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: S6F-03694

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03696

Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03695

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03699

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

To ask the First Minister, in light of the rise in the number of people under 50 being diagnosed with bowel cancer, what proposals the Scottish Government has to extend the national bowel screening programme to those under 50 years old.

Question reference: S6W-32048

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its allocation of £145.5 million to maintain teacher numbers, where the original documents in relation to any associated funding agreements with local authorities are or will be published.

Since 2012-13 the Scottish Government has had a policy position of increasing/maintaining teacher numbers and has made a range of historical financial allocations to local government to support this.

During COVID-19, in the 2020-2021 school year, we provided additional funding to Local Authorities for the recruitment of additional teachers, to aid in education recovery and to compensate for any loss of learning suffered by pupils during lockdown, bringing added resilience to the education system. The £145.5m is part of the £240m referenced in the news release https://www.gov.scot/news/education-recovery/

We have continued to offer Local Authorities £145.5m to maintain teacher numbers. The funding was a continuation of the additional resource provided to ease education recovery. The £145.5m was referenced in the 2022/23 local government budget settlement.

The agreement reached on 10 December 2024 can be found at Education: agreement with COSLA - gov.scot

Question reference: S6W-32719

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its decision not to proceed with any of the fixed link options proposed in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), in light of its announcement that it will make specific funding available to support connectivity in the Northern Isles, as set out in its draft Budget 2025-26.

The Scottish Government remains committed to taking forward work on the three proposed fixed links identified as part of the second Strategic Transport Review (STPR2) under Recommendation 41. Noting that STPR2 is a long term plan, the next step is in determining whether there is a robust enough business case and local support to progress these options for more detailed consideration.

The business cases for a potential Sound of Harris, Sound of Barra fixed links and a fixed link between Mull and Scottish mainland would need to consider the benefits, costs and challenges associated with these interventions and would further consider the feasibility of improving island connectivity through additional fixed links.

The funding allocated in the draft Budget is for Orkney and Shetland Councils to improve inter-island connectivity in the way that best meets local needs, therefore distinct from the STPR2 recommendation.

Question reference: S6W-32728

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Creative Scotland has distributed to organisations registered in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in each each year since 2021-22.

Since 2021-22, Creative Scotland has distributed £19.1m to organisations registered in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Funding distributed to organisations with a base outside Scotland will either have an office in Scotland and/or the funded activity will be related to work in Scotland. Full breakdown as follows:

Financial Year	Number of Applications	Awarded Amount
2021-22	102	8,054,015.00*
England	94	7,986,035.00
Northern Ireland	4	20,480.00
Wales	4	47,500.00
2022-23	63	2,654,155.00
England	61	2,609,065.00
Wales	2	45,090.00
2023-24	87	5,891,529.50
England	82	5,851,986.50
Northern Ireland	4	32,543.00
Wales	1	7,000.00
2024-25	49	2,513,499.00
England	48	2,499,696.00
Northern Ireland	1	13,803.00
Grand Total	301	19,113,198.50

*Figure includes some COVID-19 Emergency Funding

Question reference: S6W-32727

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff Creative Scotland employ (a) nationally and (b) in the Highlands and Islands region.

Question reference: S6W-32623

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on staff (a) salaries and (b) travel expenses at each of its international offices in the last year.

The following table presents totals for (a) salaries, including overseas allowances, and (b) travel expenses for 2023-24.

International Office	(a) Salary Costs	(b) Travel Costs
China	£206,338	£10,500
United States	£281,144	£29,000
Canada	£195,802	£47,000
France	£239,456	£10,700
Nordics	£277,666	£8,900
Scotland House Brussels	£1,191,266	£30,300
Ireland	£228,481	£5,000
Germany	£260,067	£11,700
Scotland House London	£665,894	£13,200

The international network offices outside the UK comprise country-based staff (CBS) in addition to UK-Based diplomatic staff. These figures contains additional non-salary costs for CBS, who are employed by FCDO, which are not disaggregated when recharged to the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-32696

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints about illegal e-bikes Police Scotland has received from residents in Aberdeen in each of the last three years.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

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