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-26089

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 22 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Creative Scotland, in light of reports that the organisation awarded £85,000 to a theatre company creating explicit content.

The Scottish Government is in close dialogue with Creative Scotland.

Creative Scotland are reviewing this allocation as they have been clear that what has been reported simply does not meet what the funding was applied for – it is considerably more explicit in its execution that was indicated in the original application.

I can see no way where what has been described should be in receipt of public funding and I welcome Creative Scotland’s decision to withdraw the funding for this project.

Question reference: S6W-26091

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it remains committed to its target for all buildings in Scotland to have emissions-free heating systems by 2045.

The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that all buildings in Scotland move to clean heating by 2045. We are currently analysing the responses to our consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, which would prohibit the use of polluting heating systems in Scotland’s private homes and other buildings by 2045, and our consultation on proposals for a similar standard for social housing.

Question reference: S6W-26092

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to EY’s UK Regional Economic Forecast, from February 2024, which predicts that the average employment growth rate in Scotland for 2024-27 will be the lowest regional rate at 0.8%.

The EY Regional Economic Forecast for 2024 suggests that Scotland will have a similar annualised employment growth rate to several regions and nations of the UK between 2024-2027, including Wales, Northern Ireland, the North East of England and the West Midlands. EY also indicate that Scotland had lower economic inactivity than Northern Ireland, the North East of England, Wales, the North West of England and East Midlands in 2023.

Employment growth is influenced by many factors including job creation and labour supply, with the latter reflecting demographics, migration, and participation in the labour market. Of those factors, Scotland has near record levels of payrolled employees at 2.46 million in February 2024.

The EY report identifies the importance of reducing economic inactivity and supporting people into employment. The Scottish Government is undertaking a range of action to address Scotland’s labour market challenges. For example, the Scottish Government will invest up to £90 million in devolved employability services No One Left Behind in 2024/25, to support those facing structural barriers to entering employment, alongside investment in childcare and support for those experiencing ill-health to remain in the labour market. The Scottish Government will also launch Scotland’s Migration Service during the course of 2024 to support inward investors and Scottish employers to use the immigration system to meet their skills and labour needs.

Question reference: S6O-03273

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government at what specific annual income any individual would start to pay more income tax in Scotland than they would elsewhere in the UK under its new Scottish income tax levels.

Question reference: S6W-26093

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 19 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review Creative Scotland's processes for awarding funds to independent arts projects.

As the national arts development body, Creative Scotland operate at arm’s length from the Scottish Government.

As per the legislation, this means that neither Scottish Government nor Scottish Ministers have a role in funding processes and decisions made by Creative Scotland for individual projects. Creative Scotland are rapidly reviewing their funding allocation to Rein as they have been clear that what has been reported simply does not meet what the funding was applied for.

I look forward to Creative Scotland sharing its conclusions with the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-25933

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances it would support construction within any (a) Special Landscape Area (SLA) and (b) Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS).

Our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) through policy 4 (Natural Places) sets out to protect, restore and enhance natural assets making best use of nature-based solutions. Policy 4 (d) states that development proposals that affect a site designated as a local nature conservation site or landscape area in the Local Development Plan will only be supported in limited circumstances. This includes where such development will not have significant adverse effects on the integrity of the area or the qualities for which it has been identified; or where any significant adverse effects on the integrity of the area are clearly outweighed by social, environmental or economic benefits of at least local importance.

All NPF4 policies must be read and applied as a whole and it will be for the decision maker to determine what weight to attach to policies on a case by case basis.

Question reference: S6W-25932

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to monitor and enforce the conditions set by its Reporter regarding the planned construction of Comsol Energy's solar farm on the Isle of Cumbrae.

Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority, in this case North Ayrshire Council. There are a wide range of enforcement powers in planning legislation and planning authorities have discretion to determine what power, or combination of powers, to use in any particular situation.

In this case the reporter accepted the proposed planning conditions suggested by the council with minor alterations.

Question reference: S6W-25929

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what considerations it made when deciding to overturn North Ayrshire Council’s decision not to grant permission for the development of the solar farm on the Isle of Cumbrae by Comsol Energy.

The independent reporter was required to make their decision on the planning merits of the case and in overall accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicated otherwise. The reporter concluded that the main issues in this case were the principle of the development and its potential benefits; the landscape and visual impact of the proposal; and its ecological impact. The reporter took full account of all submissions made by parties, including those from North Ayrshire Council and views expressed by members of the local community, consultees and other third parties with an interest in the proposal. A site inspection took place on 13 October 2023.

Question reference: S6W-25934

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the planned Comsol Energy solar farm on the Isle of Cumbrae on the island's endangered bird species, of which there are reported to be at least 20 species, across seven priority habitats.

The reporter took full account of all the submissions made by parties, including the potential impact on the island's birds. This included the appellants Ecological Appraisal and comments from members of the local community.

The reporter concluded that the proposed development complied with development plan policies relating to biodiversity.

The reporter has included a condition to this permission setting out that prior to the commencement of the development a Construction Management Plan shall be submitted to the council for approval. This Plan will set out, unless otherwise agreed by the planning authority, that vegetation removal should be scheduled to occur outside of the nesting bird season.

Question reference: S6W-25930

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential environmental impact of the planned Comsol Energy solar farm on the Isle of Cumbrae, including any impact on the area's topography.

Having regard to the development plan the reporter considered that the determining issues in this appeal were the principle of the development and its potential benefits, including renewable electricity generation; landscape and visual impact and ecological impacts.

The reporter took account of all submissions made on this appeal which included extensive environmental information containing an informal environmental report, landscape and visual impact assessment, extended vegetation survey, hydrological assessment, preliminary ecological appraisal, transport and access statement and a heritage impact assessment.

The reporter concluded the proposal would make a modest but worthwhile contribution towards the achievement of renewable energy generation targets and whilst the proposal would have some negative effects, the reporter found these impacts to be localised in nature, are capable of some mitigation and are outweighed by the benefits of the development.

The reporter takes account of all the evidence submitted by parties involved including those views expressed by consultees and members of the local community.

The reporter concluded that the proposed development accorded with the development plan with regard to ecological and landscape and visual impacts.