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-20212

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 25 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to protect people of religion and faith from persecution.

The Scottish Government condemns all incidents of religious persecution and the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs.

The Scottish Government’s new Hate Crime Strategy was published on 24 March 2023. The strategy sets out a vision for a Scotland where everyone, including people of faith, live free from hatred and prejudice. The strategy was informed by those with lived experience of hate crime, including faith communities. A delivery plan, setting out immediate and longer term activity, will be published later this year.

In addition, the Scottish Government’s Faith and Belief Engagement Strategy for Scotland was published on 22 March 2023. It was developed in partnership with faith and belief organisations and makes a clear commitment to strengthen communication and collaboration with Scotland’s diverse faith and belief communities. It aims to enable fairer representation for minority groups and intersectional voices, and to further support community cohesion.

Question reference: S6W-20833

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-20832

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul McLennan on 24 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with delivering the Bute House Agreement commitment to ensure that community housing trusts are adequately funded so that they can support the delivery of enhanced rural home building plans.

I am pleased to announce a package of support, co-funded with Nationwide Foundation, of up to £960,000 over the next three years. It will support the staff capacity and expertise within Communities Housing Trust and South of Scotland Community Housing to bring forward the projects in their pipeline to delivery.

This commitment will form part of the Remote, Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan that will be published in the Autumn.

Question reference: S6W-20588

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 24 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided directly, as well as to each local authority, to cover the costs relating to the provision of the new right, from August 2023, to early learning and childcare funding where entry to primary school is deferred.

In 2023-24, we will be investing around £1 billion through local government in funding 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).

The settlement takes account of changes to the eligible population and also makes significant allowance for high rates of inflation in costs, as well as reflecting increased pay costs and creating capacity to deliver policy priorities including deferrals.

Question reference: S6W-20455

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 24 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £60 million, which was a commitment in its 2022-23 Programme for Government, has it invested to renew play parks.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children across Scotland can access high quality play opportunities in a range of settings. Through play, children and young people can explore the world around them in a creative and engaging way. It is important for their growth, development and wellbeing.

The Scottish Government has delivered funding of £20 million in the first three years of the play park renewal programme. Distribution and allocation of the remaining funding has been agreed with COSLA and we have written to all local authorities confirming their funding allocation until 2026 as per the table:

2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	Total
£5,000,000	£5,000,000	£10,000,000	£15,000,000	£25,000,000	£60,000,000

Question reference: S6W-20587

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 24 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided directly, as well as to each local authority, to cover the costs relating to the promotion of the new right, from August 2023, to early learning and childcare funding where entry to primary school is deferred.

In 2023-24, we will be investing around £1 billion through local government in funding 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).

We have carried out detailed analysis of the cost of delivering 1140 and worked with COSLA and local government through the ELC Finance Working Group to understand what a sustainable settlement would look like.
The settlement takes account of changes to the eligible population and also makes significant allowance for high rates of inflation in costs, as well as reflecting increased pay costs and creating capacity to deliver policy priorities including deferrals.

Question reference: S6W-20500

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created as a result of the Energy Transition Fund awards that meet the Office for National Statistics definition of "green jobs", which is “employment in an activity that contributes to protecting or restoring the environment, including those that mitigate or adapt to climate change”.

The definition of green jobs as referenced was published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in March in 2023. The ONS are now developing a detailed framework to support this definition, including the identification of appropriate activities and categories.

Given this is still under development, I cannot currently provide accurate estimates on how many green jobs will be created over the long term via Energy Transition Fund funding. However, tens of thousands of jobs could be supported, if ETF investment leverages in anticipated additional investment from other sources.

The Energy Transition fund is primarily an enabling fund to support a just transition away from oil and gas to renewable energy. It supports four key projects that seek to create the conditions to attract inward investment, providing high quality green jobs for the North East. Whilst focused on infrastructure and enabling works, the Energy Transition Fund has also directly created around 30 roles in delivering the projects funded.

Elements of the Energy Transition Fund projects include a focus on skills development and training to ensure that workers and companies in the North East have the first adopter opportunities that will result from an effectively managed move towards renewable energy.

Question reference: S6W-20501

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Energy Transition Fund will be announced.

Question reference: S6W-20407

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) median time is between a new woodland creation application being submitted to Scottish Forestry and a decision on the application being communicated to the applicant.

Question reference: S6W-20450

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the current rate of total gross fixed capital formation is as a proportion of gross domestic product in Scotland.