Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-37360

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what further submissions officials were instructed to provide following the 26 February 2025 meeting on zonal electricity pricing, broken down by (a) subject matter, (b) directorate responsible and (c) expected completion date.

The purpose of the meeting on 26 February 2025 was to update myself and the Minister for Climate Action on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, the reform options being considered by UK Government, and the potential impact of those options for Scotland.

The briefing paper for this meeting, and list of attendees, including ministers, have already been released under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). It is standard procedure for names of officials to be redacted in all FOIs under Section 38(1)(b), due to protections around the sharing of Third Party Data, whereby personal data is exempt from disclosure if disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK GDPR and in section 34(1) of the DPA 2018.

Upon review of the FOI, section 29(1)(a) was not cited as a redaction used. Information has been redacted under 30(b)(i), however, was redacted due to it relating to the free and frank provision of advice. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers to have space within which to seek advice and views from officials before reaching a settled public position.

In line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants, including the number of hours spent on them, are not routinely recorded.

Question reference: S6W-37378

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential impact of zonal electricity pricing on renewable generation projects located on island communities in the last 10 years, and what the conclusions were.

Decisions on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has published impact assessments and is updating its analysis ahead of a final decision this summer. We are awaiting sight of this updated modelling.

In addition, a range of impact assessments have been carried out by consultancies and industry bodies.

We met with researchers, industry and consumer organisations – as well as international electricity market experts – in December 2024 to consider the evidence and have engaged extensively with stakeholders over the past two years to understand all impacts.

This is a complex area and the Scottish Government is clear that UK Government reforms must reduce costs for Scottish consumers, ensure Scotland’s communities feel the benefit of the energy transition and protect investment in our renewables industry and supporting decarbonisation.

Question reference: S6W-37359

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a summary of the key points of the advice that was withheld under (a) section 29(1)(a) and (b) section 30(b)(i) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in relation to FOI/202500459761.

The purpose of the meeting on 26 February 2025 was to update myself and the Minister for Climate Action on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, the reform options being considered by UK Government, and the potential impact of those options for Scotland.

The briefing paper for this meeting, and list of attendees, including ministers, have already been released under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). It is standard procedure for names of officials to be redacted in all FOIs under Section 38(1)(b), due to protections around the sharing of Third Party Data, whereby personal data is exempt from disclosure if disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK GDPR and in section 34(1) of the DPA 2018.

Upon review of the FOI, section 29(1)(a) was not cited as a redaction used. Information has been redacted under 30(b)(i), however, was redacted due to it relating to the free and frank provision of advice. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers to have space within which to seek advice and views from officials before reaching a settled public position.

In line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants, including the number of hours spent on them, are not routinely recorded.

Question reference: S6W-37449

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15187 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 March 2023, whether it will provide (a) updated figures on average gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per (i) pre-school registration, (ii) primary school pupil and (iii) secondary school pupil and (b) information on allocations (accounting for teaching and tuition fees funding) per (i) college and (ii) university place, in each year from 2012-13 to 2023-24 inclusive, in (A) cash terms and (B) real terms for 2024-25 prices, using HM Treasury GDP Deflator.

Question reference: S6W-37590

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to develop the Scottish supply chain for the subcontract design, manufacture and export of pressure vessels for small modular reactors globally.

The Scottish Government has been clear that it does not support the development of new nuclear under current technologies. Small modular reactors, whilst innovative in size and location, present the same environmental issues as traditional nuclear power stations.

The Scottish Government supports investment in renewables, which is both safer and considerably more cost effective than the production of electricity using nuclear fission.

The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to drive the deployment of renewable energy in Scotland by leveraging private investment, building our supply chain and securing green jobs. This commitment includes our investment of up to £500 million over five years to anchor our offshore wind supply chain in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37484

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported absence of published waiting list data for gynaecology inpatient procedures and consultant-led outpatient appointments, and when up-to-date data will next be made available, in light of the most recent figures reportedly only covering up to the end of Q2 2024, with no updates expected before Q3 2025.

This is not correct.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) publish data relating to the length of time patients wait to be seen as a new outpatient or admitted for treatment as an inpatient or day case on a quarterly basis. The latest Stage of Treatment publication, published on 4 March 2025, includes information on gynaecology new outpatient and inpatient or day-case waits up to 31 December 2024. This can be accessed here: Stage of treatment waiting times - Inpatients, day cases and new outpatients quarter ending 31 December 2024 - NHS waiting times - stage of treatment - Publications - Public Health Scotland

The next Stage of Treatment report will be published on 27 May 2025 and will include waiting times data for all planned care specialities, including gynaecology, up to the quarter ending 31 March 2025.

Question reference: S6O-04723

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what feedback it has received from organisations, including sport and social clubs, regarding changes in the protecting vulnerable groups scheme as a result of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

Question reference: S6O-04724

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how its policies to support Scottish culture and heritage ensure that the contribution of prominent figures, such as trade unionist, Michael McGahey, can be honoured.

Question reference: S6O-04722

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the roadworks on the M8 in Glasgow will be completed by 2026.

Question reference: S6O-04725

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how its Budget aims to benefit people in East Kilbride.

Chamber and committees