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-08849

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the proportion of plastic collected in Scotland that will be able to be recycled at the new plastic recycling plant in Fife.

The Scottish Government has made no such estimate.

However, I understand the new plastic recycling plant based in Glenrothes is expected to recycle up to 15,000 tonnes per annum of low-grade post-consumer plastic. This follows an award to Fife Council of £470,000 from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund. Further information is available here: Yes Recycling Fife and Ecosheet , and the latest data on the amount of plastic waste generated and recycled is available at https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/waste-data-for-scotland/ .

Question reference: S6W-08851

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to extending the payment of Scottish Carer’s Assistance to carers for six months after the person being cared for dies, in order to ensure that any carers are not at risk of falling into, or remaining in, poverty.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the amount of time Scottish Carer’s Assistance is paid after the death of a cared for person, from the current eight weeks to 12 weeks, following discussions with carers and support organisations. We are also looking at how we can link carers to wider support which could help them at what will be a very difficult time.

We invited views on these proposals as part of the public consultation on Scottish Carers Assistance, which closed on 23 May 2022. We are considering the responses to this and will confirm the improvements we will make through our new benefit later this year.

Question reference: S6W-08782

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that the emergency timetable issued by ScotRail in May 2022 meets its minimum service level commitments.

ScotRail introduced a temporary timetable on 23 May to provide certainty to train passengers about the availability of ScotRail services, this was in response to train drivers choosing not to work overtime or rest days – as is their right. ScotRail could not, therefore, maintain a Service Level Commitment (SLC) as a result, however given that ASLEF have now moved to ballot their members in a referendum on the pay deal, it is hoped ScotRail will be able to return to normal rail services as soon as possible. ScotRail reviewed the temporary timetable on June 3 rd and as a result have reintroduced a number of services.

However, it is also clear that wider UK-wide industrial action between Network Rail and the RMT is going to impact on ScotRail services from the 21 st of June.

Question reference: S6W-08878

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report on consideration of opportunities to decarbonise waste incineration not being published until autumn 2022, how it will be in a position to respond to the incineration review in June.

We published the Report of Dr Church’s independent review of the role of incineration in Scotland’s waste hierarchy on 10 May 2022. Dr Church sets out 14 recommendations in his report. Two of these recommendations, on decarbonising incineration infrastructure, are provisional pending completion of further work on options to decarbonise residual waste infrastructure.

We will set out our initial response to the 12 full recommendations on 16 June 2022.

Question reference: S6W-08877

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the consideration of opportunities to decarbonise waste incineration has reportedly been removed from the incineration review without consultation.

Consideration of opportunities to decarbonise waste incineration has not been removed from the review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy (the Review).

As independent Chair of the Review, Dr Colin Church determined the detailed scope of the Review, taking account of parameters set by Ministers. The Review prioritised an assessment of the capacity required to manage residual waste in Scotland. It also considered the options for managing residual waste in Scotland; the economic, environmental and social trade-offs of these options; the location of waste management capacity; and options to improve carbon and societal impact of residual waste treatment facilities.

In his Call for Evidence for the Review (published 20 December 2021), Dr Church noted that he intended to commission separate work to review potential options to decarbonise the existing incineration infrastructure in Scotland and that this may extend beyond the initial Review’s timeframe.

We published Dr Church’s main report on 10 May 2022. In this report Dr Church confirmed that the further work on decarbonisation options was expected to last for a further six to nine months. In the meantime, Dr Church has made two provisional recommendations relating to decarbonisation, alongside the 12 full recommendations, in his main report.

At the request of Ministers, Dr Church has agreed to extend his role to provide independent oversight of this additional work.

Question reference: S6O-01251

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 16 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether an assessment has been made of the chairs in the MSP block for use by members and staff, in relation to occupational health and the latest standards.

Our office furniture contracts require suppliers to ensure that chairs meet all relevant standards in force at the time of purchase. We inspect chairs at regular intervals to ensure that they remain in safe condition and replace them when they reach end of life. If a member or member of staff feels that they require support for a particular health concern, they can contact the people and culture office—formerly human resources—for support. If necessary, a workplace assessment can be arranged with our occupational health provider.

Question reference: S6O-01271

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether its priorities for the skills required to support the economy have changed as a result of any consequences of withdrawal from the EU.

Question reference: S6O-01254

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review by the Police Service of Northern Ireland into findings by a tribunal of a "sexist culture" in Police Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-01252

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions justice ministers have had with ministerial colleagues regarding using antisocial behaviour laws to prevent people carrying out intimidating protests outside abortion clinics.

Question reference: S6O-01257

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on police pay negotiations.