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-11567

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that households with digital landlines are able to contact emergency services and make calls from such landlines in the event of a power cut.

It is important to note that resilience of the Communications Sector, which includes telecommunications and internet, is reserved and therefore the responsibility of the UK Government.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is operator-owned and the operators are entitled to replace or remove it, so long as they continue to meet their regulatory obligations.

To ensure that consumers can still make emergency calls during a power cut, Ofcom has placed regulatory obligations on telecoms providers.?

The guidance states that providers must have at least one solution (such as a battery back-up unit or means to connect to a mobile network) available that enables customers to access emergency organisations for a minimum of one hour in the event of a power cut, and that it must be offered free of charge to customers who are at risk as they are dependent on their landline.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with the UK Government and the regulator (Ofcom) for assurance that resilience of the telecoms network in Scotland is a priority.

Question reference: S6W-11566

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all assets that rely on copper landline networks will continue to run after the switchover to digital landlines and in the event of a power cut.

It is important to note that resilience of the Communications Sector, which includes telecommunications and internet, is reserved and therefore the responsibility of the UK Government.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of mobile and broadband connectivity for almost all aspects of everyday life which is why we are working closely with BT, Ofcom, UK Government and other network operators to ensure the migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital based services is as seamless as possible.

Ofcom is closely monitoring the migration from PSTN to VOIP and they are clear that industry must protect customers during transition.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with the UK Government and the regulator (Ofcom) for assurance that resilience of the telecoms network in Scotland is a priority.

Question reference: S6W-11563

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with VisitScotland regarding the promotion of tourism in the South of Scotland.

The Scottish Government has regular and ongoing engagement with VisitScotland to discuss the role they play in supporting and promoting Scottish destinations, including the South of Scotland. The Scottish Government also receives weekly written updates about the work of VisitScotland.

Most recently the Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise Minister Ivan McKee met with VisitScotland CEO Malcolm Roughead on 27 October. Discussion included a range of issues including updates on the delivery of local marketing campaigns, supported through the Destination and Sector Marketing fund, which are helping to reach new audiences. In the South of Scotland this includes work with organisations including South of Scotland Destination Alliance, Whithorn Trust, Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, Visit East Lothian, Scotland’s Golf Coast and Dunbar Traders Association.

VisitScotland remain focused on rebuilding international demand and are working hand in hand with their partners in the tourism and events industry to rebuild this vital part of Scotland’s economy and provide the right support to lead the recovery. Their activity promotes the whole of Scotland as a destination, including regional-focused campaigns. Recent campaigns feature a significant amount of South Scotland content and cover a range of destinations. This includes promotion in PR, film content, social media, web content.

Question reference: S6W-11341

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken legal advice on any investigations into GFG Alliance.

Question reference: S6W-11351

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding (a) its, (b) its agencies and (c) Police Scotland's ability to provide assistance to the Serious Fraud Office in relation to its investigation into GFG Alliance and any issues arising in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-11349

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what contact it has had with the Serious Fraud Office regarding its investigation into GFG Alliance.

Question reference: S6W-11350

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what contact it has had with Police Scotland in relation to GFG Alliance.

Question reference: S6W-11551

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation which would set a minimum megawatt hour community benefit contribution rate for onshore wind developments that increases in line with inflation.

It is not possible for the Scottish Government to introduce legislation to mandate the provision of community benefits through energy regulation because the relevant powers are reserved to the UK Government. Through our existing guidance for onshore renewable developments, we continue to promote community benefits of the value equivalent to £5,000 per installed megawatt per annum, index linked for the operational lifetime of the project.

The Scottish Government is in the process of reviewing its Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Offshore Renewable Energy Developments. We will consult on revised draft guidance in Spring 2023, and as part of this process we will gather evidence to help inform the need for further updates to our Good Practice Principles for: Community Benefits from, and Shared Ownership of Onshore Renewable Energy Developments.

Question reference: S6W-11496

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on current game licensing plans for deer management.

We are progressing the recommendations made in the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) report , published in December 2020. The DWG report made recommendations to improve deer management and included recommendations 19-21 which propose legislative amendments to modernise the licensing of venison dealers and improve information gathering. The Scottish Government response to the DWG report is at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/news/deer-working-group-response/ .

The recommendations relating to game and venison dealer licensing are being taken forward via the legislative work stream of the Deer Management Strategic Board which has been established under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Programme. We will provide further information on timing of changes to the legislation on venison licensing in due course. We expect to consult on any proposed changes to primary legislation in the normal way.

Regular updates on all of the work from the Deer Management Strategic Board can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.scot/groups/strategic-deer-management-board/ .

Question reference: S6W-11489

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm how much tax relief it has provided to (a) the games sector, (b) high-end TV production, (c) children’s TV production, (d) animation, (e) film, (f) theatre and (g) orchestras in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23.