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-18076

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what benefits the ACORN project may offer to the economy of north east Scotland.

The Acorn storage project at St. Fergus is a vitally important part of a wider Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage opportunity in Scotland. Scottish Government economic scenario analysis shows CCUS would have a positive impact on the Scottish economy. In 2045 Scottish GDP could be 1.3-2.3% (£3.8Bn-£6.7Bn) higher in scenarios with CCUS, than without. By deploying CCUS, hydrogen and direct air capture technologies in Scotland, the Scottish Cluster believes it could support an average of 15,100 jobs between 2022-2050, with a peak of 20,600 jobs in 2031.

Whilst these significant benefits will undoubtedly positively impact the North-East, the Scottish Government’s ambitions for CCUS extend Scotland-wide, and the development of strategically located CCUS infrastructure in Scotland’s industrial clusters in Grangemouth and the North-East could protect and ensure the just transition for important domestic industries into a low-carbon future, protecting jobs and utilising existing skills.

Question reference: S6W-17659

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the report, Scottish Government Pain Management Panel, for what reasons it decided that the panel should (a) be comprised of individuals who had not been part of past studies and (b) not include people who (i) were involved with previous research and (ii) carry out advocacy activities on chronic pain issues.

Previous Governance models for Scottish Government chronic pain policy have involved people with lived experience in a variety of methods – including individual representation, a wider reference group of lived experience, elected representatives and members of chronic pain or associated other condition advocacy groups. Views from these groups had therefore already been solicited to help inform the development of the Framework.

Our Equality and Impact Assessment for the Framework identified the need to amplify the voices of groups of people who may be impacted by chronic pain but typically overlooked when it comes to engagement as they are not members of organised groups associated with a condition. Therefore there was a specific requirement for participants to be recruited independently of existing groups and structures to broaden the reach of engagement and ensure diversity of experience was included.

Question reference: S6W-17100

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the real terms spending, based on current prices, was on Scottish schools, in each year since 2007.

Table 1 provides real terms expenditure based on 2021-22 prices for Scottish schools in each year since 2007. Real terms expenditure is broken down by primary, secondary, and special education.

Table 1: Real terms expenditure, 2007-08 to 2021-22 (£000)

Financial ‎ Year	Primary ‎ Education	Secondary ‎ Education	Special ‎ Education	School Education
2007-08	2,291,312	2,570,000	641,962	5,503,273
2008-09	2,266,389	2,550,632	645,280	5,462,301
2009-10	2,238,327	2,469,714	656,351	5,364,393
2010-11	2,247,021	2,441,262	648,359	5,336,642
2011-12	2,185,497	2,330,489	619,960	5,135,945
2012-13	2,157,200	2,309,964	605,403	5,072,566
2013-14	2,143,300	2,257,681	607,647	5,008,629
2014-15	2,137,097	2,225,583	614,385	4,977,065
2015-16	2,178,851	2,226,211	628,597	5,033,659
2016-17	2,210,760	2,213,670	618,241	5,042,671
2017-18	2,277,852	2,210,339	622,918	5,111,109
2018-19	2,356,577	2,304,687	645,383	5,306,647
2019-20	2,434,207	2,395,751	678,111	5,508,069
2020-21	2,395,511	2,358,155	667,672	5,421,337
2021-22	2,553,716	2,503,212	704,929	5,761,857

Figures are adjusted to exclude inter-authority transfers. Inflation adjustments are based on HM Treasury’s 31 March 2023 GDP Deflator outturn data.

Sources:

1. Local Financial Returns – Education (LFR 01) statistical return provided by local authorities to the Scottish Government: Local government finance statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

2. GDP deflators at market prices: GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Question reference: S6O-02316

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 has assisted the police in responding to reports of coercive control and stalking behaviours from members of the public.

Question reference: S6O-02321

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on phase 3 of the learning estate investment programme, including in relation to the planned date for the announcement of the successful projects.

Question reference: S6O-02317

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review its approach to drafting financial memoranda, in light of concerns raised by the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

Question reference: S6O-02319

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it plans to provide to tourism, hospitality and leisure operators in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S6O-02318

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the review by Zero Waste Scotland into the environmental impact of single-use vapes.

Question reference: S6O-02320

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what options it foresees for the future of Ferguson Marine after ferries 801 and 802 are built.

Question reference: S6O-02323

Current Status: Withdrawn