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-17818

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan will be published.

The Ministerial Population Taskforce has committed to publishing the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan in Autumn 2023, which will include a place-based focus on a mixture of rural, island, and select urban locations across Scotland which are experiencing depopulation.

The Scottish Government is committed to taking a genuine partnership approach to the development of the Action Plan, and will continue to engage closely with local authorities, COSLA, agencies and local communities throughout summer 2023, prior to its publication.

Question reference: S6W-17412

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its commitment is to increasing forestry cover, including any timescales; whether any such commitment is tied to the fulfilment of any domestic or international climate action agreements; whether current policy towards extending tree cover meets the expectations of the Climate Change Committee; what annual budget is allocated to achieve its commitments on tree cover, and whether any such budget allocations for tree cover have been fully spent in each of the last three years.

Scotland’s Forestry Strategy has committed to increasing forest and woodland cover from around 18% to 21% of the total area of Scotland by 2032. To achieve this the Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan and Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan both commit to increasing woodland creation to 18,000 hectares a year in 2024-25.

This commitment to increase forestry cover is an important part of Scotland’s response to the climate emergency and the international Paris Agreement, which set out Scotland’s ambition to reach net zero by 2045. The commitment sits within the range of scenarios described by the Climate Change Committee. It also contributes to Scottish Government’s pledge to plant 165,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030 as part of the international Bonn Challenge.

The following table shows the annual budget allocated to achieve the commitments on increasing tree cover, together with net spend (millions):

	19-20	20-21	21-22
Woodland Grants	£51.0m	£55.3m	£61.8m
EU Co-financing	£(20.8)m	£(26.9)m	£(10.5)m
Net Budget	£30.2m	£28.4m	£51.3m
Net spend	£27.9m	£17.6m	£31.8m

The planting target increased from 10,000 hectares in 19-20 to 12,000 hectares in 20-21 in line with our net zero ambitions. Unfortunately due to the impact of the outbreak of Covid, EU exit and bad weather during the planting season only 10,660 hectares of woodland were created, resulting in an underspend of £10.8m. The planting target for 21-22 was increased to 13,500 hectares. Due to the influence of storms Arwen, Malik and Corrie and the availability of labour resources, particularly from Europe, 10,480 hectares of woodland were created. This resulted in an underspend of £19.5m.

Question reference: S6W-17571

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have indicated to Circularity Scotland that they have not joined the Deposit Return Scheme due to the UK Government's position on the scheme.

Circularity Scotland has not provided the Scottish Government with specific data on reasons why businesses have not joined the Deposit Return Scheme.

The Scottish Government and delivery partners such as Circularity Scotland, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland continue to regularly engage directly with businesses on matters which are within our control to ensure all involved are ready for successful launch on 1st of March 2024.

Organisations from across the UK frustrated by the UK Government’s position have written an open letter urging the Prime Minister to grant an exemption to the Internal Markets Act. Many more have privately expressed their concern that the lack of an Internal Market Act exemption is creating uncertainty and confusion for all the businesses that have worked so hard to prepare for the scheme.

Question reference: S6T-01392

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will compensate businesses if it decides not to proceed with the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6T-01394

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to retired carers.

Question reference: S6F-02173

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what impact the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund is having on communities on Arran.

Question reference: S6F-02164

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports of world-leading dementia expert, Craig Ritchie, leaving the NHS and his comments referring to problems with infrastructure and blockages in the system.

Question reference: S6F-02169

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the role of social media in encouraging violence towards pupils and teachers in schools.

Question reference: S6F-02152

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister for what reason consultants have reportedly been hired to advise on the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry contract.

Question reference: S6F-02142

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.