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-19508

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on its policy position regarding the implementation of individual payments for Universal Credit.

Question reference: S6W-19491

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to teachers undertaking (a) Into Headship, (b) Excellence in Headship and (c) master's-level qualifications in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.

a) Into Headship

The Scottish Government provided grant funding to Higher Education Institutions to deliver the Into Headship programme, as set out in the following table. This funding was not allocated to local authorities, therefore we do not hold a breakdown by local authority.

	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	Total
University of Aberdeen	£79,716	£98,112	£107,310	£285,138
University of Dundee	£58,254	£45,990	£36,792	£141,036
University of Edinburgh	£110,376	£162,498	£101,178	£374,052
University of Glasgow	£113,442	£82,782	£67,452	£263,676
University of Highlands & Islands	£76,650	£180,894	£95,046	£352,590
University of Stirling	£177,828	£165,564	£134,904	£478,296
University of Strathclyde	£144,102	£104,244	£135,926	£384,272
Total	£760,368	£840,084	£678,608	£2,279,060

b) Excellence in Headship

The Scottish Government provided funding to Education Scotland to deliver the Excellence in Headship programme, as set out in the table below. This funding was not allocated to local authorities, therefore we do not hold a breakdown by local authority.

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

Scottish Government Funding to Education Scotland

£400,000

1. Masters-Level Learning for Teachers

The Scottish Government provided grant funding to the recipients set out in the table below to enable the delivery of Masters-level learning for teachers. This funding was allocated to these recipients on behalf of Teacher Education Partnerships, except for City & Guilds and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. We do not hold a breakdown by local authority.

Grant Recipient	Universities in Teacher Education Partnership	Local Authorities in Teacher Education Partnership	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	Total
University of Aberdeen	University of Aberdeen	Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Highland, Moray and Shetland	£71,400	£88,500	£88,500	£248,400
City & Guilds	NA	NA	£45,750	£45,000	£26,000	£116,750
Dumfries and Galloway Council	University of Glasgow, University of Stirling	Dumfries and Galloway	£15,900	£6,964	£5,547	£28,411
University of Dundee	University of Dundee	Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth & Kinross	£81,900	£81,720	£81,000	£244,620
University of Edinburgh	University of Edinburgh	Edinburgh City, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Fife	£132,200	£132,400	£132,100	£396,700
University of Strathclyde	University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow	East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire	£217,100	£218,700	£218,700	£654,500
University of Highlands & Islands	University of Highlands & Islands	Argyll & Bute, Shetland, Orkney, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray	£53,900	£53,100	£54,000	£161,000
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	NA	NA	£18,300	£18,300	£18,300	£54,900
University of Stirling	University of Stirling	West Lothian, Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Perth & Kinross	£55,000	£55,600	£55,080	£165,680
University of West of Scotland	University of West of Scotland	East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire	£40,320	£40,600	£41,000	£121,920
Total			£731,770	£740,884	£720,227	£2,192,881

Question reference: S6W-19493

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the specific reasons for the reported delay in the allocation of funding for community groups and local authorities to build and provide Changing Places toilets.

The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets during this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to events and outdoor venues.

I refer you to written submission PE2027/A I provided in response to a petition published on 18 May 2023.

https://www.parliament.scot/get-involved/petitions/view-petitions/pe2027-launch-the-changing-places-toilet-fund.

Question reference: S6W-19511

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of poverty rates in Aberdeen.

Question reference: S6W-19460

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is allocated to Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Personal Assistants who offer bespoke, personalised and flexible care, enabling those with support needs to remain healthy and at home for longer.

The Personal Assistant (PA) Programme Board was established in 2021 to provide advice to Ministers on issues and actions needed to support this workforce. The work of the PA Programme Board Training sub group is led and informed by key stakeholders including PA employers. Work underway during 2023 includes funding of up to £91K, to build on the successful leadership in this area by Self Directed Support Scotland, to prepare a national PA training framework which will be developed with consideration of neurodiversity. Further information about the PA Programme Board is available at: Self Directed Support Scotland .

Question reference: S6W-19384

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering implementing formal protocols for risk stratification of patients requiring oncology services, in line with protocols put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Question reference: S6W-19764

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 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount of grant funding was that was (a) available and (b) distributed for its Creative Communities programme in each year since it was established.

Question reference: S6W-19732

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scotland’s National Centre for Languages since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Scottish Government officials have held quarterly meetings with Scotland’s National Centre for Languages (SCILT) since May 2021 as part of the grant management process. Officials have also met with staff from SCILT to discuss projects on an ad-hoc basis.

The outcomes of such meetings have included agreed objectives relating to grant funding to SCILT and decisions on whether to continue to provide funding and the amount of funding available.

Question reference: S6W-19734

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with V&A Dundee since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

There have been four official meetings with Ministers since May 2021.

On 6 August 2021 Jenny Gilruth had an introductory visit to V&A Dundee following her appointment as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.

On 28 January 2022 Angus Robertson visited V&A Dundee in his role as Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.

On 23 November 2022 Neil Gray visited V&A Dundee in his role as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine.

On 31 March 2023 the Deputy First Minister Shona Robison attended the launch of the Tartan exhibition.

As core funded organisation, officials meet regularly with V&A Dundee as part of normal grant management processes.

Question reference: S6W-19721

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the National Library of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

The Scottish Government Ministerial team has met with National Library of Scotland (NLS) on several occasions since May 2021. The meetings were as follows:

30 Nov 2021 Jenny Gilruth as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with the NLS Chair and the National Librarian.

4 My 2022 Neil Gray as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine had an introductory visit and tour of the Treasures galleries at the George IV bridge National Library site.

6 Dec 2022 Angus Robertson in his role as Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture met the Chairs of NMS and NLS at the Scottish Parliament to discuss the future of Scotland's National Collections.

31 May 2023 I, as newly appointed Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, had an introductory meeting with the NLS Chair and the National Librarian.

8 June 2023 I attended at the launch of the Folktales exhibition at George IV bridge National Library site.

As a public body in receipt of grant-in-aid officials have met regularly with the National Library of Scotland since May 2021.