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-23531

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding the utilisation of technologies for the removal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water.

In line with the Public Water Supply (Scotland) Regulations 2014, Scottish Water is required to carry out risk assessments to assess the likelihood of the presence of the most widespread PFAS compounds in its drinking water supplies. Where risk is identified, controls must be determined. It is a matter for Scottish Water to decide what treatment technology is necessary, however, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator has provided guidance on the types of treatments that can be effective in removing PFAS from drinking water.

The DWQR is participating in a UK wide research project on the effectiveness of different treatment processes for the removal of PFAS that is led by Cranfield University; this research is due for completion by June 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23522

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken to date to implement the recommendations of the Report of the inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland by the Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia, in light of it being more than two years since the report was published.

The Scottish Government welcomed the publication of ‘Scotland’s Islamophobia’ – the report into Islamophobia in Scotland by the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Tackling Islamophobia, and will continue to carefully consider the recommendations made.

The report shines a light on some serious issues faced by our Muslim communities in Scotland and we are committed to ensuring that Islamophobia is not tolerated. The Scottish Government is funding and working closely with organisations working to tackle racist and religious intolerance, as well as improve the lives of minority ethnic and religious communities in Scotland.

I have committed to attend a meeting with the CPG in early 2024 to discuss interventions to tackle Islamophobia in Scotland, including the recommendations within the CPG report ‘Scotland’s Islamophobia’.

Question reference: S6W-23529

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from entering into (a) the environment and (b) water sources.

The Scottish Government works with the UK and Welsh Governments on UK chemicals regulation to ensure the continued protection of the environment and people’s health. We have been clear that the risks the continued use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present is a priority issue for addressing through the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) regulation. This regulation is the principal mechanism for controlling the supply and use of chemicals on the GB market. Earlier this year the Health and Safety Executive, as the Agency for UK REACH, published a detailed report recommending regulatory steps to control the risks of PFAS. Scottish Government supports the recommended prioritised approach, starting with a UK REACH restriction on the use of PFAS in fire-fighting foams with further, wider ranging PFAS restriction proposals to follow. This will build on existing bans on three PFAS through the international Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, to which the UK is a signatory. SEPA supports site operators or users of PFAS-based substances to meet their legal obligations under national legislation. SEPA has worked with Scottish Water for a number of years on the Chemicals Investigation Programme, a UK-wide initiative coordinated by UK Water Industry Research, which investigates pollutants in wastewater treatment work influents and effluents and the effectiveness of treatment options for a range of substances including certain PFAS.

For drinking water sources, measures will be introduced as part of the Scottish Government's commitment to align with the EU’s recast Drinking Water Directive which will require Catchment Risk Assessments to be undertaken. Where there is a risk of compliance failures for substances such as PFAS, remedial action must be taken. Work to align with the requirements of this Directive is currently underway with a compliance deadline of 2027.

Question reference: S6W-23528

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with (a) public and (b) private sector partners to create a national inventory of historical and current sources of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The Scottish Government is working with the UK and Welsh Governments through initiatives like the Cross-government PFAS working group to better understand current and legacy PFAS issues, regulatory approaches and compliance. Under SEPA’s Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory, regulated businesses in Scotland have a duty to report annually their emissions of chemicals to air and water that include a number of PFAS. SEPA make this information publicly available on their website. Under the international Stockholm Convention, SEPA must report any stockpiles of material or products above 50kg containing certain PFAS.

Question reference: S6W-23353

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Rape Crisis Scotland campaign, Survivors Can’t Wait, which calls for emergency waiting list funding to be extended beyond March 2024 to save 28 jobs, and for long-term sustainable funding for Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland.

Rape Crisis Scotland and other frontline services are crucial, that is why we are investing record levels of funding to support them. This includes over £5 million for the Rape Crisis network through our annual £19 million Delivering Equally Safe fund. Rape Crisis Scotland and its centres will continue to receive Delivering Equally Safe funding until March 2025, along with other DES funded projects.

I am aware and acknowledge the concerns about waiting list funding ending in March 2024. Rape Crisis Scotland was awarded a one-off grant of £2,250,000 from COVID Emergency funding from October 2021 until September 2023 to them to respond to cutting waiting lists following the pandemic. A further £580,000 was provided in June 2023 to extend the funding to March 2024. In addition Rape Crisis Scotland was issued with a grant of £65,000 in June 2023 to enable RCS to consult on sustainability options including funding diversification and service models.

Ministers are currently considering budgets for next year during a particularly challenging financial time. The Scottish Government aims to ensure the funding provided works most effectively to improve outcomes for those using services. We are working with COSLA to develop a sustainable approach to funding for violence against women and girl services.

Question reference: S6O-02925

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scotgold Resources Ltd regarding any support that can be provided to employees who may lose their jobs at its Cononish Gold Mine near Tyndrum, in light of the reported announcement that the company has gone into administration.

Question reference: S6O-02918

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the small business minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding an assessment of the total number of self-catering properties in Scotland since the introduction of its short-term let licensing scheme.

Question reference: S6O-02921

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with Scottish Mountain Rescue teams regarding mountain safety this winter.

Question reference: S6O-02920

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to tackle loss and damage in marginalised communities.

Question reference: S6O-02924

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its Budget will affect East Kilbride.