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-01124

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Department for Work and Pensions, and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S6W-01035

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy on 23 June 2021 that "Since the pandemic first hit last March, the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has regularly met the airport sector and the wider aviation sector, and we remain in close contact with them" (Official Report, col. 6), which airport leadership teams it (a) has met with in the last six months, and on what dates, and (b) plans to meet.

Dates the Scottish Government has met with and currently plans to meet with airports are included in the following table.

Date	Airport
13-Jan-21	Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL)
13-Jan-21	Edinburgh & AGS
15-Jan-21	HIAL
27-Jan-21	Edinburgh & AGS
02-Feb-21	HIAL
03-Feb-21	Edinburgh
03-Feb-21	Edinburgh
04-Feb-21	Edinburgh
05-Feb-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
07-Feb-21	Edinburgh & AGS
09-Feb-21	Edinburgh & AGS
11-Feb-21	Edinburgh & AGS
11-Feb-21	Edinburgh
12-Feb-21	HIAL
15-Feb-21	Edinburgh
16-Feb-21	HIAL
16-Feb-21	HIAL
16-Feb-21	AGS
16-Feb-21	Prestwick
16-Feb-21	Edinburgh
16-Feb-21	HIAL
16-Feb-21	Prestwick
17-Feb-21	Prestwick
18-Feb-21	HIAL
18-Feb-21	HIAL
22-Feb-21	HIAL
24-Feb-21	Edinburgh
24-Feb-21	HIAL
25-Feb-21	HIAL
25-Feb-21	Edinburgh
02-Mar-21	HIAL
03-Mar-21	Edinburgh
03-Mar-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
04-Mar-21	HIAL
12-Mar-21	HIAL
15-Mar-21	HIAL
16-Mar-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
17-Mar-21	Edinburgh
17-Mar-21	Edinburgh, AGS, Prestwick
18-Mar-21	Edinburgh
18-Mar-21	Edinburgh
18-Mar-21	HIAL
23-Mar-21	HIAL
25-Mar-21	HIAL
25-Mar-21	Edinburgh
29-Mar-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
29-Mar-21	Prestwick
30-Mar-21	AGS
30-Mar-21	HIAL
30-Mar-21	Prestwick
31-Mar-21	Edinburgh
01-Apr-21	AGS
08-Apr-21	Edinburgh
08-Apr-21	Prestwick
09-Apr-21	HIAL
09-Apr-21	Prestwick
12-Apr-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
12-Apr-21	Prestwick
13-Apr-21	HIAL
16-Apr-21	Edinburgh
21-Apr-21	HIAL
22-Apr-21	HIAL
22-Apr-21	HIAL
23-Apr-21	AGS
27-Apr-21	Prestwick
28-Apr-21	HIAL
30-Apr-21	HIAL
04-May-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
06-May-21	HIAL
07-May-21	HIAL
07-May-21	HIAL
11-May-21	Edinburgh, AGS, HIAL, Prestwick
11-May-21	HIAL
12-May-21	HIAL
13-May-21	Edinburgh
13-May-21	HIAL
13-May-21	HIAL
13-May-21	Prestwick
17-May-21	HIAL
18-May-21	Edinburgh
19-May-21	HIAL
20-May-21	HIAL
20-May-21	AGS
25-May-21	Edinburgh, AGS
26-May-21	Prestwick
01-Jun-21	HIAL
03-Jun-21	HIAL
03-Jun-21	Edinburgh
04-Jun-21	HIAL
09-Jun-21	HIAL
09-Jun-21	HIAL
09-Jun-21	HIAL
09-Jun-21	HIAL
09-Jun-21	Edinburgh
10-Jun-21	HIAL
14-Jun-21	Edinburgh
15-Jun-21	HIAL
15-Jun-21	Edinburgh
16-Jun-21	AGS
16-Jun-21	HIAL
17-Jun-21	HIAL
23-Jun-21	Edinburgh
24-Jun-21	HIAL
25-Jun-21	HIAL
29-Jun-21	AGS
30-Jun-21	Edinburgh, AGS
01-Jul-21	HIAL
02-Jul-21	HIAL
05-Jul-21	Prestwick
08-Jul-21	HIAL
08-Jul-21	Edinburgh, AGS
12-Jul-21	HIAL
12-Jul-21	HIAL
15-Jul-21	HIAL
15-Jul-21	Edinburgh, AGS
24-Aug-21	HIAL
25-Aug-21	HIAL
26-Aug-21	HIAL
06-Oct-21	HIAL
07-Oct-21	HIAL
08-Dec-21	HIAL
09-Dec-21	HIAL

Question reference: S6W-01023

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its key policy, planning and consenting frameworks to ensure that they are administered through processes that are efficient, flexible and outcome-focussed.

The Scottish Government is progressing wide reform of the planning system, including implementation of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019; preparation of Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework; a review of permitted development rights and a programme of digital transformation of planning services, with a focus on efficient processes, delivering good quality development and positive outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-01029

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on peatland restoration in each year since 2016.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has invested around
£39 million in peatland restoration through the Peatland Action programme (delivered by NatureScot) and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme under the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The annual figures are shown in the following table:

	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
£millions	3.50	0.82	5.49	7.86	10.35	11.18

The Member may also want to be aware of our 10-year commitment to invest more than £250 million in peatland restoration by 2030.

Question reference: S6W-01032

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government and devolved nations on harmonisation of COVID-19 guidance on international travel.

Where possible the policy decisions are taken on a four nations basis – guidance is developed as a result of those policy decisions, with officials discussing with the UK Government when necessary. This includes working with the UK government for guidance as part of UK-wide systems such as Passenger Locator Form and the CTM booking system.

We regularly update the Scottish Government website to reflect changes to policy, and have aligned with the UK Government on guidance for international travel, including directions for completing Passenger Locator Forms, isolation requirements once in Scotland and advice on country list changes. Some guidance varies where necessary where Scotland has different rules – for example Scottish guidance does not refer to private testing or ‘test to release’.

Question reference: S6W-01030

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on afforestation in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-01013

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the feasibility study into the Borders Railway extension to Carlisle.

Transport Scotland and the Department for Transport (DfT) are continuing to engage regularly to align their work to enable a shared understanding of the cross border benefits and challenges of options to extend Borders Rail to Carlisle. As committed to within the £350 million Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, the Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland, is progressing the evidence base for extending the Borders Railway through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. Alongside this, the UK Government’s Department for Transport is progressing complementary work with a wider UK perspective.

Question reference: S6W-01012

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on extending the Borders Railway, following comments made by the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities in 2015, regarding a feasibility study on linking the rail line with Carlisle, through Hawick.

Consideration of potential improvements to strategic transport infrastructure across the whole of Scotland continues to be undertaken through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). This work addresses the Scottish Government’s commitment within the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, for Transport Scotland to progress the evidence base for extending the Borders Railway, as well as considering the case for all other potential strategic transport improvements for the area.

STPR2 will create the evidence basis for future transport investment decisions by the Scottish Government for the next 20 years. It will conclude later this year, with publication of recommendations for investment and an appropriate statutory consultation period.

Question reference: S6W-00969

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that increased community ownership of land and other assets will increase community wealth, and if so, how it considers that this will be achieved.

We are committed to community wealth building in Scotland that will help deliver a stronger, more resilient and sustainable wellbeing economy.

One of the five pillars of community wealth building is the socially productive use of land and property which considers land not solely for its economic use, but also its social and ecological potential. More progressive use of land and property assets can have a significant impact on the fortunes of local people and enterprise, empowering communities to develop the land or asset as they see fit for the benefit of their local area. This requires us to think not just in terms of ownership and use, but also about stewardship for future generations.

The Scottish Government are committed to community wealth building and for the first time have appointed a Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth. The Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform and Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, who will lead on community wealth, will work together throughout this Parliamentary session. The Programme for Government commits us to grow community wealth building (CWB) in Scotland as part of our commitment to building a stronger, more resilient and sustainable economy.

We plan to double the Scottish Land Fund to £20 million per year by the end of this Parliament. This can facilitate more opportunities for communities seeking to explore the acquisition of land/assets and also the actual acquisition of land/assets.

As set out in our manifesto, we will introduce a new Land Reform bill in the current session.

Question reference: S6W-00973

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2021
Current Status: Holding Answer by Michael Matheson on 20 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on having a phased launch of the Deposit Return Scheme, with larger suppliers participating in the first phase and smaller and/or independent producers in the second after any initial issues that have been identified have been resolved, and what its response is to calls for the launch to be moved to 2024, to bring it line with the implementation of the other schemes in the rest of the UK.