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: S6O-02943

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evaluated the extent to which swimming lessons are a part of the school curriculum for primary school-aged pupils.

Question reference: S6W-23719

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on any (a) ongoing and (b) planned initiatives aimed at balancing the expansion of wind energy infrastructure with the protection of existing wind farms from the adverse effects of wind turbine shadows.

The selection of a site and the configuration of wind turbines is a matter for the wind farm developer. This process involves comprehensive analysis to ensure the most suitable placement and design for wind turbines. Developers may have to balance the benefits of a compact site, which can minimise construction cost, and the gains from maximising energy capture from greater separation distances.

The Hagshaw Energy Cluster provides an example of how industry stakeholders can work collaboratively to promote and adopt a coordinated approach to future renewable energy development.

Policy 11: Energy of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) states that potential cumulative impacts are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments.

Question reference: S6W-23722

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that proposed wind farm developments take into consideration the cumulative impact on wind energy generation in a given area, particularly in relation to any shadowing effects on existing turbines.

Question reference: S6W-23650

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its commitment to piloting universal free breakfast provision for primary and special school pupils did not appear in its Programme for Government 2022-23.

The 2021-22 Programme for Government, alongside the Bute House Agreement, set out our plans to develop and implement breakfast policy for the whole parliamentary term. Subsequent Programme for Government publications have reiterated that food provision is an important part of the mission to tackle child poverty. Work to map existing breakfast provision is expected to be completed by Spring 2024 which will inform policy on school breakfasts, and a plan for breakfast provision, designed around the needs of children and families.

Question reference: S6W-23699

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with British Transport Police (BTP) regarding any financial pressures facing BTP.

Question reference: S6W-23518

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to monitor whether local authorities and schools review their policies on relationships and behaviour, and what action it will take to encourage them to do so.

Last month concluded a series of summits I held with a wide range of stakeholders on behaviour in schools. The Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research was also published and considered as part of the final summit, which set out that while the majority of pupils are well behaved there has been an increase in disruptive behaviours.

I was clear in my statement to Parliament on 29 November that I encourage local authorities and schools to consider their policies in the light of the findings of BISSR.

To support local authorities and schools, we published guidance in June 2017 - ‘ Included, Engaged and Involved – Part 2 – preventing and managing school exclusions’ . This guidance gives a stronger focus on supporting positive behaviour and approaches that can be used to prevent the need for exclusion. The guidance sets out an expectation that education authorities and schools will use the guidance to revise and review existing policies and procedures on exclusion, taking account of local circumstances and involving all partners in the development of the new policy.

Education Scotland has also published a resource to support schools or local authorities who are refreshing or reviewing their relationships and behaviour policies. This guidance on developing a local relationships and behaviour policy is available at Guidance for developing a local relationships and behaviour policy (education.gov.scot) .

Finally, we are currently working with the Scottish Advisory Group for Relationships and Behaviour in Schools to develop a national action plan on relationships and behaviour which we expect to be published early in the new year. We will update parliament on the action plan in due course.

Question reference: S6W-23713

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment to fund 320 additional child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) staff refers to WTE staff or headcount.

Question reference: S6W-23436

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting the progress of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to supporting Mark Ruskell MSP in progressing his Members’ Bill to reconsideration stage as soon as possible. The Verity House Agreement includes an explicit commitment for Ministers to do this.

Now that the amended United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill has been passed by Parliament, we are preparing suggested amendments to the Members’ Bill to assist.

Question reference: S6W-23626

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22555 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 November 2023, whether it will provide an update on what date the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23520

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing anonymised national reporting from schools on violence and disruptive behaviour.

Last month concluded a series of summits I held with a wide range of stakeholders on behaviour in schools. Members are aware that September’s summit on relationships and behaviour in schools focused on recording and monitoring incidents. My aim from the summit process was to identify practical actions we need to make progress, including to create a culture where staff are empowered to record incidents. Local data must then be used to ensure schools both have an oversight of issues and are responding effectively.

I was clear in my statement to Parliament on 29 November that I encourage, in the strongest possible terms, more accurate recording of all incidents of inappropriate, abusive or violent behaviour in our schools.

Our national guidance on recording and monitoring bullying incidents makes clear that all schools and local authorities are expected to record all incidents of violent behaviour. Recording and monitoring plays an essential role in helping schools identify recurring patterns of behaviour and ensure early intervention and appropriate support. It is up to schools to decide how children and young people can report incidents based on local needs and circumstances, which may include anonymised reporting.

The Scottish Government is currently working with the Scottish Advisory Group for Relationships and Behaviour in Schools to develop a national action plan which we expect to be published early in the new year. I will update parliament on the action plan in due course.