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-03532

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated estimate of the financial cost to the Isle of Arran economy of the delayed MV Glen Sannox ferry.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific study into the impact of the new vessel delay on the Isle of Arran economy. However, we are very aware of the importance of reliable and regular ferry services upon which our island communities depend, including the people and businesses on Arran. Improvements implemented since 2013 as a result of the Ferries Plan included providing a 2nd vessel from May to September, resulting in increased daily sailings, a longer operating day and an extended summer season.

We continue to work with the yard to do everything we can to ensure that the new vessels enter service as quickly as possible, to deliver the further service improvements our island communities deserve

Question reference: S6W-03540

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of hospital appointments that have been missed on the mainland as a result of delays or cancellations on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry route.

We have made no specific assessment of the number of hospital appointments that have been missed on the mainland as a result of delays or cancellations on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry route.

We recognise the impact that ferry disruption has on island communities, and are taking steps to address resilience across the network. The MV Glen Sannox is due to be delivered next year which will improve vessel resilience on this route.

Whenever there is disruption, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) do their best to assist passengers with a need to travel, particularly those with medical appointments, and will always do everything possible to accommodate passengers on alternative sailings.

In order to address capacity issues, a new policy has been put in place to ensure anyone with a short notice medical appointment who cannot book a vehicle can travel as a foot passenger and CFL will arrange a taxi.

Question reference: S6W-03498

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Ofgem's price cap increase, and the £500 million fund announced by the UK Government to support vulnerable households, whether it will provide a similar household support fund in order to alleviate fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government recognise that the recent rises in energy prices, and the increase in the price cap authorised by Ofgem, can only have a negative impact on fuel poor households.

While energy markets are a reserved matter, we are taking action, within our powers, to support people who are struggling with their heating bills through the winter. On Friday 29 October we announced a £10 million Fuel Insecurity Fund to provide direct support with fuel costs for low income households. This funding will be delivered through a range of organisations including registered social landlords, Advice Direct Scotland and the Fuel Bank Foundation. It is part of a wider £41 million package of funding designed to help people on low incomes who are facing financial insecurity over the winter.

Question reference: S6W-03478

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence requirements it will set for self-catering premises owners seeking to register their property for non-domestic rates to demonstrate that the let is (a) available for 140 days and (b) actually let for 70 days in a financial year, in order to remain on the valuation roll; how these requirements will be enforced, and how enforcement will be funded.

The Scottish Government accepted recommendation 22 of the independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates, which proposed a condition to tackle a known tax avoidance measure that all owners or occupiers of self-catering properties must provide evidence of 70 days of actual letting per year in order to qualify as non-domestic.

The Scottish Budget 2021-22 stated: “Due to COVID-19, the implementation of the requirement that self-catering properties be let for 70 days or more in order to be classed as non-domestic, as recommended by the independent Barclay Review of non-domestic rates, was initially delayed and will now be in place for 2021-22.” The Scottish Government will shortly lay secondary legislation with the Scottish Parliament to deliver this change although how the changes will be administered is a matter for independent Local Assessors.

The valuation of all non-domestic property is a matter for Scottish Assessors, including requests for information pertaining to the non-domestic property. Assessors may request information from a proprietor, tenant or occupier of a property as well as any other relevant person for the purposes of valuation and a response is required by legislation to be returned within 28 days. These information provision obligations are applied to all non-domestic properties, including self-catering properties. As set out in the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act, failure to respond within that period may result in a civil penalty.

In 2020-21 and 2021-22, Assessors received additional resources to support the implementation of the Barclay Review.

Question reference: S6W-03946

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it plans to increase its contribution to the Personal and Nursing Care allowance in order to reduce the amount that self-funders are expected to pay for residential accommodation in residential care settings.

Question reference: S6W-03974

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the bursary for care experienced people in education on their access to other benefits, including housing benefit and universal credit.

When the Care Experienced Bursary (CEB) was introduced, the policy intention was not only to provide enhanced living cost support, adding value to the existing support provided by Local Authorities, but also to act as an incentive for people with experience of care to enter Further and Higher Education.

The Scottish Government carried out an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the CEB, in its original form (with previous age 26 limit), and in removing the age limit from AY 2020/21. The EQIA identified a potential negative impact with regards to the protected characteristic of 'Age'. Students aged 16-19 may be adversely affected due to the CEB causing a potential reduction in the funding received from their local authority. The impact on this group of students was assessed as part of the Equality Impact Analysis and any outstanding risks were mitigated. The full EQIA can be viewed at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/care-experienced-bursary-introduction-eqia/

A Policy Note on the interaction of the Care Experienced Bursary and funding support provided by Local Authorities was sent to Local Authority Chief Executives, explaining the policy intention and our responsibility to care experienced young people as corporate parents. In addition to this, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document, was drafted by Scottish Government officials for local authority practitioners. The document highlights that the CEB was not intended to replace existing support provided by local authorities, such as Housing Benefit but to act as an incentive for people with the experience of care to enter Further and Higher Education.

We remain engaged with the Department for Work and Pensions to try to alleviate any negative financial impact on students. Officials also engage regularly with key stakeholders such as NUS Scotland, Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS), Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), and Who Cares? Scotland to ensure that the CEB is administered in the in spirit it was intended, and that care-experienced students do not lose out as a result of receiving the CEB.

Question reference: S6W-03961

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the use of non-animal alternatives in research and testing that currently uses animals.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulates the use of animals in scientific procedures in the UK. This is a reserved area of legislation.

The Scottish Government asks the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to liaise with research institutes and outline their responsibilities.

The SFC have advised that they require institutions to comply with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. The Concordat sets out principles and commitments to ensure that research produced by or in collaboration with UK universities is underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity and that the public, government, business, and international partners can continue to have confidence in that research.

Question reference: S6T-00245

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that six prisoners overdosed on drugs in two days at HMP Shotts.

Question reference: S6T-00241

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to businesses and residents affected by recent flooding.

Question reference: S6F-00418

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is working to ensure that, during COP26, it provides a platform for unheard voices, including citizens, young people and those from the Global South.