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-12006

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that the detection and management of the psychological consequences of stroke are seen as a priority by NHS boards.

The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme (SSIP) Lead conducts an annual review process on behalf of the Scottish Government, meeting all NHS boards to appraise their provision of stroke services and create a local action plan to improve performance where needed. Annual reviews of NHS boards’ stroke services will now include a requirement to demonstrate adequate provision of psychological support, including detection and treatment of the psychological consequences of stroke and evidence of a clear referral pathway for accessing psychological services.

Question reference: S6W-11990

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans it has to review tree planting guidance on farmland.

The Scottish Government is engaging with farming interests on this topic though dialogue with NFUS and more widely through the Trees on Farms stakeholder group.

We also carefully monitor tree planting funded through the Forestry Grant Scheme and this shows that overall, planting has been delivered in-line with the current Woodland Expansion Advisory Group guidance on planting on agricultural land.

Since 2008, the combined area of woodland creation on prime and non-prime agricultural land (LCAs 2.1-4.2) totals less 1% of the area of these land classes.

We are also improving support and awareness of ways to establish more trees in ways that benefit farmers. This includes working through the Integrating Trees Network to promote the opportunities and help farmers and crofters get the benefits of growing trees supporting their farming business.

Question reference: S6W-12445

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-12130

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland has had any recent discussions with the Scotch whisky industry about establishing a separate freight-only service to and from Islay.

Question reference: S6W-12017

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the proposed independent review of the Scottish Welfare Fund.

The Scottish Welfare Fund is a key priority for the Scottish Government, which is why we instructed an Independent Review within the first year of this Parliament.

The Review is a substantial and comprehensive exercise to examine purpose, funding levels, Local Authority administration, accessibility and promotion.

As set out in correspondence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on 14 November 2022, the Review continues to progress on schedule with the final report due to be published in early 2023.

The Scottish Government will provide an update to Parliament following publication of the report.

Question reference: S6W-12036

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to public petition PE1979 on establishing an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-12203

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been unable to take forward self-directed support packages in each year since their introduction.

This information is not currently available centrally.

However a Data Strategy for Health and Social Care is due to be published in early 2023, which will set the strategic direction on the improvement of data collection and use for the health and social care sector, including by local authorities.

Whilst we await publication of this strategy, Public Health Scotland will be making available, for the first time, data on those awaiting assessments or packages of care, and hours of care yet to be provided. This information will be available on their website from 23 November 2022.

Question reference: S6W-12176

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the Sandford principle, as expressed through section 9 (6) of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, is applied.

Paragraph 9(6) of the National Parks (Scotland) 2000 Act states that, if it appears to the National Park Authority that there is a conflict between the National Park aim set out in section 1(a) (i.e. to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area) and other National Park aims, the Authority must give greater weight to the aim set out in section 1(a).

The National Park Authorities in Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs are required by the Scottish Ministers to prepare a National Park Plan setting out how they will deliver the aims of the National Park collectively in relation to their area. The National Park Plan is approved by the Scottish Ministers.

For example, the current Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-2027 is the strategic management plan for the area and provides a strategic policy context for decision making within the National Park. Section 9 (6) of the National Parks (Scotland ) Act 2000 is embedded in the Park plan and its subsidiary documents and it guides decision making within the Park. The National Park Authority can also apply section 9 (6) to individual decisions if it feels the aims are in conflict and greater weight should be given to the first aim.

Question reference: S6W-12156

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered publishing alongside its new Climate Change Plan a comprehensive statement of its global, regional, intra-UK and bilateral diplomacy to encourage and agree country-based or co-operative action on climate change or climate finance.

As required by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, the Climate Change Plan will set out proposals and policies for supporting, including by the sharing of expertise and technology, action in developing countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and adapt to the effects of climate change.

With regards to intra-UK diplomacy, Scottish Government officials are engaged in regular meetings with counterparts in the UK Government and the other devolved administrations, and we repeatedly promote joint collaboration in areas that will be essential to delivering net zero. The next Climate Change Plan will set out where action will be needed by the UK Government to reduce emissions within reserved areas in order for Scotland to meet its emissions reduction targets.

Question reference: S6W-12212

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it has spent in the last five years on broadband and digital infrastructure, broken down by local authority area.

Financial Year	Total capital spend (in £m)
2017-2018	66.2
2018-2019	27.1
2019-2020	18.0
2020-2021	21.6
2021-2022	62.3