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-04437

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any responsibility for the passenger locator form; if not, what discussions it has had with the UK Government and other stakeholders regarding the reasons for the form having to be completed no more than 48 hours before returning to Scotland, and what information it has on whether other methods of completing the form are available for people who are unable to complete it electronically.

The Scottish Government works closely with the Home Office on the requirements for the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). It is a UK wide system as border controls are a reserved matter. However, as health policy is devolved, the Scottish Government ensures that the PLF aligns with Scottish policy and legislation for international travellers arriving into Scotland. The 48 hour completion window for PLF submission is a vital tool which enables Scottish Ministers to act swiftly in response to emerging concerns, such as when changes are made to the country/territory red list, or when new international travel restrictions are announced, often at short notice. The PLF contains specific logic to ensure travellers into Scotland have the met the correct health measure requirements (tests, isolation, managed quarantine) based on where they have travelled from. The trace and compliance response to international travel has required PLF data to be immediately and securely available across health departments. To enable this, the PLF is only available online accessed via Gov.UK. Details of the helpline to provide and advice on completion are also available on Gov.UK. The helpline is not able to complete the PLF on an individual’s behalf.

Question reference: S6W-04527

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what review it has carried out of the (a) new and (b) existing actions in the Ending Homelessness Together updated plan that are (i) ranked red and (ii) planned for 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-04514

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last issued guidance to local authorities on measuring low-frequency noise.

Question reference: S6W-04528

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what review it will conduct of the effectiveness of the measures in the Ending Homelessness Together updated plan.

We currently report on progress against the measures in Ending Homelessness Together action plan by means of an annual report to parliament. At the most recent meeting of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group on 5 November 2021, we invited views from the expert group, which includes representatives with lived experience of homelessness, on how we can more effectively measure the impact of measures to end homelessness. The group saw value in the development of an improved outcomes monitoring framework. Officials are now exploring ways to improve the way we use evidence and data and will report back to the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group in due course.

Question reference: S6W-04344

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03267 by Michael Matheson on 11 October 2021, while decarbonisation projects of any size can progress through the Marine Scotland Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) decarbonisation plan, whether innovation projects in Scotland that are not part of the oil and gas decarbonisation programme are subject to a 100MW cap; if so, what its position is on whether this curtails such projects in Scottish waters; what specific consideration it will give to raising the cap for these Scottish innovation projects through INTOG from 100MW to 300MW, to enable such projects in Scottish waters to compete with any similar pre-commercial projects in the English and Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea that are up to 300MW in size, and what its position is on whether this would provide an opportunity for innovative Scottish stepping-stone projects to be brought forward.

As per the previous answer to question S6W-03267 highlighted, a consultation has taken place on the Planning Specification and Context Report for the Sectoral Marine Plan for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG). That consultation closed on 20 October 2021 and the Scottish Government is aiming to publish the results of that consultation alongside the Initial Plan Framework, which sets out all parameters and spatial components, shortly. This document will include definitions for both Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas components. It is, of course, the intention to ensure that projects delivered under INTOG are competitive.

Question reference: S6W-04313

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of reports that NHS Lanarkshire has a backlog of chronic pain injections dating back to 2018, with some patients requiring these treatments every six months, and what action is being taken to improve treatment, care and outcomes for chronic pain patients in Lanarkshire, in light of the reported pre-pandemic delays and ongoing impacts of COVID-19.

I appreciate how difficult postponement of treatment has been for people with chronic pain, including those who may have had their normal treatment paused as a result of the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many factors determine the suitability and availability of specialist pain procedures, including clinical prioritisation and the availability of staffing, theatre capacity and the ongoing implications of COVID-related pathways.

In September 2020, the Scottish Government published the Framework for recovery of NHS pain management services to support the rapid and safe re-mobilisation of specialist pain management services. We remain committed to ensuring that Health Boards, including NHS Lanarkshire, resume specialist pain services as quickly as it is safe to do so.

We will shortly be launching a public consultation on a new Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery which includes an aim to deliver more timely access to care and improved health outcomes for people with chronic pain.

Question reference: S6W-04477

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the advice it has issued to local authorities regarding the distribution of the Tenant Hardship Loan Fund.

The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund has not been administered by local authorities so I have assumed that you are referring to the £10m Tenant Grant Fund announced in June and have responded to your question on that basis.

Local authorities were issued with non-statutory guidance to support them in their administration of the Tenant Grant Fund on 17 September 2021. A copy of this guidance can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tenant Grant Fund: guidance for local authorities - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-04625

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools in (a) South Lanarkshire, (b) North Lanarkshire and (c) Falkirk have charging points for electric vehicles.

Over the past decade the Scottish Government has invested over £50 million in ChargePlace Scotland, investing ahead of need to create a publicly available network of EV charging infrastructure, which now consists of over 2000 charge points across Scotland.

It is for Local Authorities to determine local priorities and demand for charging infrastructure. Encompassing decisions such as required locations of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and the most appropriate charger type, when requesting funding support.

Through Transport Scotland funding initiatives, we have supported the following list of EV chargers for Falkirk Council.

Bo’ness Academy (x1, commissioned)
Denny High School (x1, commissioned)
Falkirk High School (x1, commissioned)
Grangemouth High School (x1, commissioned)
Braes High School (x1, commissioned)
Carron Grange High School (x2, commissioned)
St Mungo’s High School (x1, commissioned)

Whilst Local Authorities have access to request funding from the Scottish Government to support the development of charging infrastructure; this is not a sole source of charge point provision, therefore other charge point installations could exist, which would be outside of our records.

To date North and South Lanarkshire have not requested funding from Transport Scotland for charging infrastructure to be installed at schools in their respective areas’.

Question reference: S6W-04572

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03499 by Kate Forbes on 27 October 2021, whether the Short Life Working Group on Ventilation has since determined that community halls are also eligible for financial support, in light of the recent announcement of a £25 million funding package.

Question reference: S6W-04584

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will create a support mechanism for the wave and tidal energy industry to work alongside the UK Government’s revenue stabilisation mechanism, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution.