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-16099

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of fires attended to by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service that were caused by, or suspected to have been caused by, electric (a) scooters, (b) bikes and (c) cars, in each year since 2017.

This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are working with key stakeholders and partners to understand the risks that lithium-ion batteries (LIB), contained within most electric vehicles, present to communities across Scotland. A bespoke working group is focused on these risks, and its findings will strengthen SFRS’s community safety work going forward. SFRS urges users of LIB technology to take the appropriate steps when disposing of spent battery units to ensure reduced risk of fire.

Question reference: S6W-16588

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12940 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 December 2022, whether it will provide an update on the service continuity plan for the transfer and timetabling of services from Troon.

The service continuity plans for the Ardrossan-Brodick/Campbeltown route are currently being reviewed by CalMac following the recent announcement of the delivery date and deployment of the MV Glen Sannox to the route. CalMac are engaging with relevant partners including the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee on the Troon timetables and are expected to publish the Timetable Consultation Report (as part of a public consultation exercise undertaken in August and September 2022) in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S6W-16183

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that sustainable aviation producers choose Scotland, over the EU or the United Sates, to develop the future of aviation fuels.

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing an aviation strategy. Our public consultation document on developing the strategy noted that sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) were most likely to deliver the biggest reductions in lifecycle emissions for aviation in the medium term. The consultation invited views on what the Scottish Government could do to help increase the use of SAF. An independent analysis of the responses has been published. In addition, Transport Scotland is working with Scottish Enterprise who have commissioned a SAF supply chain mapping study for Scotland in order to review the economic opportunity.

Since the conclusion of our consultation, the UK Government has published its own ‘Jet Zero’ aviation strategy. As aviation is reserved, this strategy contains various SAF-related measures that will apply throughout the UK, for example, the introduction of a SAF mandate.

Research commissioned by Sustainable Aviation UK claimed that SAF production could create between 1,060 and 2,310 jobs in Scotland and generate between £153 and £332 million Gross Value Added per year. The Scottish Government has not specifically assessed the number of jobs that SAF could create in Scotland nor the future value of SAF.

The Scottish Government will consider all such material in determining potential actions on SAF for inclusion in the final aviation strategy.

Question reference: S6W-16044

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has at any point offered, or signalled support for, health services as part of the Gilmerton Gateway project.

Question reference: S6W-16048

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15589 by Elena Whitham on 14 March 2023, whether it will list the stakeholders that it (a) has already consulted and (b) plans to gather views from on potentially raising the legal age of marriage to 18, in line with the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Scottish Government officials have met with the following groups and organisations on the minimum age of marriage and related matters:

AMINA- Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Article 12 in Scotland

Association of Registrars of Scotland

Caledonian Humanist Association

Evangelical Alliance

Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid

Humanist Society Scotland

IKWRO Women’s Rights Organisation

Independent Humanist Ceremonies

JustRight Scotland

Karma Nirvana

Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project

Scottish Council of Jewish Communities

Saheliya

Scottish Women’s Aid

Shakti Women’s Aid

Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)

UNICEF UK

They have also met with some Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and with two Scottish family law academics.

I intend for these meetings to continue. My officials are planning to meet representatives of the following bodies, some of which will have received invitations to discuss the issues.

The Baptist Union of Scotland

The Church of Scotland

The Free Church of Scotland

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Glasgow Central Mosque

Hindu Forum of Britain

The Methodist Church

The Muslim Council of Scotland

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers in Scotland)

The Roman Catholic Church (The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland)

The Salvation Army

The Scottish Association of Mosques

The Scottish Episcopal Church

Sikhs in Scotland

The Scottish Unitarian Association

The Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church

The United Free Church of Scotland

The member is welcome to write to me with details of other interested groups who want to be involved.

Question reference: S6W-16154

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15567 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown of the information in the table showing the name and location of each bridge, and the date that the repair work (a) was first identified as required and (b) is projected to be completed by.

Please find the following table providing the name and location of each bridge on the trunk road network highlighted in our previous answer to S6W-15567. The dates that upgrades were first identified as required and projected to be completed are also contained:

Local Authority Area	Structure Reference	Structure Name	Work Identified	Planned Year of Completion
Highland	A887 80	A887 Lagain Bhain	1998	2024-25
Highland	A830 160	A830 Shlatach	2013	2025-26
Stirling	A85 270	A85 Dalkenneth	2021	2026-27
Stirling	A84 137	A84 Balquidder Station	2019	2026-27
Highland	A82 1180	A82 Lagain	2018	2027-28
Moray	A95 170	A95 Craigellachie Bridge	First identified over 10 years ago	2024-25
Moray	A95 180	A95 Craigellachie Bridge	First identified over 10 years ago	2025-26
Fife-Falkirk	A985 1	Kincardine	1983	2024-25
Highland	A830 130	A830 Finnan River	1998	2027-28
Stirling	A84 35	A84 Cambus	1999	2028-29
Highland	A82 670	A82 Allt Molach	1990	2028-29
Highland	A82 680	A82 Allt Nan Guibhas	1990	2029-30
Highland	A82 690	A82 Creagdubh	1990	2029-30
Highland	A82 770	A82 Alltanrigh	1990	2030-31
Highland	A82 800	A82 Achtriochtan	1990	2030-31
Highland	A87 30	A87 Daingean	2018	2031-32
Highland	A87 40	A87 Bhoira	2018	2031-32
Highland	A87 50	A87 Garbh Dhoire	2018	2032-33
Highland	A87 60	A87 Loyne	2018	2032-33
Highland	A87 70	A87 Moriston	2018	2033-34
Highland	A87 520	A87 Allt A'ghlarsair	2013	2033-34
Highland	A87 540	A87 Lon Chaorach	2013	2034-35
Argyle & Bute	A828 10	Connel	2016	2024-25
Borders	A702 80	A702 Westwater	2018	2023-24
West Dunbartonshire	A82 150	A82 Leven Bridge	1999	2025-26
Dumfries and Galloway	A76 160	A76 Marchburn	1993	2025-26
Dumfries and Galloway	A75 690	A75 Barlae	2016	2025-26
Highland	A82 700	A82 Etive	2018	2034-35
West Dunbartonshire	A82 640	A82 Tulla	2018	2035-36
Stirling	A84 10	A84 Drip	2016	2035-36
Highland	A830 140	A830 Challium	2013	2036-37
Highland	A830 150	A830 Dhuibh	2013	2036-37
Highland	A87 600	A87 Lon Na H'Iolainn	1997	2037-38
Stirling	A84 80	A84 Kilmahog 1	1997	2037-38
Stirling	A84 90	A84 Kilmahog 2	1997	2038-39

All substandard structures on the trunk road network are monitored and managed in accordance with national standards until such time as funds are prioritised for remedial work.

Question reference: S6W-16162

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 23 November 2022, when it will publish a full progress report on the improvement plan for NHS Forth Valley, following its escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland performance escalation framework.

The Chair of the Assurance Board, Christine McLaughlin, wrote to members on 31 March 2023 with a full progress update on NHS Forth Valley’s escalation in Governance, Leadership and Culture. The letter has been published on the Scottish Government website: NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board update: letter from the Chair to MSPs - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The onus remains on NHS Forth Valley to deliver and evidence the required improvements in governance, leadership and culture; and, in turn, on performance. The Assurance Board will continue to monitor and scrutinise NHS Forth Valley’s progress.

Question reference: S6W-16375

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much long Covid support funding was allocated to each NHS board in 2022-23.

Information on the level of funding made available to NHS Boards through the long COVID Support Fund for 2022-23 can be found on page 2 of the Scottish Government’s 20 December 2022 letter to the Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee. This is accessible on the Scottish Parliament website at: https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/covid19-recovery-committee/correspondence/2022/letter-from-cabinet-secretary-for-health-and-social-care--long-covid.pdf .

Question reference: S6W-16470

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-16032

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on TikTok in each of the last five years.