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-24288

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of how it ensures that (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities promote Intangible Culture Heritage principles in all relevant materials.

Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence provides opportunities across school education for children and young people to deepen their understanding of culture and identity in Scotland (and the wider world) and this can be found in areas such as history, expressive arts, literacy, English and social studies. Within social studies for example is a specific commitment to develop understanding of the history, heritage and culture of Scotland, and an appreciation of local and national heritage within the world.

Colleges operate independently of Government, and as such, it is for them to decide on the shape of their curriculum, taking into account the needs of the region and communities they serve.

Similarly Universities, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for their own course provision and it is for them to decide how to distribute the allocation of funded places between faculties and courses. However the Scottish Government is supportive of post-school provision that promotes Intangible Cultural Heritage principles, such as the Cultural Heritage Futures interdisciplinary degree delivered by the University of Edinburgh.

As the member is aware, the Gaelic and Scots languages contain a wealth of cultural and artistic expression which make an important contribution to Scotland’s diverse linguistic heritage, rich cultural life and to our Intangible Cultural Heritage. These forms of expression are protected and promoted by a number of bodies and institutions in Scottish public life and this support enables schools, colleges and universities to have access to these resources. A wide range of bodies are involved in this task and in relation to Gaelic and Scots, Fèisean nan Gidheal, Tobar an Dualchais, Scots Language Centre and Dictionaries of the Scots Language are among the bodies that have a key role.

Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for Scotland’s museum sector, also distributes grant funding provided by the Scottish Government to support accredited museums in Scotland, including those hosted by Scottish universities, which can also showcase living heritage.

Question reference: S6W-24276

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a legal framework regarding Scottish living heritage.

The Scottish Government has no plans at present to develop such a framework for living heritage/ Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Living heritage is protected through the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Protection and Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The convention has virtually global coverage, with over 180 nations signed up. However, despite Scottish Government encouragement the UK remained one of a very few countries that had not ratified until the UK Government announced their intention to ratify on 23 December 2023.

The Scottish Government has been a vocal supporter in recognising the intrinsic value of our Intangible Cultural Heritage and is pleased that Scotland already has an online Intangible Cultural Heritage inventory at https://ichscotland.org/ with ongoing collaborative work continuing between Museums Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Creative Scotland and local communities throughout Scotland.

Going forwards, the Scottish Government will work with the other UK nations alongside key Scottish stakeholders to develop methods to incorporate Scottish living heritage entries into a Scottish list and a UK wide list.

Question reference: S6T-01757

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its current policy is regarding the deletion or retention of WhatsApp messages by ministers.

Question reference: S6T-01752

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by Homes for Scotland highlighting that almost 700,000 households in Scotland are in housing need.

Question reference: S6T-01740

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the closure of Ardrossan Harbour’s Irish Berth for safety reasons after corrosion was reportedly uncovered during an inspection by divers.

Question reference: S6F-02748

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the First Minister, in light of the Scottish Government's plans to open the first safe drug consumption room in Glasgow later this year, what assurances he can provide that other areas of drugs policy, including spaces for residential rehabilitation, will not be deprioritised.

Question reference: S6F-02760

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government's latest engagement with the UK Government regarding the status of the Grangemouth refinery.

Question reference: S6F-02753

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government plans to take in response to the reported rise in attacks on prison guards and weapons found in prisons.

Question reference: S6F-02735

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on how the Scottish Government will continue to protect tenants in the private rented sector after the expiry of the rent cap under the Cost of Living (Tenants Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.

Question reference: S6F-02733

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.