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-16305

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with chairs of planning authorities regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Question reference: S6W-16300

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it currently has any contracts with SOLACE.

Question reference: S6W-16307

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with Heads of Planning Scotland regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Officials meet on a frequent basis with Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS), including through a monthly catch up between the Chief Planner and the HOPS Chair and Vice Chairs to discuss key issues, and by officials attending the HOPS sub-committees on development planning and development management, where NPF4 is a regular agenda item.

The HOPS annual conference is attended by Scottish Government officials and the Minister with responsibility for planning, most recently on 31 st March 2023. HOPS is also part of the High Level Group on planning performance, co-chaired by Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

We are committed to continuing a collaborative approach with a range of key stakeholders in the delivery of NPF4, including HOPS.

Question reference: S6W-16119

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported record-high mortality rates in the Scottish salmon farming industry in 2022.

The recent increase in mortality should be considered in the context of the trend seen since 2002, which indicates average mortality levels are relatively stable with peaks and troughs in different years. This is demonstrated by comparison of the number of fish surviving to harvest within a production cycle, which provides for a better comparison between years than mortality figures alone, and which is presented in our published production survey Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Scottish Government expects producers to drive mortality to lowest possible levels. We continue to work with the sector, regulators, fish vets and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre to better understand causes of mortality, improve access to treatments and address the impacts of climate change.

Question reference: S6W-16100

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15610 by Michael Matheson on 14 March 2023, when it expects that new guidance on noise limits and amplitude modulation will be produced, following the review of ETSU-R-97, and whether it will impose a moratorium on the approval of all onshore windfarm proposals until such new guidance is produced.

Question reference: S6W-16277

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it proposes to reduce the ScotRail journey time between (a) Aberdeen and Dundee by three minutes and (b) Dundee and Edinburgh by 17 minutes, by 2026.

Question reference: S6W-16020

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position regarding uprating the pay of social care workers to at least £15 per hour, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

From April 2023, adult social care workers delivering direct care in commissioned services will see their pay increase to a minimum of £10.90 per hour; in line with the Real Living Wage rate for the 2023-24 Financial Year. This represents a 14.7% increase for these workers in the last two years.

To increase the minimum pay rate for these workers from £10.90 per hour to £15 per hour could cost up to an additional £1.1bn. To increase pay to £15 per hour for all social care workers could cost up to an additional £1.7bn. There have never been greater pressures on public finances and the Scottish Government have continued to call on the UK Government to provide additional funding, including to take into account inflation. However, in the absence of this, we are having to make difficult choices.

Question reference: S6W-16098

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed new cancer strategy will address the findings of the Cancer Research UK report, Cancer in the UK: Deprivation and cancer inequalities in Scotland, including the finding that more deprived populations (a) are less likely to take up cancer screening invitations, (b) are less aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and (c) report more barriers to seeking help for potential symptoms.

We know that those from areas of deprivation are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to delay presenting with possible symptoms. This is why we launched, and continue to invest in, our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme with a focus on reducing health inequalities such as these. The Programme adopts a whole-systems approach to improving earlier diagnosis rates from public awareness & education to supporting primary care improvements.

We committed £2 million over 2021-22 and 2022-23 to tackle inequalities in cancer screening programmes and will invest a further £1 million in 23-24 to build on progress to date. This commitment will be reflected in the forthcoming cancer strategy. To direct and support this work, the first Equity in Screening Strategy is being produced in collaboration with NHS and third sector partners, setting out a vision to achieve equity for all those eligible for screening.

We regularly undertake research with people from areas of deprivation in Scotland to help inform and measure our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme’s behaviour change campaigns. As a result of our most recent insight we developed and launched ‘Be the Early Bird’ on 6 March 2023 to increase awareness of possible symptoms and empower those concerned to act early. A roadshow is currently touring areas of deprivation across Scotland to reinforce this message and encourage prompt action.

A wealth of data and insight from varying sources has been analysed to help inform Scotland’s new cancer strategy, including incidence, survival, staging, socioeconomic insight and pathway timings to name a few.

Question reference: S6W-16108

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop and support a town planning apprenticeship scheme.

We are supporting the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland and Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) to implement the recommendations of the Future Planners Project Report.

The Future Planners Project Report, commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by HOPS and RTPI in 2022, explored the options available to support the growth of entrants into the planning profession in Scotland. The Report recommended that the RTPI lead on introducing a planning apprenticeship scheme over the next 3 years. We are currently supporting the RTPI to promote the case for creation of a planning apprenticeship scheme.

Question reference: S6W-16110

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many households in Scotland are on the Priority Services Register.