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-23642

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on SEPA’s proposed sea lice framework to manage interactions between sea lice from finfish farms and wild salmonids.

I can advise Parliament that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today published its response to its recent consultation on ‘Managing interactions between sea lice from finfish farms and wild salmonids in Scotland’ .

Our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture values the role of aquaculture in producing world-renowned healthy and quality seafood, whilst recognising that its delivery and development must be sustainable.

SEPA’s finalised sea lice framework follows an extensive period of consultation. The framework will support sustainable development of fish farming worth over £1 billion to our economy, ensuring our communities continue to realise the benefits of aquaculture, by guiding development to the least-sensitive locations and protecting the environment, whilst making the development process more efficient and effective.

The framework will be implemented in phases and will adopt a proportionate, evidenced and risk-based approach to management. From February 2024, the framework will be used to assess all new and expanding fish farm developments.

Question reference: S6W-23390

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that there are sufficient consultants to train future junior doctors, in light of reports that many consultants in Scotland are reaching retirement age and considering early retirement, as cited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in its State of the nation report: The psychiatric workforce in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-23266

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that bus gates, such as those in Aberdeen, do not penalise coach drivers servicing trade and tourism locations by them incurring fines.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. These duties include the making of Traffic Regulation Orders for such things as restricting access on roads to certain types of vehicles as they see fit, such as bus gates.

It is therefore for local authorities to determine what vehicles should be permitted depending on the local specific circumstances and not an area where Scottish Ministers would intervene. Notwithstanding this, Aberdeen City Council has confirmed that the recently opened bus gates in Aberdeen City Centre, supported by Transport Scotland’s Bus Partnership Fund, do permit coaches.

Question reference: S6W-23521

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its publication dates, which months it uses to define (a) spring, (b) summer, (c) autumn and (d) winter.

Question reference: S6W-23162

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group not having met since January 2023, when it will next meet.

The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group was established to advise on the implementation of Programme for Government commitments related to student mental health, which have now been met in full. In addition, the Group was remitted to assist in the development of a Student Mental Health Action Plan and act as a consultative body for gathering evidence and feedback.

Meetings of the Group were paused in January 2023, to await publication of the Scottish Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan and Mental Health Workforce Plan.

Members of the Group will shortly be consulted on the draft Student Mental Health Action Plan which has been informed by the now published Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and attendant Plans.

Question reference: S6W-23164

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the commitment to publish the Student Mental Health Action Plan, which was included in its Programme for Government for previous years, was not included in its Programme for Government for 2023-24.

The Programme for Government 2021-22 and 2022-23 committed to a Student Mental Health Action Plan and Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy respectively.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was published in Summer 2023 and is supported by a Mental Health Workforce Plan and Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan, published in autumn 2023. The Student Mental Health Plan, which flows from these, will be published in early 2024.

There is, therefore, no ongoing requirement for these Plans to feature in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6O-02888

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current options available to record the relationship status of a deceased person are sufficient for the purposes of this information being accurately represented on death certificates.

Question reference: S6O-02889

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its cladding remediation programme.

Question reference: S6O-02891

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposals outlined in its latest Building a New Scotland paper, Social Security in an independent Scotland, would support Scotland’s social security system.

Question reference: S6O-02892

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for ambulances in north east Scotland.