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: S6O-00045

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that delays to criminal trials are adversely affecting victims’ mental health.

Question reference: S6O-00039

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support and assistance it is offering to the organisers of this summer's Edinburgh festivals.

Question reference: S6O-00038

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for National Towns of Culture.

Question reference: S6O-00044

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve support for victims of crime.

Question reference: S6W-00370

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34419 by Ben Macpherson on 3 February 2021, whether its review of the effectiveness of the Guidance on Dog training Aids has been published.

Question reference: S6W-00306

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when updated guidance on live music under COVID-19 protection levels will be published.

As live music takes place in a variety of settings, different guidance is applicable for different scenarios. The guidance for the performing arts and venues sector was most recently updated on 1 June 2021 and that for the events sector on 26 May 2021.

Performing arts venues can reopen in areas in protection levels 0 to 2, and both indoor and outdoor events can take place in levels 0 to 2. Such activity must follow the measures, mitigations and capacity limits as detailed in the performing arts guidance ( Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for the performing arts and venues sector - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ) and the events guidance ( Coronavirus (COVID-19): events sector guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ).

Separate guidance is also available for calculating capacities - Coronavirus (COVID-19): calculating physical distancing capacity in public settings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and for applying for approval for to exceed the capacity limits in the published protection levels -

Coronavirus (COVID-19) stadia and live events guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Live background music in hospitality settings is permitted at levels 0 – 2. Any such activity must be done in accordance with the tourism and hospitality guidance, updated on 26 May ( Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ).

The Scottish Government continues to work with the live music sector to inform guidance and advise on its application.

Question reference: S6W-00301

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what talks it has had with the UK Government regarding what can be done to mitigate the impact of Brexit on the cost and supply of materials for Scotland-based SMEs in the construction sector.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned by emerging evidence that EU Exit is having a severe impact on the ability of Scottish companies to trade effectively and competitively with the European Union, with lasting consequences for our economy. We are aware of reports of material shortages and price increases within the construction sector and are working with industry and the UK Government to fully understand the current supply chain issues. These will be discussed in detail on 16 June at the next meeting of the Construction Leadership Forum which I will chair.

The Scottish Government will continue to work hard to address the problems and blockages faced by companies, where it is in our power to do so.

Question reference: S6W-00337

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, whether it will provide reassurance that all responses to the most recent public consultation on gender reform recognition have been (a) read and (b) taken into account as part of the contract to analyse this data.

We advised in our consultation on the draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill that all responses would be analysed, an analysis report published and the responses considered along with other evidence available to help progress our commitment to reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Work on the draft Bill, including the consultation analysis, was paused in April 2020 as a result of the pandemic. In November 2020, we announced that we were taking forward work so that the consultation responses would be analysed independently of Scottish Government.

Analysts commissioned by the Scottish Government to review consultation responses are required, under the procurement arrangements, to carry out a transparent, robust and systematic analysis of all responses. As a condition of the contract, they are also required to produce a balanced and impartial report for publication, ensuring that the full range and nature of views are presented.

We will publish the analysis report and the responses from organisations and groups, where we have permission to do so, in due course.

Question reference: S6W-00184

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education has discussed the SQA alternative certification model for 2021 with (a) the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland's office or (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission and, if so, on which dates the discussions took place, what specific issues were discussed and whether minutes of the meetings were taken.

The former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills wrote to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland earlier this year in response to correspondence from the Commissioner about this year’s Alternative Certification Model and the Scottish Qualifications Authority appeals process.

More recently I have written to the Commissioner in response to points raised by young people in response to the published appeals arrangements for this year.

Scottish Government officials have engaged with representatives from the Commissioner’s office on these matters.

No discussions have taken place between the myself and The Equality and Human Rights Commission in respect of the Alternative Certification Model.

In support of the process to deliver this year’s Alternative Certification Model and appeals service, the Scottish Qualifications Authority has engaged with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Question reference: S6W-00185

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the "fire and rehire" practice, in which college lecturers are reportedly being made redundant while simultaneously being offered course instructor posts on poorer pay and conditions.

Colleges are responsible for making workforce-related decisions in line with legislative requirements, the Code of Good Governance for Scotland’s Colleges and the Scottish Funding Council’s Financial Memoranda. Such decisions may take into account the need to implement changes to the delivery of teaching and learning to reflect the changing needs of the local economy and industry skills demands, as well as on the financial health of the institution.

The Scottish Government remains firmly of the view that it is for the college unions and the employers to negotiate pay and terms and conditions voluntarily in the spirit of collaboration and co-operation. The Scottish Government continue to work with the SFC, who work closely with the sector, to ensure any actions taken are compliant with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and are in line with Fair Work principles.

We are committed to reviewing our Fair Work First criteria to specifically reference Fire and Rehire Practice.