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-24339

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking through its Budget for staff, services and patients in relation to those in need of support who are waiting more than six weeks for a social care assessment due to the sector reportedly being under-resourced.

The Scottish Government invested £1.7 billion in social care support and health and care integration in 2023-24, and the Scottish budget for 2024-25 provides and additional £2 billion investment in social care and integration. This delivers on our commitment to increase spending by 25% over this parliament – two years ahead of our original target.

Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care support policy, local authorities and health and social care partnerships are responsible for commissioning appropriate services for local and individual needs.

Question reference: S6W-24588

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what amendments to the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 it anticipates will be included in a proposed Heat in Buildings Bill.

The Scottish Government is considering using the proposals for a Heat In Buildings Bill (as set out in consultation document “Delivering Net Zero for Scotland’s Buildings: Changing the way we heat our homes and buildings”, published November 2023) to make two potential changes to the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021. Both potential changes arise from the need to harmonise our heat networks legislation with the recently-passed UK Energy Act 2023. These potential amendments are:

To align our 2021 Act’s definitions of ‘supplier’ and ‘operator’ with those of the UK Energy Act 2023. Given that Ofgem will be acting as both the UK authorisation authority and Scottish licensing authority, it will be beneficial to the regulator and industry alike to have aligned definitions. This will foster a more streamlined application and determination process.
To modify Part 7 of the 2021 Act, in order to take into account the ‘step-in’ and ‘supplier of last resort’ provisions of the UK Energy Act 2023. It may be necessary to remove similar Scottish provisions in this area (‘register of key network assets’ and a ‘transfer scheme’) in order to avoid duplication and potential confusion for market participants.

During the consultation process, additional potential amendments may be identified.

Question reference: S6W-24584

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact a freeze on capital budgets will have on the building of a new eye hospital in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6W-24338

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether social care staff can reach pay equity with those in the public sector by the Fair Work Nation deadline of 2025, in light of it offering £12 per hour to not-for-profit social care and support staff in its Budget.

The Scottish Government has a long-standing commitment to the principles of Fair-Work as we recognise and value the work that the social care sector do.

We are committed to lifting standards for adult social care workers and for those people who are in receipt of care, which is why we have increased spending within the sector.

The £12 minimum pay-rate from April 2024 for Adult Social Care workers represents a 14.3% increase for these workers in the last two years; with pay rising from at least £10.50 per hour in April 2022.

We have continued to progress a number of key projects to take forward and improve Fair Work principles, which will not only improve the current experience of the workforce, but also help to attract and retain new staff into the workforce.

Question reference: S6O-03081

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, what its response is to reports that Scottish Government decisions appeared to have been taken for "purely political" reasons, including comments made by the former First Minister's chief of staff regarding seeking a "good old-fashioned rammy" with the UK Government.

Question reference: S6O-03084

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support will be put in place to assist local authorities in establishing "areas of linguistic significance", as set out in the Scottish Languages Bill.

The Member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

Gus faighneachd do Riaghaltas na h-Alba de an taic a bhios ann do dh'ughdarrasan ionadail a tha airson àitichean a tha "sònraichte a thaobh chànain" a stèidheachadh, mar a chaidh a chuir an làthair ann am Bile nan Cànan Albannach.

Question reference: S6O-03078

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent Police Scotland Officer and Staff Numbers statistics showing the number of police officers in Police Scotland's Edinburgh division.

Question reference: S6O-03083

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all legal predator control is carried out in a way that is consistent with best practice in animal welfare standards.

Question reference: S6O-03080

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an analysis of the potential impact that its 2024-25 Budget will have on primary care services.

Question reference: S6O-03082

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it considers when determining how to allocate funding for humanitarian aid in situations such as those in Gaza.