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: S6O-02202

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the delivery of the Rural Crime Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-16771

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in preventing leachate from reaching water courses near Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site.

The Scottish Government is not directly responsible for the site, or its regulation.

The Scottish Government met with SEPA and the Council in January 2023 to discuss future options for the site. At this meeting it was noted that, given new information around the increased and potential ongoing costs of the leachate management strategy, and other changes of circumstances, a fresh strategy for the management of the site should be considered to enable progress.

Subject to final approval and available funding, the intention is to fund and commission a review by consultants, who will be asked to identify the possible options for remediation at the site. Scottish Government, SEPA and the Council will then meet to consider these options.

SEPA continues to monitor ongoing environmental risks at the site and completed its latest survey in January 2023. This found no significant increasing trends associated with the impact to groundwater or water courses from leachate.

Question reference: S6W-16977

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Ambulance Service recorded 60 physical assaults and 37 verbal attacks on paramedics in Lanarkshire from 2020 to 2022, and what national action it is taking to keep paramedics safe at work.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) have assured the Scottish Government that they have a range of measures in place to help protect staff, including training and risk assessments. We will continue to work closely with SAS to monitor the safety and wellbeing of their staff.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Abuse towards NHS staff is unacceptable, and the courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who carry out such appalling behaviour on emergency workers.

Question reference: S6W-16758

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will detail all of the responsibilities that it has in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme, which is due to launch on 16 August 2023.

Question reference: S6W-17107

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, following the latest ministerial reshuffle, what the current membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency.

The membership of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency comprises:

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition (Chair)
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Minister for Transport
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade
Minister for Energy

Question reference: S6W-16741

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the results of the Scottish Agricultural Census for 2022.

Question reference: S6W-16828

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) injuries and (b) deaths were reported in connection with the use of e-scooters on (i) roads and (ii) pavements, in 2022.

Question reference: S6W-16442

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the economic impact of delayed treatment for patients with essential tremor.

The Scottish Government has not specifically considered the economic impact of delayed treatment for patients with essential tremor.

We recognise the importance of ensuring patients can access the treatment they require. Currently, patients who are eligible for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for essential tremor can be referred to NHS Tayside in conjunction with the University of Dundee. Patients can also be referred to other services through cross border referral routes if appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-16770

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the plans to resolve safety issues at Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site.

The Scottish Government is not directly responsible for the site, or its regulation. However, the risk to human health outwith the site remains low and signage is in place to warn members of the public to keep off the site.

The Scottish Government intends to fund the removal of giant hogweed from the site again this year to prevent the spread of this threat to public health.

SEPA continues to monitor the site regularly, with the most recent site assessment outlining that the conditions remain poor but stable. The site conditions do not appear to be deteriorating, but there is an ongoing environmental impact to surface water. The most recent update from SEPA on the status of the site can be found here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-16718

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of The 2021/22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Limited report, what action it is taking to address Ferguson Marine’s workforce challenges in order to ensure delivery of vessels 801 and 802.

The recruitment, training and retention of the workforce at Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Ltd (FMPG) is a matter for FMPG.

The workforce at FMPG is diverse ranging from trades specialising in ship building as well as other professions and trades which are transferable to other sectors.

Apprenticeships continue to be a valued part of Scotland’s future workforce in cultivating fresh talent in sustaining specialised trades for our future industries. There are 52 apprentices gaining valuable industry recognised qualifications at the ship building yard in Port Glasgow.