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-20871

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce adult illiteracy rates.

Strong literacies skills help people fulfil their potential, achieve their goals, and take advantage of opportunities and the Scottish Government wants every citizen in Scotland to have the literacy capabilities necessary to bridge the poverty gap, to understand and shape the world they live in, and to enjoy the rich knowledge and benefits that being able to read, write and use numbers can bring.

Scotland has its own adult literacies guidance and action plan contained within Adult Literacies in Scotland 2020 which encompasses numeracy. Its impact will be reviewed as part of the Adult Learning Strategy for Scotland, this will produce recommendations on next steps for adult literacies within the context of the Adult Learning Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-20686

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 September 2023

The Public Bodies Climate Change Reporting 2021-22 Analysis Report , page 15, shows grid electricity consumed by around 180 public bodies which have reported annually since 2015-16 on compliance with their statutory climate change duties. Reporting years are 12 months to 31 March rather than calendar years.

Total grid electricity consumed by reporting public bodies is set out in the following table.

Year

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

Grid electricity

consumed GWh

(Gigawatt hour)

3,147.79

3,070.41

2,981.08

2,850.84

2,779.86

2,579.81

2,702.83

As set out on page 18 of the report, greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use by reporting bodies have fallen from 1,550,894 tCO2e (tonnes of CO2 equivalent) in 2015-16 to 623,147 tCO2e in 2021-2022, a reduction of 59.8%, with the principal influence being decarbonisation of the electricity grid.

As set out on page 31 of the report, public bodies also generate renewable energy (electricity and heat) on their own estates.

Total renewable electricity generated by reporting public bodies is set out in the following table.

Year

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

Renewable electricity

generated GWh

(Gigawatt hour)

103

105

103

113

Question reference: S6W-20922

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2023

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17566 on 17 May 2023. Due to the annual budget cycle, Scottish Government cannot yet confirm dates or capital budgets for future bidding rounds. However, we continue to engage with regional stakeholders on planning and priorities for future funding calls. The timing of potential future bidding rounds will be considered in the New Year.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-20943

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the (a) UK Government Secretary of State for Transport and (b) Avanti West Coast Train Operating Company regarding the proposed closure of the ticket office at Glasgow Central Station.

I am pleased to confirm the Scottish Government has no plans to close any ScotRail ticket offices, unlike proposals from UK Government train operators to close ticket offices elsewhere and this includes the Avanti ticket office at Glasgow Central station.

I have written to the UK (Rail) Minister setting out the Scottish Government’s objection to these proposed ticket office closures and raising strong concerns around potential impacts on disabled and other passengers who rely on support from station staff to access rail services. My letter was copied to Andy Mellors, Managing Director, Avanti West Coast and Antony Smith, Chief Executive, Transport Focus.

Question reference: S6W-20923

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when Anne's Law will be implemented.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering Anne’s Law within the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (NCS) to further support the rights of people living in adult care homes to connect with their loved ones.

At Stage 1 of the NCS Bill, evidence was heard from seven committees and many individuals and representatives on a wide range of topics. The extension to Stage 1 has allowed the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government the necessary time to consider all of the evidence to best inform the development of the NCS Bill including Anne’s Law. During this time we have continued to work with care home providers, relatives and other stakeholders to develop the detail of Anne’s Law and prepare for its implementation.

Meantime, the Scottish Government has already utilised existing powers to adopt the core foundations of Anne’s Law through the development of two new Heath and Social Care Standards introduced in April 2022.

The new Standards establish that people living in care homes can expect to see someone who is important to them, even during an infectious outbreak and be able to name a person or persons who can directly participate in meeting their care needs. The Care Inspectorate now refer to these Standards when registering, inspecting and supporting care homes.

Furthermore, Public Health Scotland’s COVID guidance supports visiting during an infectious outbreak situation. Three named visitors can visit a resident, one per day, in the event of an outbreak, and essential visiting for end-of-life care and distress should always be supported, regardless of the circumstances.

Taken together, these measures have resulted in over 99% of care homes in Scotland reporting that they are supporting indoor visiting (in week ending 17 July 2023, COVID-19 in Adult Care Homes in Scotland , Public Health Scotland). The Scottish Government will continue to work with all parties to ensure that people living in care homes are supported to connect with their loved ones.

Question reference: S6T-01555

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports that treatment for ovarian cancer is a postcode lottery and has left some women with no option but to pay for private healthcare.

Question reference: S6T-01559

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that students at Scottish universities receive their degree classifications.

Question reference: S6F-02415

Asked by: Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the work that the Scottish Government is undertaking to support the establishment of a pilot safer drug consumption facility.

Question reference: S6F-02411

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the use of antidepressants in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-02400

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

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