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-26370

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26028 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 15 March 2024, whether it can explain any discrepancies in the distribution of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, in light of Fife Council being the third most populous local authority, but only receiving 1.54% of the total funding announced over the last five years.

Both the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and the low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme targeted support toward disadvantaged and fragile rural communities. They have been delivered on a competitive basis, open to all local authorities and Clyde Gateway URC and it is for councils and Clyde Gateway to bring forward proposals that responded to the purpose of the funds.

In addition to access to these funds, Fife Council also receive a share of capital funding from the Place Based Investment Programme through the direct allocation to local authorities. Between 2021-22 to 2023-24 Fife Council have been allocated a total of £7.826 million. Fife Council are also one of five eligible councils able to access the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Question reference: S6W-26371

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26028 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 15 March 2024, how it will ensure that the regeneration budget allocated for 2024-25 is targeted at projects in local authority areas such as Fife, to ensure an equal spread of funding across the country.

As a result of the challenging capital funding position Scottish Ministers have had to make difficult decisions and, unless there is a significant reversal of the UK Government's cuts to capital allocations, no new project funding for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Programme will be allocated for 2024-25.

We will continue to support place-based community-led regeneration in our most disadvantaged communities through the Place based Investment Programme with local authorities receiving a share of this funding in line with the allocation formula agreed with COSLA. Confirmation on the allocation for 2024-25 will be provided in due course. Fife Council also remain eligible for the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and have an indicative allocation of £1.11m in 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-26281

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation has been established, and, if so, what the membership of the group is, and whether the remit of the group will include consideration of the criminalisation of the purchase of sex.

The new multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation held its first meeting on 27 March 2024. The membership of the Group includes representatives from the third and public sector. Details about the group can be accessed here: https://www.gov.scot/groups/commercial-sexual-exploitation/ . It is anticipated that part of the remit of the group will be to help inform the implementation and delivery of our strategic approach to challenging and deterring men’s demand for prostitution.

Question reference: S6W-26368

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the proposed Misogyny Bill will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-26280

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to complete the roll-out of prostitution "exit hubs", and how long the pilot project will last.

The development of a new support pathway for those with experience of prostitution is a key component of “Scotland’s strategic approach to challenging and deterring men’s demand for prostitution and supporting the recovery and sustainable exit of those involved in prostitution”, published on 6 February 2024.

As part of this a hub will be established to strengthen the links between mainstream and specialist support services, in order to improve access to support for those affected, from crisis support through to support to sustainably exit from prostitution.

A pilot of the hub will begin in summer and subject to evaluation a phased national roll out will follow.

Question reference: S6O-03281

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding the proposed re-instatement of a direct ferry link between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.

Question reference: S6W-26026

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25697 by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 March 2024, how many projects in the Cowdenbeath constituency have received funding through the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme since it was established, and how much each project received.

Question reference: S6W-26024

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25697 by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 March 2024, what criteria will be used in the forthcoming round of Regeneration Capital Grant funding.

Question reference: S6W-26022

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25697 by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 March 2024, how funding decisions are made in relation to the applications that it receives for Regeneration Capital Grant funding.

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund is delivered through a two-stage application and assessment process for each funding round. All applications are assessed by the independent Regeneration Capital Grant Fund Investment Panel against the fund’s criteria set jointly with COSLA. Only those applications assessed as successful by the panel at stage 1 are invited to submit a full stage 2 application. The panel makes final recommendations to the Scottish Government and COSLA on stage 2 applications to be funded.

Question reference: S6W-26025

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25697 by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 March 2024, how the remaining £22.8 million of the £45.8 million of funding for 2024-25 will be split between the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.