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-25638

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of East Dunbartonshire Council’s Local Transport Strategy 2020-25 and Local Development Plan 2 both committing to safeguarding land for an Allander rail station between Milngavie and Hillfoot, what its position is on whether it supports East Dunbartonshire Council’s aspiration for a new station at this location when funding and other factors allow.

Currently the Scottish Government has no evidence to support a new Allander rail station.

East Dunbartonshire Council undertook a transport appraisal in 2018 for the A81 corridor which concluded none of the rail options offered sufficient value for money. My officials at Transport Scotland engaged extensively with East Dunbartonshire Council as part of the Council’s work to develop their Local Development Plan. This included providing advice to the Council on the transport appraisal required to justify any new strategic transport infrastructure, including rail stations.

We are not aware of East Dunbartonshire Council having any plans to revisit their transport appraisal work. However, if a robust business case is presented for rail proposals, such proposals will be considered by Transport Scotland, subject to Scottish Government’s priorities, our rail investment strategy, affordability and other competing priorities.

Question reference: S6W-25010

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the appointment of Edel Harris OBE to chair the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment, how the review will progress, and how (a) members of the public and (b) organisations can best provide their views to the review.

The independent review will consider the current rules and experience of delivery in the first year of Adult Disability Payment and will take no more than 18 months to complete. Whilst it is for the chair of the review to decide how to conduct it, the review remit requires engagement with disabled people and stakeholders, including members of the former Disability and Carer’s Benefits Expert Advisory Group (DACBEAG).

Question reference: S6W-24741

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest position is of the four-day working week public sector pilot, as outlined in its Programme for Government.

The Scottish Government can confirm today work has commenced on the 4 Day Working Week Public Sector Pilot to assess the wellbeing, environmental and productivity benefits a 4 Day Working Week could bring.

We have appointed Autonomy as our expert partner to support the pilot. The team involved in this project have previous 4 Day Working Week pilot experience including from the Valencian Government pilot, and the Icelandic public sector pilot.

The South of Scotland Enterprise 4 Day Working Week pathfinder work is being folded into Autonomy’s methodology, and engagement will continue with other public bodies interested in participating in the 32-hour working week pilot.

Autonomy will also provide support and evaluate organisations moving to a contractual 35 hour working week. This will capture valuable insights from a wider range of public bodies on different shorter work week models and be included in the 4 Day Working Week evaluation report.

Question reference: S6W-24396

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23928 by Jenni Minto on 3 January 2024, when it plans to bring forward secondary legislation to enable the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The secondary legislation to enable HIS to regulate independent healthcare services, including non-surgical cosmetic procedures, which are provided by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from premises other than registered pharmacies and/or outwith the terms of NHS contracts, will be brought forward by the end of Summer 2024.

The scoping of further regulation of non-surgical cosmetics procedures, including consideration of the level of training required to perform these procedures, is underway.

Question reference: S6F-02735

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on how the Scottish Government will continue to protect tenants in the private rented sector after the expiry of the rent cap under the Cost of Living (Tenants Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.

Question reference: S6W-24395

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the consultation on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax - Additional Dwelling Supplement legislation changes, what plans it has to reform the timelines, and when it expects such reforms to be in place.

The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Miscellaneous Amendments)(Scotland) Order 2024 was laid before Parliament on the 19 January 2024. The Order proposes a number of amendments to the arrangements for the Additional Dwelling Supplement, including the extension of repayment timelines from 18 months to 36 months.

The proposed amendments will, if approved by Parliament, take effect from 1 April 2024.

Question reference: S6W-24410

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the list of conditions that indicate whether an individual is deemed to be at higher risk from COVID-19 infection, as outlined in Tables 3 and 4 of Chapter 14a of the Green Book, to be non-exhaustive, and whether medical discretion lies with the relevant GP or other health professional in deciding whether an individual with an underlying health condition is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination or booster.

Scottish COVID-19 vaccination policy and delivery is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the information contained within the COVID-19 Green Book Chapter.

Individuals who have a condition that puts them at higher clinical risk from COVID-19 are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this winter. Anyone unsure about their health condition or circumstance, should speak to their health professional, specialist or local vaccination services. Further information on the COVID-19 vaccine and health conditions can be found on NHS inform .

The COVID-19 Chapter 14a of the Green Book states that examples in tables 3 and 4 are not exhaustive, and, within these broad groups, the prescriber may need to apply clinical judgment to take into account the risk of COVID-19 exacerbating any underlying disease that a patient may have, as well as the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 itself. A more comprehensive list of potentially eligible diagnoses, and the appropriate clinical codes, is found in the link at the end of the chapter.

Clinicians can refer patients to their local immunisation teams, if they believe the individual to be at risk, but does not have one of the conditions listed in tables 3 or 4. Patients can also refer themselves. The local immunisation team will assess the patient and decide if vaccination is appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-23928

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Following the Scottish Government’s 2020 consultation on the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures (that pierce or penetrate the skin), officials are working on introducing secondary legislation to enable HIS to regulate independent healthcare services, including non-surgical cosmetic procedures, provided by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from premises other than registered pharmacies, and/or which are provided outwith the terms of NHS contracts.

In addition, officials are engaging with the UK Department of Health and Social Care in regard to their recent consultation and working with stakeholders including healthcare professionals, hair and beauty industry representatives and Environmental Health Officers to consider the potential scope of further regulation in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-24021

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its plans for the future of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan, in light of the upcoming reform of the post-school education and skills landscape.

The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) published in 2020 provided an important springboard for net zero skills planning and we have made good progress since its publication.

The recent CESAP Pathfinder publication highlights that investment in net zero is progressing, with nearly £90 billion in green investments currently underway or planned in the next three years. This progress in building a strong skills base and creating green jobs is underpinned by the findings in the PwC Green Barometer. The Pathfinder also provides a strong evidential underpinning across apprenticeships, further education, and higher education that will inform next steps.

It is important that our education and skills landscape is flexible, adaptable, and easier to navigate for employers, learners, and training providers. The Scottish Government intends to fully align green skills policy and planning behind its wider net zero priorities and we will therefore integrate the next phase of our work on green skills into the Just Transition Plans, Green Industrial Strategy and Rural Delivery Plan, rather than through a separate CESAP update.

The CESAP Implementation Steering Group, now chaired by myself, will continue to play a critical role in informing our net zero transition, sending strong signals to the education and skills system on the need for urgent action to tackle net zero, and supporting the development of relevant strategies, including the Just Transition Plans, Green Industrial Strategy and Rural Delivery Plan.

Question reference: S6W-23536

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the governance review of the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership (CMPP), and which organisations are represented on the CMPP board as a result.

The Clyde Marine Planning Partnership (CMPP) are currently undertaking a governance review including the make-up of the CMPP Board. This process is ongoing and is yet to conclude. When and if changes are agreed and adopted by the partnership, they will notify Scottish Ministers of these as soon as reasonably practicable and without delay as per Schedule 1 of the Delegation of Functions (Regional Marine Plan for the Scottish Marine Region for the Clyde) Direction 2017. As previously communicated, the CMPP's governance is primarily a matter for the CMPP itself as part of delegated powers and function under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Current membership is published on the CMPP website: www.clydemarineplan.scot