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-23221

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of public sector grants and contracts are currently delivered on a multi-year basis.

Currently, as of 4 December 2023, the Scottish Governments proportion of live contracts, delivered on a multi-year basis, is 65%. Multi-year has been classed as a contract over 12 months. Data on wider public sectors can either be found here: Home - Public Contracts Scotland or by contacting them directly.

Each grant fund is managed locally by a specific policy area within the Scottish Government, currently the Scottish Government does not hold central information at the detailed level of individual scheme operation.

Question reference: S6W-23445

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken following the publication of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's 9th Report, 2022 (Session 6), Alternative pathways to primary care (SP Paper 201).

We are fully committed to taking action to support the recommendations of the Alternative Pathways to Primary care and to our key aim of ensuring people can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

In particular, since 2018, we have significantly expanded the multi-disciplinary primary care workforce, with total staff of 4731 WTE working in multi-disciplinary services including physiotherapy, pharmacy and phlebotomy, at March 2023.

There was an increase of 518 WTE staff overall between March 2022 and March 2023, giving the average practice access to more than 5 multi-disciplinary team members.

However, recognising that implementation gaps remain, we are now also introducing an additional ‘phased investment programme’ working with a small number of areas to demonstrate what a model of full multi-disciplinary team implementation can look like in practice, over an initial 18 month period.

The findings from this work will inform a long-term Scottish Government investment for all areas.

Question reference: S6W-23453

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what expressions of interest there have been from local authorities or transport authorities to utilise bus franchising powers under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

The Scottish Government has now delivered all the bus powers within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (the 2019 Act) and encourages all local transport authorities to consider the full range of tools available to them, to ensure that everyone has accessible public transport regardless of where they are in Scotland. As part of the development and delivery of the bus powers within the 2019 Act the Scottish Government has been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including local transport authorities. As part of this engagement we have received interest in each of the Act powers from local authorities across Scotland, however it will be for local transport authorities to decide what flexible tools within the 2019 Act, if any, they want to use to improve bus provision in their area.

Question reference: S6W-23473

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Nurofen report, Gender Pain Gap: Index Report: Year 2, published in November 2023, including the finding that the gender pain gap has widened since the previous report, from 7% to 11%.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that anyone living with pain is able to access the best possible care and support. Through our commitment to implementing our Pain Management Service Delivery Framework we are seeking to amplify the voices of people who may face inequality on the basis of their sex. We will work collaboratively with other partners to ensure there are appropriate pathways for women with pain and painful conditions.

Question reference: S6W-23317

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland currently (a) have and (b) are receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis.

Information on the incidence or occurrence of rare conditions such as cystic fibrosis is not held centrally by the Scottish Government, however, it is estimated that approximately 900 people in Scotland have cystic fibrosis.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23215 on 11 December 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-23227

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions have ever been brought against corporations for the (a) common law offence of culpable homicide and (b) statutory offence of corporate homicide, and which corporations these were against.

On 22 December 1999 in Larkhall, Lanarkshire an explosion destroyed the dwellinghouse at No. 42 Carlyle Road. All four occupants of that dwellinghouse, including two children, were killed. Criminal proceedings were taken against Transco PLC in relation to the explosion on 22 December and the deaths of the four individuals, with the company being charged, in the first alternative, with the common law offence of culpable homicide and, in the second alternative, a contravention of sections 3 and 33(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Prosecution on the culpable homicide charge was unsuccessful. The trial proceeded on the charge under sections 3 and 33(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the jury unanimously found the company guilty of that offence on 25 August 2005. A fine of £15 million was imposed.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 created a new offence of corporate homicide in Scotland.

COPFS Health and Safety Investigation Unit leads the investigation and prosecution of all work-related deaths and all health and safety cases across Scotland. It provides advice, support and direction to investigators from Police Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Local Authorities and other regulatory agencies from the very earliest stages of an investigation.

Every fatality at a place of employment or fatality that occurs as a result of a work-related activity in Scotland is investigated as a potential corporate homicide. The very nature of this category of case means that detailed and lengthy investigation, often involving technical and medical issues and expert opinion, may be required. The Work Related Death Protocol for Scotland – which has been signed by COPFS, Police Scotland (ACPOS), British Transport Police and HSE - ensures that when a work-related death occurs, a thorough, co-ordinated and multi-agency investigation takes place allowing all possible offences to be considered.

Once reported each case is carefully considered by lawyers within the COPFS Health & Safety Investigation Unit and turns on its own facts and circumstances. Corporate homicide is considered in every work-related death reported for prosecution, and lines of investigation in connection with corporate homicide are explored regardless of whether or not such a charge was reported in connection with the death.

Since 2008 16 cases have been reported to the Crown in respect of corporate homicide as well as other charges. Of those cases two remain under consideration by the Crown. Two cases, reported in 2011 and 2016, were marked for no proceedings. In the remaining cases all have resulted in guilty convictions in a solemn court. Whilst there have been no prosecutions under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 the cases have resulted in guilty pleas to breaches of either section 2 or section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 or maritime health and safety legislation. The Court has the same sentencing powers available to them for these offences as for the offence of corporate homicide. The fines issued in these cases range from £4,000 to £234,000.

Question reference: S6W-23233

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the location of manufacturing of advanced medicines or medicinal products is taken into account in the NHS Scotland procurement process.

Question reference: S6W-23263

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the closure of Turning Point 218 due to a lack of funding from Glasgow City Council, with the loss of eight residential beds for women with a criminal justice background and complex needs, including substance use, in light of reported concerns that this may result in lives being lost and skilled workers being made redundant during its declared public health emergency regarding substance-use-related deaths.

Decisions about the provision and commissioning of individual community justice services, including any re-tendering exercises, are a matter for local authorities based on local needs. The Scottish Government has continued to invest around £134 million in community justice services this year, including providing around £123 million to local authorities, and has not asked local authorities to reduce any specific funding within that.

We understand that Glasgow City Council are working closely with Turning Point Scotland to support those currently using the service. The Council has also provided reassurances that other relevant services and approaches are available to support people with similar needs following the anticipated closure of the service.

These include residential placements in addiction services, the trauma-informed Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow service and the use of women-only drug courts and problem-solving courts, and the Lilias Centre Community Custody Unit.

Question reference: S6T-01699

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter from the UK foreign secretary to the constitution secretary, what its response is to reports that the UK Government may withdraw Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office support for Scottish Government overseas meetings.

Question reference: S6T-01686

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to appeal the decision of the Court of Session that the UK Government acted lawfully when enacting a section 35 order in relation to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.