-25303

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it provided to Dornoch and District Christian Fellowship since 2019.

Question reference: S6W-25190

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to equip and support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to better respond to any hazards arising from battery storage facilities.

Question reference: S6W-25201

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, what it anticipates the (a) administrative and (b) cost implications for local authorities would be for implementing any new levy.