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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 46894 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-30135

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many (a) local authority-owned and (b) privately owned properties have been identified by local authorities as containing suspected reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The Scottish Government encourages all building owners to be open and transparent about the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their properties, including making information available on websites (although there is no duty on the part of local authorities to gather information on RAAC in privately owned buildings). Information on the presence of RAAC in the public sector can be found in a recently published Scottish Government report: https://www.gov.scot/publications/raac-in-the-public-sector/

Question reference: S6W-30165

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to local authorities in relation to granting or refusing consent for the installation of domestic (a) solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and (b) wind generators.

It is for local planning authorities to implement relevant planning legislation, policies and guidance as they deem appropriate and to ensure that the provisions of the planning system are applied properly within their areas. General guidance on the processing and determination of planning applications is available in Planning Circular 3: Development Management Procedures.

In line with long-established planning legislation, planning applications are determined in accordance with the development plan unless material planning considerations justify a departure from the plan. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) forms part of the development plan, alongside the local development plan for each area.

NPF4 signals the key priorities for ‘where’ and ‘what’ development should take place and is combined with national planning policy on ‘how’ development planning should manage change. It places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system. NPF4 Policy 11 provides support in principle for all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies including small-scale renewable energy generation proposals. However, it also confirms that potential impacts on communities and individual dwellings, the environment and other receptors are important considerations in the decision-making process.

In some instances, solar panels and wind turbines can be installed on domestic properties under permitted development rights without the need for a planning application. Guidance on this is contained in Section 6 of Planning Circular 1/2024: Householder Permitted Development Rights.

Question reference: S6W-30162

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the results of its 2023 consultation, Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland's homes, will be released.

Question reference: S6W-30159

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the then Minister for Climate Action during the stage 3 proceedings for the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill on 25 June 2024 that the Scottish Government "intend[s] to consider targets for separate waste streams and carbon-based metrics", and that this "approach is based on the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations”, what recommendations the minister was referring to, and where they were made.

Page 161 of the ‘Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland: 2022 Report to Parliament’ by the Climate Change Committee (Progress in reducing emissions in Scotland 2022 Report to Parliament (theccc.org.uk)) contains the following recommendation:

“Legislate the Circular Economy Bill and set targets to reduce waste and improve recycling rates beyond 2025, ensuring these are more ambitious than existing targets. Targets should be set on the basis of separate waste streams (rather than 'All waste') and where possible consider carbon-based metrics”

Question reference: S6W-30186

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) local authorities, (b) higher education institutions and (c) private providers in order to establish local housing market intelligence hubs.

The Scottish Government has had no engagement with local authorities, higher education institutions, and private providers in order to establish local housing market intelligence hubs. It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities through their Local Housing Strategy and Development Plan to determine the appropriate housing required in their area, informed by a Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA). HNDA Guidance encourages local authorities to establish a Housing Market Partnership (HMP) to oversee the development, production and sign-off of a HNDA. The structure and membership of a HMP is determined locally to reflect the circumstances and requirements of individual partnerships.

Question reference: S6W-30151

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that patients with a terminal illness are able to access GP surgery appointments requested by their specialists without any undue delay or distress.

All Health Boards should have appropriate arrangements in place to ensure co-ordination of care for patients across primary, community and hospital health care services. This includes patients with a terminal illness.

To date the Scottish Government has provided over £342,000, of which, £125,000 was provided this financial year, in funding to the Royal College of General Practitioners “Primary Care Secondary Care Interface” project. The project is considering ways to improve this co-ordination and interface working arrangements. The College is working with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery and Health Boards on this project.

Question reference: S6W-30421

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General for Scotland will publish information on health, disability and unpaid care from the 2022 Census.

I have asked Janet Egdell, Interim Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

National Records of Scotland (NRS) have today published: ‘Scotland’s Census 2022: Health, disability and unpaid care’. This is the final topic release from Scotland’s Census 2022. Later in 2024, NRS will publish multivariate data. This means we will publish tables which include more than one census topic variable. More detail about the schedule for future reports can be found here.

Scotland’s Census results are designated as Accredited Official Statistics and form an integral part of the statistical system in the UK. The Office for Statistics Regulation, the independent regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority, awards Accredited Official Statistics designation based on the quality, good practice and comprehensiveness of official statistics.

Question reference: S6W-30383

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 3 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to reported concerns by local authorities regarding a lack of proxy voting for councillors.

Question reference: S6O-03841

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has conducted in advance of the planned opening of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s safer drug consumption facility on 21 October.

Question reference: S6O-03842

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Transport Scotland and Amey regarding the repairs that are required at Union Bridge on the A96 in Keith.