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-31077

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-28648 and S6W-29091 by Siobhian Brown on 2 August and 22 August 2024, how many applications for XL bully dogs to be added to the Index of Exempted Dogs have been unsuccessful, and how many dogs were euthanised as a result.

XL Bully dog owners had from 1 April 2024 to 31 July 2024 to apply to the Scottish Government for a certificate of exemption for their dog, to allow them to continue to legally own the dog.

The Scottish Government continues to work through a small number of cases where XL Bully dog owners have met the legal requirement to apply before 31 July 2024, but still require to provide additional information in order for their exemption application to be processed and granted.

For all applications that were received by the Scottish Government where there is evidence that confirms the legal requirement to apply for exemption through the application process, successful completion of the form, and confirmation of the application fee payment in relation to that application, the Scottish Government approved the application for exemption.

Following the closure of the exemption window for when exemptions could be sought direct from the Scottish Government, the only way that now exists for an XL Bully dog to be added to the Index of Exempted Dogs is through a court authorised application.

Separately, XL Bully owners who took the decision to have their dog euthanised could claim up to £200 compensation from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government had to receive any claim for compensation by 30 September 2024 with owners seeking compensation required to make the necessary arrangements by 31 July 2024. The Scottish Government received and approved 35 claims for compensation following arrangements being made for the euthanisation of an XL Bully dog.

Where an XL Bully dog owner has decided to have their dog euthanised without seeking compensation from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government would not be advised by the owner. Therefore, the number of claims for compensation sent to the Scottish Government does not provide the total number of XL Bully dogs euthanised.

Question reference: S6W-31045

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress each NHS board has made on the implementation of the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) NHS Scotland National Service Specification.

We are working closely with all NHS Boards to support implementation of the CAMHS specification to improve the service provided to children, young people and families, as well as improve performance across CAMHS. We remain committed to supporting all Boards to meet the standard that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

Local CAMHS teams continue to respond well to demand, with 1 in 2 children and young people referred to CAMHS starting treatment within 6 weeks, compared to 12 weeks pre-pandemic. In the first half of this year, we have seen the best national performance against CAMHS waiting times since the 18 week standard was introduced in 2014.

Recognising that performance does still vary across Health Boards, we continue to provide enhanced support to those Boards not on track to meet the standard. This includes providing access to professional advice, ensuring they have robust improvement plans in place and monitoring their implementation. This is in addition to a programme of routine engagement with all 14 territorial Health Boards.

We have directly allocated £120 million to NHS Boards and Integrated Joint Boards for a new Enhanced Mental Health Outcomes Framework in 2024-25. The Framework provides a single, flexible funding stream to support continued improvements and better outcomes across a range of mental health and psychological services in line with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, including CAMHS and implementation of the CAMHS Specification.

We continue to work with NHS Boards to monitor the Service Specification’s implementation, to improve services and enhance support for children and young people and their families.

Question reference: S6T-02197

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that its income tax increases on the highest earners may have reduced the revenue raised.

Question reference: S6F-03553

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported calls to widen access to Scotland’s Redress Scheme to allow survivors of abuse at Fornethy House to seek redress.

Question reference: S6F-03550

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

To ask the First Minister, in light of reported figures that over 2,000 people were killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads last year, what the Scottish Government’s position is on whether 2024 could see the highest number of road accidents and fatalities on record.

Question reference: S6F-03541

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03539

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03540

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03558

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government last met with Ineos or Petroineos to discuss the refinery at Grangemouth.

Question reference: S6W-31130

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 18 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29936 by Ivan McKee on 24 September 2024, who the members are of the Risk Management Committee that owns the current risk managed hedging strategy; whether the committee has considered any community wealth building advantages of adding community energy suppliers to the generation mix; whether any financial benefits of doing so for the main public sector bodies have been considered, and, if so, whether any conclusions were published.

The Risk Management committee includes a mix of procurement, financial and energy personnel from the following organisations – Scottish Government, Scottish Prison Service, Police Scotland, University of Edinburgh, Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges, Glasgow Clyde College, Inverclyde Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Argyll and Bute Council, NHS National Services Scotland, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The generation mix of electricity for the Framework is not dictated by the Risk Management Committee, this would be something which is decided by the supplier with regards to their own generation mix, therefore no information or conclusions can be published about other supply mixes.

Ultimately, the generation mix for the electricity framework is sourced from the National Grid.

Any community energy used/used in future would be out-with the framework.