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-03409

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03411

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-29389

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28909 by Natalie Don on 27 August 2024, what analysis has been conducted to examine whether the £400,000 spent has helped to reduce mobile phone addiction among young people.

There has been no specific analysis completed on the impact of our expenditure in relation to mobile phone addiction. However the funding has been used to create a suite of online resources, information and advice to support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people.

The Scottish Youth Parliament receive funding for ‘Mind Yer Time’ - a national resource comprising of positive tips, stories and information to help children and young people use their screentime in a healthy and responsible way.

Young Scot receive funding for ‘Ayefeel’ – a national hub for young people to support their mental health and wellbeing. This includes a podcast series called ‘This is How AyeFeel’, allowing young people, content creators, known figures, and influencers a platform to share their experiences, coping mechanisms, and journeys toward better mental health through interviews, personal stories, and expert insights.

Question reference: S6W-30015

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the letter from the chief executive of the Ferguson Marine shipyard to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 12 September 2024 stating that the delivery of the MV Glen Sannox will be further delayed due to ongoing issues with the vessel's liquefied natural gas (LNG) system.

I wrote to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 13 September 2024 to give the Scottish Government’s response to the latest progress update on the delivery of MV Glen Sannox.

Since then, liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel has been successfully loaded on to MV Glen Sannox and sea trails to test those systems commenced on 20 September. Work on the vessel will continue in the coming weeks, with a further set of sea trials planned for the end of September.

Question reference: S6W-30028

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for ministers to consider reports from the Reporters Unit following public inquiries and planning appeals for renewables applications.

Question reference: S6W-30035

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding developing further regional specialist endometriosis centres across the country.

There are three specialist endometriosis centres which accept patients from across Scotland when specialist surgery for complex endometriosis is required.

This was recommended as the optimal approach for effective treatment by a specialist working group of clinicians and representatives from patient groups and Endometriosis UK. There are no plans to establish a specialist centre within every NHS Board.

Question reference: S6W-30027

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with delivering the Offshore Skills Passport.

The Offshore Energy Skills Passport is an initiative led and driven by industry.

The most recent statement from the key industry delivery bodies, Renewable UK and Offshore Energies UK, indicates that an initial version of the Passport will be available for workers to access later this year.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the Passport’s successful implementation. Ministers last met with Renewable UK and Offshore Energies UK to receive updates on progress on 10 September 2024.

Question reference: S6W-30022

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of affordable homes being built.

Affordable housing has a clear priority in this year’s Programme for Government. We are investing nearly £600 million in affordable housing in 2024-2025, which includes the additional £40 million capital announced earlier this year, and will deliver social and affordable homes across Scotland, including new build, rehabilitation and acquisitions. We have also committed £100 million over the longer term to grow institutional investment to at least £500 million and support the construction of around 2,800 mid-market rent homes.

We also recognise the key role that planning plays in supporting the delivery of housing and are working collaboratively to introduce new approaches to performance reporting and improvement action by planning authorities – as well as taking action to improve skills and increase recruitment and retention of planners.

We have supported the delivery of more than 133,000 affordable homes since 2007, over 94,000 of which were for social rent, including 26,000 council homes. Of these, between 23 March 2022 and end of June 2024, we have delivered 22,743 affordable homes towards the 110,000 target, of which over 17,000 have been homes for social rent. We continue to work closely with partners to deliver the right homes in the right places.

The Scottish Government regularly publishes figures on homes delivered, which can be found online at:

Housing statistics quarterly update: new housebuilding and affordable housing supply - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-30012

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Scottish Water, as a public body, is meeting all of its statutory health, environmental and safety duties and requirements across all of its activities, and, if any shortfalls have been identified, what discussions ministers have had in regards to them and their rectification.

Scottish Water continues to deliver a high quality service throughout Scotland as demonstrated in its Annual Report for 2023-24, available here. Compliance with its statutory obligations is independently regulated by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR), the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Scottish Water is required to meet strict drinking water standards and its performance is reported on annually by the DWQR; available here. It must also ensure the water it discharges into the environment meets strict standards; SEPA’s water environment classification is available here and Scottish Water publishes the information it provides to SEPA here. WICS’ most recent report on its performance in the 2021-27 regulatory period is available here. Ministers meet with Scottish Water and its regulators routinely to discuss a variety of matters.

Question reference: S6W-30018

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports given to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry that a “culture of bullying” existed at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and what steps it is taking to eradicate any such culture in all NHS hospitals.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is a public inquiry established in accordance with the Inquiries Act 2005 and is entirely independent of the Scottish Government. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government or Ministers to comment on the Inquiry’s proceedings while the Inquiry is ongoing.

Bullying and harassment is unacceptable in any circumstance. We expect all staff, regardless of position, to act in line with the values and behaviours expected of everyone in NHSScotland.

Staff must be confident in raising any concerns they may have, and when they do, that these concerns are fully investigated. The NHSScotland Bullying and Harassment Workforce Policy provides a supportive environment for employees seeking an early resolution to bullying or harassment concerns. It is also a formal mechanism to address unresolved, significant or persistent bullying or harassment, or both.

We emphasised the importance of good workplace cultures with the publication of Improving Wellbeing and Working Cultures (IWWC) in July 2024. IWWC sets out our ambition to enhance working cultures across our health, social work and social care workforce, through programmes of work at a national level that focus on the pillars of: wellbeing, leadership and equality.