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 43798 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-26544

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a plan for meeting its commitment for 30% of Scottish Government-managed ferries to be low-emission by 2032, in light of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation in its 2023 Report to Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-26463

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards the commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.

Achieving the commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (30 by 30 commitment) is a key component in our ambition to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and substantially restore it by 2045. The target has already been achieved at sea with the suite of Marine Protected Areas. On land, our existing protected areas cover 18.2% of Scotland. It is envisaged that the 30 by 30 commitment will be achieved on land by improving the condition of existing, as well as creating new, protected areas, alongside developing a network of ‘Other Effective [area-based] Conservation Measures’ (OECMs).

Our 2023 consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity included a draft policy framework on our 30 by 30 commitment, which was co-designed with over 100 organisations and individuals representing a diverse range of interests. We are considering responses from that consultation, which will inform the final framework to be published later this year.

A further consultation, to gather views on whether the legislative framework for our current protected areas needs to be strengthened, was launched on 3 April and will run until 24 May 2024. It can be accessed at: https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/meeting-our-30-by-30-commitment-a-consultation/ . This will inform any requirements within the Natural Environment Bill.

A stakeholder group convened by NatureScot will help develop the OECM criteria which sites must meet to be considered within the ‘30 by 30’ network. This work is being carried out in parallel, and in discussion with, the other UK administrations to ensure a degree of consistency of approach.

Question reference: S6W-26465

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects to publish the results of its consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity.

A 14 week consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity closed on 14 December 2023. We received over 600 responses - approximately 30% of these were from organisations and 70% were from individuals. We are very grateful for the time and effort stakeholders have taken to provide responses to what was a very substantial consultation on the key elements of our approach to tackling the nature crisis. We are working through the analysis and will continue to engage with our stakeholders, on the final publication of the strategy and delivery plan. These will be published later this year alongside the consultation analysis report and Scottish Government’s response to it.

Question reference: S6W-26299

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the value of youth work within the school environment.

The Scottish Government considers youth work within the school environment to be incredibly valuable.

An independent review of Community Learning and Development (CLD), was launched in December 2023 and is expected to conclude in June 2024. This review aims to assess the impact of CLD on learners across Scotland which will provide valuable insights for the delivery of CLD in a reformed education system.

Question reference: S6W-26282

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a plan to progress the reform recommendations set out in the report, Lessons Learned – resetting national collective bargaining in the colleges sector, in light of it being two years, on 25 March 2024, since the finalised report was published.

While the Scottish Government commissioned the Lessons Learned Report, the recommendations are for those involved in the National Bargaining arrangement to take forward. The Scottish Government has no powers to impose an implementation plan on stakeholders.

However, to encourage the taking forward of the findings of the report, I met with a range of stakeholders on 13 March to commence a dialogue around next steps for the Sector. I will continue to engage with this group as they, I hope, are able to work towards finding a better way forward than currently exists.

Question reference: S6O-03354

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its plans to achieve net zero by 2045, what its response is to the Electricity System Operator's report, Beyond 2030.

Question reference: S6O-03353

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking in response to reports of potential staff redundancies at the Thermo Fisher Scientific site in Paisley.

Question reference: S6O-03349

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to deliver a safer speed limit of 20 mph by 2025 on all appropriate roads in built-up areas.

Question reference: S6O-03352

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what activity it will undertake regarding its Action Plan to Address Depopulation.

Question reference: S6O-03350

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve connectivity on the islands of Arran and Cumbrae ahead of the busy summer tourist season.