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-21603

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide the reasons for the reported change in the policy of Reach, from previously targeting schools in areas with low progression into higher education to focusing in on pupils’ home postcode.

The Reach programme, one of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funded Access to High Demand Programmes (ADHP), was initially founded in 2010 to improve progression to higher education (HE) and targeted specific schools with lower rates of progression to HE.

In 2017 the targeting criteria for ADHP were expanded to ensure that certain disadvantaged pupils in all schools could benefit from the programme, not just pupils in schools with lower progression rates. This decision was informed by the Commission on Widening Access’ final report, A Blueprint for Fairness, and SFC-funded research looking at the attainment and socio-economic profiles of pupils in all schools in Scotland.

Targeting criteria for AHDP is set by SFC and AHDP partners. Since 2017, the eligibility criteria are:

• Live in an SIMD decile 1-4 (SIMD 20/40); or

• Are care experienced; or

• Are estranged from family and living without family support; or

• Have caring responsibilities; or

• Are seeking asylum in the UK; or

• Have refugee status.

Reach partners may also consider extenuating circumstances outwith the above at their discretion.

Question reference: S6W-21542

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any work to look at restricting advertising by gambling companies.

Betting, gaming and lotteries are largely reserved matters and their regulation is primarily the responsibility of the UK Government. The Gambling Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”) sets out how gambling in Great Britain should be regulated.

The Gambling Commission has responsibility for regulating commercial gambling in Great Britain and requires gambling operators to hold a licence to operate. The Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice require operators to comply with the Advertising Codes, administered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Question reference: S6W-21384

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to keep pace with the EU Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation, particularly in relation to maximum distances between EV charging stations and hydrogen fuel stations.

The Scottish Government will implement all relevant regulation to improve consumer experience of public charge points for electric vehicles in Scotland.

In June 2023 Transport Scotland published A Network Fit For The Future: Vision for Scotland’s Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network, which sets out the ambition for a world-class public charging network that works for everyone regardless of their needs. It highlights the need for a well-designed, comprehensive and convenient network of public charge points. The Vision can be found at this web link: A Network Fit For The Future: Vision for Scotland’s Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network | Transport Scotland . Government is supporting the delivery of this Vision through the £60 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which includes funding for Local Authorities to map out public charging needs in their areas through Strategy and Expansion Plans.

In addition, The Zero Emission Truck Taskforce, which includes Transport Scotland, is exploring the energy infrastructure required for HGVs, including consideration of hydrogen refuelling, and will publish an HGV Decarbonisation Pathway next year.

Question reference: S6W-20869

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed in the meeting between the First Minister and the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate on 24 August 2023.

As part of the Scottish Government’s efforts to drive global climate ambition and action ahead of New York Climate Week and COP28, the First Minister and I met with the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, on 24 August. We discussed renewable energy, securing a Just Transition to a net zero and climate resilient future and our shared ambitions for COP28. The US Special Envoy asked about the constitutional position of Scotland, including independence, in the context of Scotland’s climate and net zero objectives. The First Minister set out the Scottish Government’s position on independence and the Scottish Government’s view of how this can be taken forward.

Question reference: S6W-20936

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 01 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to empower local authorities to exact penalties or levies on third party contractors who go over time on the delivery of a project, for example, road works.

Roads authorities have existing powers to issue legal directions against any work happening on their network, including to curtail works which overrun without an acceptable reason. These are discretionary powers, and it is for each authority to determine whether it is appropriate to use those powers in each situation.

The planned 2024 review of road works Fixed Penalty Notices (Fines) will see the expansion of the number of issues that Roads Authorities can address, and an increase in the value of the penalty itself. This is in addition to the Road Works Commissioner’s penalty, which was increased from £50,000 to £100,000 in 2022. The Commissioner can issue this penalty where a utility firm consistently fails to co-operate with the roads authority.

Outside of the specific example of road works, for example, in building developments, we have no current plans to enhance those powers but recognising the challenging fiscal environment Councils face, we are committed to developing a Fiscal Framework with Local Government in order to ensure the sustainability of local services.

Question reference: S6W-20958

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Somerville: Officials within the Scottish Government were aware of RAAC as a safety topic in recent years, through general engagement with the construction sector and specific organisations such as the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS, now CROSS-UK) who issued their first safety alert on RAAC in May 2019.

The topic has since achieved broader prominence, supported by the creation of a RAAC study group by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) in June 2021 and publication of IStructE guidance on RAAC assessment in March 2022 and in April 2023.

Question reference: S6T-01579

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported proposed rationalisation of the Police Scotland estate.

Question reference: S6T-01569

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether CMAL should still accept into service the Glen Sannox and 802 ferries, in light of reports that they no longer meet the original basic design criteria.

Question reference: S6F-02441

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to tackle the reported rising rates of crime and antisocial behaviour at retail premises.

Question reference: S6F-02428

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any impact of operational changes in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on response times to recent incidents, including the fires at the Ayr Station Hotel and Kitty’s nightclub in Kirkcaldy.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

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