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-19751

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 6 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its paper, A Culture Strategy for Scotland, whether it will provide an update on how it is working with (a) Creative Scotland and (b) its international offices, to encourage international cultural exchange and collaboration in order to facilitate opportunities across the culture sector.

Question reference: S6W-19472

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of increased mortgage rates on fuel poverty.

We have not undertaken an assessment of the impact of recent increases in mortgage rates on levels of fuel poverty among Scottish households.

National Statistics on fuel poverty use data on mortgage costs collected through the Scottish Household Survey, with the latest available figures being for 2019. Updated National Statistics on fuel poverty for 2022, incorporating mortgage costs for that year, are expected to be published in January 2024.

Given that our definition of fuel poverty uses a household’s after housing costs (AHC) income, it is likely that rising mortgage costs and/or rents will result in more fuel poor households.

The data we collect on mortgages does not include information on households' mortgage types, or on the time left before the debt is expected to be paid off. This makes it difficult to include changes to mortgages within the fuel poverty scenario modelling previously produced in relation to changes in the energy price cap and mitigation measures.

The most recent estimates produced using this scenario modelling approach suggest that, at the current energy price cap, approximately 850,000 households (34%) in Scotland will be in fuel poverty from July to September. This year we have tripled the budget for our Fuel Insecurity Fund to £30 million, which is there to support any household at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing their energy use. We also continue to call on the UK Government to provide more targeted support.

Question reference: S6W-19463

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17549 by Maree Todd on 15 May 2023, whether it will provide an update regarding the date on which its new Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy will be published.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was published on 29 June 2023, along with an Executive Summary and Easy Read version. A programme of stakeholder engagement will take place over the Summer on the accompanying Delivery Plan, with the intention of publishing it alongside the Workforce Action Plan in the Autumn. The Strategy is available online at Mental health and wellbeing strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-19345

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what dialogue it has had with the UK Government regarding streamlining the processes involved in clinical trials of new medicines and therapies.

Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office engages regularly with UK Government and agencies directly, and through cross-UK fora, on streamlining the clinical trials system across the UK. These discussions cover a range of topics, recently including post-pandemic growth, clinical trial regulations, research ethics review, and commercial trial costing and contracting – where Scotland’s already existing single price model for commercial research is informing work to realise a streamlined, standardised, UK approach.

Question reference: S6W-19279

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing in partnership across the UK to explore the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health and social care.

Question reference: S6W-19317

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to date, on the legal process following its decision to terminate its contract with the supplier, Systel, for a new national command and control mobilising system.

Question reference: S6W-19318

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total spend by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was on the contract with Systel for a new national command and control mobilising system.

Question reference: S6W-19419

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have submitted assessments to identify any roads that are appropriate for the adoption of 20mph speed limits.

The following 24 local authorities have submitted their road assessment;

1. Highland Council

2. Angus Council

3. Orkney Council

4. Renfrewshire Council

5. Dumfries and Galloway Council

6. Fife Council

7. Dundee City Council

8. City of Edinburgh Council

9. Scottish Borders Council

10. West Lothian Council

11. Moray Council

12. North Ayrshire Council

13. Inverclyde Council

14. Aberdeenshire Council

15. East Renfrewshire Council

16. West Dunbartonshire Council

17. Perth and Kinross Council

18. Falkirk Council

19. Stirling Council

20. Argyll and Bute Council

21. Aberdeen City Council (partial)

22. North Lanarkshire Council

23. East Lothian Council

24. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

The Scottish Government is engaging with the remaining local authorities to ensure a completed road assessment is received.

Question reference: S6W-19430

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to evaluate the impact of the Low Emission Zone in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-19309

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the timetable for the Housing Bill is, in light of reports that it has been delayed until spring 2024.