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-05200

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04807 by Lorna Slater on 14 December 2021, whether, as part of its work on a route map, it will consider moving from weight-based to carbon-based recycling targets for local authorities.

As set out in our response to S6W-04807, we are working with industry, local government and environmental groups to develop the route map to deliver our waste and recycling targets for 2025. This work is critical in determining how the waste and resources sector will contribute towards lower carbon emissions in the period to 2030 and beyond, including considering the use of carbon-based recycling targets for local authorities.

It would be wrong of me to pre-empt that process, including formal consultation on findings and proposals, planned for the first half of 2022.

Question reference: S6W-05116

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how long it takes currently, after a COVID-19 booster vaccine is administered, for the information to be available through the COVID status app.

Question reference: S6W-05484

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 legislation in place.

Two sets of regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 were made today.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.6) Regulations 2021 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“the principal regulations”).

These Amendment Regulations introduce physical distancing requirements in hospitality and indoor leisure premises, requirements for table service and also introduce a capacity limit for live events. These regulations provide the following requirements;

Physical distancing – a requirement to take measures to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that a distance of 1 metre is maintained between people in or waiting to enter hospitality and leisure premises and that only enough people are admitted to the premises to allow the 1 metre distance to be maintained.
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Table service - a requirement for table service in premises where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises, and that the customer must remain seated whilst consuming food and drink on the premises.
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Capacity limit for live events - a requirement that live events held indoors and outdoors do not exceed capacity limits set in the regulations - 100 people at indoor standing events, 200 people at indoor seated events and 500 people at outdoor events (whether seated or standing).

The requirements in relation to capacity limits at live events will take effect at 5.00 a.m. on 26 December and the requirements in relation to physical distancing and table service will take effect at 5.00 a.m. on 27 December.

These regulations have been published at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2021/496

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.7) Regulations 2021 also amend the principal regulation and will take effect at 5.00 a.m. on 27 December 2021.

These Amendment Regulations have the effect of closing nightclubs, dance halls or discotheque premises from 5.00 a.m. on 27 December 2021. It would remain open to these businesses to operate the premises with distancing and table service, rather than as a nightclub, dance hall or discotheque.

These regulations have been published at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2021/497

Question reference: S6W-04670

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03933 by George Adam on 12 November 2021, what the (a) longest and (b) average time has been for it to respond to correspondence to each (i) cabinet secretary and (ii) minister since January 2021, broken by (A) month, (B) portfolio and (C) whether the correspondence was from (1) an MSP and (2) a source other than an MSP.

Question reference: S6W-04668

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03934 by George Adam on 12 November 2021, how many items of correspondence each (a) cabinet secretary and (b) minister has received since January 2021, broken down by (i) month, (ii) portfolio and (iii) whether the correspondence was from (A) an MSP and (B) a source other than an MSP.

Question reference: S6W-04669

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03933 by George Adam on 12 November 2021, what percentage of correspondence to (a) cabinet secretaries and (b) ministers since January 2021 was answered within 20 working days, broken down by (a) month, (b) portfolio and (c) whether the correspondence was from (A) an MSP and (B) a source other than an MSP.

Question reference: S6W-04701

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when a case note review was carried out for the case of Andrew Slorance at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Question reference: S6O-00619

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage people, who are able, to donate blood, particularly during the winter period and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6O-00616

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the provision of GP services in the north east.

Question reference: S6O-00621

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support small rural businesses.