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-06475

Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact new offshore installed power generation will have on the reported concerns regarding onshore landscape capacity.

Scottish Government is working with key stakeholders in the process to try and address challenges and ensure as far as possible that connections to the network do not act as a barrier to the delivery of our ambitious offshore wind aspirations.

Our draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045. We are currently consulting on the draft NPF4 and following the consultation will present a final draft to parliament.

Any applications for consent for offshore and onshore energy infrastructure are considered by the relevant consenting authority, which can be the Scottish Ministers or the relevant local planning authority depending on the nature of the proposal, and determined in accordance with the applicable legal and policy considerations relevant to that particular proposal. This will include consideration of any landscape and visual effects arising from the proposal. Parties with an interest in such proposals, including members of the public, have opportunities to provide their views in relation to applications through the relevant applicable consenting process.

Question reference: S6W-06412

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet the timescales for the milestones set out on page 8 of the document, Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) - Planning Specification and Context Report, published in August 2021.

The Scottish Government published the next stage of the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) On 22 February 2022. This document reflects the results of the consultation that was held on the Planning Specification and Context Report last year and now describes the spatial parameters that will be used by Crown Estate Scotland to progress their related leasing round.

Given the proximity to ScotWind, the Initial Plan Framework and timelines were updated to account for the very significant and world leading results of the ScotWind process.

Question reference: S6W-06413

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the results of the consultation, Sectoral Marine Plan - innovation and targeted oil and gas decarbonisation, offshore wind, which closed in October 2021.

Question reference: S6W-06314

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether Healthcare Improvement Scotland will implement the updated NICE guideline, NG207, on induced labour, published on 4 November 2021, and, if so, what measures it will take to provide expectant mothers with information on the possible outcomes of induced labour, in line with the guideline.

Where national guidance, including in the form of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), does not exist, as in this case, NHS Boards develop guidance using up to date evidence, including NICE guidelines through their existing Board governance structures.

We would expect the information in the updated NICE guideline, NG207, to be used by NHS Boards to assist pregnant women when making decisions about induction of labour.

Question reference: S6W-06053

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new ScotRail operator, ScotRail Trains Ltd, will honour the commitment to staff, reportedly offered under the existing franchise agreement, to no compulsory redundancies until at least 2025.

We absolutely remain committed to our policy position, which remains that public bodies should work with their staff representatives to negotiate no compulsory agreements for 2022-23 where it is practical to do so.

For a new body like ScotRail Trains Ltd, which does not have an existing agreement on no compulsory redundancies, I would expect there to be negotiations on this as part of the Public Sector Pay Policy discussions, which are crucial to the change that is needed as ScotRail comes under Scottish Government control on 1 April 2022.

Question reference: S6W-06624

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the last (a) regular Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare and (b) bilateral meeting between the Department for Work and Pensions and Scottish Ministers, took place.

Question reference: S6W-06497

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by each NHS board on external legal support in connection with cases of unfair dismissal, in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-06501

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by each NHS board on external legal support in connection with cases of sexual harassment, in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-06252

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill to apply to the use of mesh during other medical procedures, such as hernia operations.

The Scottish Parliament unanimously backed the Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill on 25 January 2022. The Bill will now proceed to Royal Assent with the reimbursement scheme opening as soon as practically possible thereafter.

The Bill focussed solely on reimbursement for the removal of mesh that was inserted transvaginally for Stress Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse, the two procedures that, in Scotland, have been subject to a halt since September 2018. This is in light of the specific circumstances surrounding transvaginal mesh removal, as set out in the Policy Memorandum that accompanies the Bill. There are therefore no plans to extend the reimbursement scheme to include mesh used in other sites such as hernia repair.

Question reference: S6W-06807

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the parameters and workstream details are for the programme of monitoring and evaluation of the Winter Support Fund.