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-23622

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12793 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it has on how many Freedom of Information requests have been made to Historic Environment Scotland in 2023, and what percentage of those requests were answered on or within 20 working days.

Question reference: S6W-23570

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the £50 million fund announced on 19 December 2020 to bring vacant and derelict land back into use has been allocated to date.

Question reference: S6W-23571

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many hectares of vacant and derelict land have been brought back into use as a result of the fund that it announced on 19 December 2020.

Question reference: S6W-23346

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of any Barnett consequential funding arising from the UK Government's policy of 75% rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure premises for 2023-24 has been discussed at the weekly meetings between the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and senior finance officials, and, if so, when it was (a) first and (b) last discussed.

The consequentials associated with 75% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure premises in England in 2023-24 were confirmed in the Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022.

All Barnett consequentials received as a result of the Autumn Statement are considered as a whole ahead of the Scottish Budget each year and are a vital part of Scottish Government’s funding position. Discussion of the funding position featured at all regular meetings between the Autumn Statement and the Scottish Budget 2023-24 which was announced on 15 December 2022. Similarly, discussions regarding the funding position for 2024-25 as a result of the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023 continue ahead of the Scottish Budget which will be announced on 19 December 2023

Question reference: S6W-23415

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work with colleges to explore the provision of childcare services.

Operational decisions about the provision of childcare services within Scotland’s colleges are the responsibility of each individual college. Colleges must determine how best to secure their own sustainability, for instance through providing childcare services, while continuing to deliver provision to meet regional needs.

The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities to deliver 1140 hours of high quality early learning and childcare (ELC) to all eligible children. Our ELC delivery model is provider neutral, recognising that decisions about ELC service delivery remain for local authorities to make based on their understanding of local demand. Under this model, college childcare services can apply to deliver funded ELC provided they meet the conditions set out in the National Standard for funded ELC and meet the usual requirements.

Question reference: S6W-23352

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on compulsory redundancies being implemented by public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-23320

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maggie Chapman (on behalf of the SPCB) on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will recognise and include the affiliation of MSPs, who are also Co-operative Party members, in official designations of party affiliations on the Scottish Parliament website and broadcast captions on SPTV.

Question reference: S6W-23624

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12785 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it has on what the total cost was for an (a) adult, (b) concession and (c) young person Direct Debit membership for Historic Scotland in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-23596

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the appeal process is for Historic Environment Scotland land designations.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the appeal process for land designations, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

There is information available on the Historic Environment Scotland website regarding the designations process, however I have also asked Historic Environment Scotland to write directly to the member with a response to his question.

Question reference: S6W-23544

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the predicted economic consequences of the expected closure of Grangemouth Refinery.

The Grangemouth refinery is an important economic asset for Scotland and whilst this announcement does not guarantee a cessation of refining operations, the Scottish Government is in the process of considering the wider potential economic impact of conversion to an import terminal.

According to the ONS the entire refined petroleum and chemicals manufacturing sector in Scotland accounted for 1.1% of total gross value added in 2021 of which the Grangemouth refinery is a part.

However, given how recent the announcement is, a more detailed analysis of the potential impact is yet be completed, including impacts on the immediate supply chain and the wider impacts on employment in the local economy via spending. Any potential changes to operations will require time and consideration of data that is not publicly available. Furthermore, it is important to note that some aspects of the announcement are still in development.