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-22267

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland will be represented at the School Meals Coalition Global Summit in Paris on 18-19 October 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22204

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21418 by Jenny Gilruth on 9 October 2023, what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding (a) whether pupils who have received a free laptop or other digital device will receive a replacement device should theirs break, (b) how swiftly any such replacement will be made available and (c) whether it or the local authority meets the cost of any such replacement.

Question reference: S6W-22263

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015, and in light of Food Standards Scotland's Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment document stating that "A review to establish the actual costs and benefits and the achievement of the desired effects will take place in 5 years from the date the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 come into force", what plans it has to conduct a post-implementation review of the Regulations, and for what reason there has been a delay in doing so.

The Scottish Government is advised on food safety and standards matters by Food Standards Scotland (FSS). They have advised that a formal post implementation review of the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 has been delayed due to the need to prioritise EU exit related food law work, and more recently matters relating to the Retained EU (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.

A post-implementation review is due to be undertaken as part of consideration of proposed EU changes to labelling requirements for blended honey. FSS has contacted honey producers in Scotland to ask for initial views on these proposals, and are working closely with policy officials on a UK basis to consider next steps.

In the meantime, FSS continues to monitor the effectiveness and suitability of the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 through communication with stakeholders, including Local Authorities, businesses and consumers.

Question reference: S6W-22268

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on joining the School Meals Coalition.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring we have a comprehensive and high quality free school meal programme and we regularly work with other nations to ensure good practice is shared.

We have no plans at this stage to join the School Meals Coalition. For over a decade, Scotland has been actively involved with International School Meals Day which provides us with the opportunity to promote school meal uptake in Scotland and to showcase Scotland's model of school food provision and food education on the international stage.

To date 63 countries are engaged with International School Meals Day, each sharing their knowledge and experience of supporting children and young people to access balanced and nutritious school lunches to support their healthy growth and development.

Question reference: S6W-22243

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Working Group report arising from the Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations following the fire at Cameron House Hotel, and in relation to the commitment to establish an expert working group to consider mandating automatic fire suppression systems where historic buildings are being converted into hotels, whether it will confirm (a) the membership of the group and (b) when the group’s (i) terms of reference and (ii) remit will be in place, and when it expects the group to report.

Question reference: S6W-22244

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Working Group report arising from the Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations following the fire at Cameron House Hotel, when it will amend the guidance in the technical handbooks to promote the use of automatic fire suppression systems for historic building conversions to hotels.

Question reference: S6W-22238

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider introducing a pilot project as part of a risk-based approach to introducing itinerant slaughterers on farms in island communities, in a manner that would allow the meat to be sold on the market.

Question reference: S6W-22898

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by George Adam on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent memorandums it anticipates lodging in the Parliament in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government announced in the King’s Speech on 7 November 2023.

In accordance with the Sewel Convention and in line with Rule 9B of Standing Orders, the UK Parliament should not legislate with regard to devolved matters – that is on matters within the legislative competence of the Parliament, or which change the competence of the Parliament or the Scottish Ministers – without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

Within the legislative programme announced by the UK Government, Bills which appear to give rise to the requirement for the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament are:

Animal Welfare (Livestock Export) Bill
Automated Vehicles Bill
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Bill
Criminal Justice Bill
Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (carried over) – legislative consent memorandum already lodged
Economic Activities of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill (carried over) – legislative consent memorandum already lodged.

In addition, the following Bills extend to Scotland. The Scottish Government will consider the need for legislative consent when the text of these bills is available, but we do not currently expect they will generate a requirement for a legislative consent motion.

Media Bill
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
Victims and Prisoners Bill (majority of provisions apply to England and Wales)

The Scottish Government will consider the content of all Bills before making its recommendation to the Parliament on legislative consent. It will then be for the Scottish Parliament to determine whether to give or withhold consent.

It is possible that legislative consent may be required for other UK Bills and those will be drawn to the attention of the Parliament as they arise.

Question reference: S6W-22701

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development last met with COSLA to discuss culture; what was discussed at this meeting, and when the Minister will next meet with COSLA to discuss these issues.

Question reference: S6W-22438

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on the marine environment in Scotland, what its position is on the reported response from the Marine Management Organisation, to a Freedom of Information request from the World Cetacean Alliance, stating that it only holds bycatch data on the only UK-registered super trawler, not on foreign-owned super trawlers, in light of it being a requirement for all vessels operating in UK waters to report all incidences of marine mammal bycatch.

All vessels authorised to operate in Scottish waters do so under the appropriate licences, and are obliged to follow Scottish domestic management rules. This includes a mandatory requirement for all vessels, including EU vessels, operating in UK waters to report any incidental injury or mortality (bycatch) of marine mammal to the Marine Management Organisation.

We take any infringements of fishing vessel licence conditions seriously, including those relating the reporting of marine mammal bycatch. We continue to remind masters of their obligation to record and report incidental mortality and serious injury (bycatch) of marine mammals in accordance with their licence condition and will investigate any reports where there is evidence which suggests this condition is not complied with.

While the management of Scottish waters is an area of devolved competency, the Scottish Government continues to work with the UK Government and other devolved administrations through the delivery of the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) which is a joint plan for tackling bycatch across the UK with the aim of minimising, and where possible eliminating, bycatch of sensitive marine species.