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-34077

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the True North survey’s reported findings regarding public attitudes toward managing the transition away from oil and gas while protecting jobs and investment.

Question reference: S6W-34095

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will build on the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent discussions at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit to improve energy interconnectivity between Scotland and Europe.

Question reference: S6W-34092

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what specific areas of renewable energy innovation were discussed during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent engagements at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit.

Question reference: S6W-34043

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33168 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 January 2025, how many inspections were carried out on the overbridges and overpasses on the A90 in each of the last three years, and what the main findings of these were.

A total of 102 inspections were undertaken between 2022 and 2024, broken down as follows:

2022 – 18 Inspections

2023 – 52 Inspections

2024 – 32 Inspections

The inspections indicated that all of the bridges are in an acceptable condition. There are a number of new structures on AWPR, which are not yet due their first planned inspection. When these are inspected they are expected to be in good condition.

All trunk road structures and assets are subjected to regular inspections to ensure the continued integrity of the structures and identify any necessary repairs.

Question reference: S6W-34068

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of Energy Consent Unit decisions made in the last year, and which of its ministers made each determination.

All the decisions made by the Energy Consents Unit and determinations made by Scottish Ministers are publicly available on our Energy Consents website: https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationSearch.aspx

Ministers whose responsibilities included making determinations in the last year are: Dr Alasdair Allan MSP as Minister for Climate Action, myself as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Miri McAllan MSP as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and Neil Gray MSP as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. Decisions made by Scottish Ministers are done so on the basis of collective responsibility. All decisions reached by the Scottish Ministers, individually or collectively, are binding on all members of the Government.

Question reference: S6W-34491

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which bodies incur the cost of discounts, exemptions and qualified reductions to household water charges.

Discounts, exemptions and reductions for household water and sewerage charges are funded by the wider household customer base.

Roughly 50% of households receive a discount on the published rates. These include status discounts which apply to Council Tax (e.g. single occupant) and reductions for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. This helps to ensure that charges remain progressive and protect those on the lowest incomes.

Question reference: S6W-34379

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Railway Guardian app is contributing to increasing travel by rail in Scotland and, if so, how, and how any impact is being evidenced.

Question reference: S6W-34117

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to work with NHS boards and other stakeholders to reduce instances of patients refusing to leave hospital after being deemed “surgically fit for discharge.”

In addition to existing policies in place that address situations where patients who are deemed ready for discharge refuse to leave hospital, the Scottish Government continues to meet with NHS Boards to understand what actions can be taken to inform policy development and seek assurances on the implementation of Discharge without Delay and Home First principles, and reduce instances of patients refusing to leave hospital after being deemed fit for discharge.

Question reference: S6O-04336

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact that the UK Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions will have on Scottish public services and the economy of Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04334

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what impact trade barriers have on the Scottish economy.