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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 42615 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-11984

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the function of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner to include oversight of biometric data collected in (a) schools and (b) prisons.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner (SBC) Act 2020 establishes the office of the SBC and provides for its functions in relation to the acquisition, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes. Therefore, biometric data collected from schools or prisons by Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner for these purposes, would already fall within the oversight of the SBC.

I would also refer the member to the Scottish Government’s letter to the Criminal Justice Committee dated 19 August 2022 which is published at Annex B to the Committee paper CJ/S6/22/26/1 . This outlined the Scottish Government’s position on extending the SBC’s functions to include oversight of biometric data collected in prisons and other sectors such as education. In relation to schools, I would also refer the member to the Scottish Government’s response to question S6W-06534 on 1 March 2022 raised on such matters.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-12071

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the job titles of the staff currently employed by the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber).

Question reference: S6W-12025

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards the establishment of a Peace Institute by the end of 2022, as set out in the Programme for Government 2021-22.

The Scottish Government is committed to Scotland being an active and responsible global citizen and we are actively considering the options received in the report commissioned earlier to advise on a Scottish Peace Institute. Our priority is to ensure our offer is appropriate, responsible and complimentary to existing activity both in Scotland and internationally. I look forward to updating Parliament with our plans in due course.

Question reference: S6W-12023

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend to continue the roll-out of free mobile phones for prisoners, in light of reports that the project is set to continue.

Question reference: S6W-12005

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many facial recognition cameras are currently being used by Police Scotland.

The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws.

The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they are not and have no plans to use live facial recognition technology/cameras at this time.

In line with the Scottish Government's commitment to the legal, ethical and proportionate use of technologies in policing, an Independent Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies, whose membership includes policing, human rights and data protection stakeholders, is currently developing recommendations and is due to report to Ministers later this year.

Question reference: S6W-12026

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to re-categorise mid-market rental properties owned by registered social landlords as social housing for the purposes of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 in the next financial year.

Mid-Market homes are let under private tenancy arrangements, mostly Private Residential Tenancies. There are therefore no plans to re-categorise mid-market rental properties owned by registered social landlords as social housing, and no decision has been taken about the use of the emergency measures beyond 31 March 2023. Any decision regarding the emergency measures will take into consideration the cost of living situation as it develops, and will be also be informed by our engagement with tenants, landlords and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-12024

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the independent review group regarding the establishment of a Peace Institute will be published, and, if it is already published, when it will respond to its findings.

Question reference: S6W-12049

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Carnegie UK publication, Five steps to put wellbeing at the centre of policymaking in Scotland, which was published in 2022.

I welcome the recently published briefing from Carnegie UK and the five recommendations to put wellbeing at the centre of policymaking in Scotland. I look forward to their engagement as part of the forthcoming review of the National Outcomes.

The National Performance Framework is Scotland’s wellbeing framework. Increasing wellbeing is central to its purpose, with the 11 National Outcomes setting out the type of country that we want to be. The development of the proposed Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill will consider the best way to ensure the interests of future generations are taken into account in decisions made today.

Question reference: S6W-12089

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from the Chinese police service that is reportedly operating in Glasgow.

As the First Minister acknowledged in Parliament on 27 October, the allegations of the existence of such establishments are concerning and she made clear any foreign country that operates in Scotland must abide by Scottish law.

In your questions, you rightly use “reportedly”. As the FM also made clear in her answer, these are matters for the police to consider in terms of any investigation or action. Police Scotland has said they are currently reviewing these reports to assess any criminality in conjunction with local and national partners.

If anyone feels that they have been the victim of unlawful activity, they should report the matter to Police Scotland. Equally if anyone feels threatened, they should report the matter to Police Scotland.

Beyond that, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. We have not engaged with the Chinese Consulate on this issue. This would not be appropriate while a Police review is underway.

You have asked what whether Scottish Government has met with former members of the Hong Kong community in Scotland to gain knowledge and understanding of their experiences since resettling in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to upholding and advancing the rights of those that choose to make their life here in Scotland, including former Hong Kong residents.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government, COSLA, Police Scotland and third sector partners to understand the needs and requirements of former Hong Kong residents to support their integration into our communities.

You ask what assessment has been made of the number of any attacks that have taken place in Scotland on former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland by members of the Chinese Communist Party.

You also ask whether a policing assessment has been made of any threat to former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland from individuals acting in the interests of the Chinese state. These are also matters for the police and it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

Question reference: S6W-12090

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Glasgow feel safe and protected, in light of the reported existence of a branch of the Chinese police service in the city.