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-23068

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which she was responsible in her former role as (a) Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People between January 2020 and May 2021 and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Education between May 2021 and February 2022; whether the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

Question reference: S6W-23138

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Kidney Care UK report, Home Dialysis Energy Reimbursement in Scotland, that, while there are more people with kidney disease on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) than home haemodialysis (HHD), "only four of the 14 Health Boards in Scotland currently have an APD energy reimbursement policy".

Question reference: S6W-23271

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported warnings from the National Trust for Scotland that the provision of stonemasonry apprenticeships is currently in crisis and requires action immediately.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with key skills stakeholders and Historic Environment Scotland on this matter to ensure that Scotland has the required traditional skills to meet the demands of the historic environment sector.

We deliver our support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland which continues to champion traditional skills and is working with stakeholders to address heritage skills gaps to help ensure Scotland’s historic buildings can thrive as part of the country’s sustainable future.

The Scottish Government is also working with Skills Development Scotland to promote careers in construction and heritage skills as part of our Youth Employment Strategy, Developing the Young Workforce.

Question reference: S6W-23270

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the refresh of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector is still on track to be published in February 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23202

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the rationale was for reprofiling £11.6 million from the Digital health and care budget line, as set out in the letter of 21 November 2023 from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

The financial pressures across public services, not just health care, are by far, the most challenging since devolution as a result of rising inflation, and the ongoing impact of Covid and Brexit.

It is therefore necessary to make very challenging decisions, including reprofiling budgets, across Government in order to meet our statutory requirement to deliver a balanced budget.

Our published delivery plan, linked here Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2023-24 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot), reflects our planned deliverables against the current budget which includes the agreed savings of £11.6m.

Question reference: S6W-23208

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its review into the Home Owners' Support Fund.

My officials are continuing work on a detailed review of the policies and operating arrangements that underpin the Home Owners Support Fund (HOSF), including detailed analytical work on property thresholds and allowances that has taken more time to develop than originally anticipated. I now expect this work to be concluded by the end of the current financial year.

The scheme continues to be open, and applications remain steady. We are not seeing additional demand for the programme at this time.

HOSF also continues to sit alongside support for advice services and legal aid for homeowners. We continue to support free welfare, debt and income maximisation advice services with funding of over £12.3 million allocated this year. A further £2.3 million is available, through the Scottish Legal Aid Board, to offer direct assistance and legal representation for people at risk of or facing court action connected to debt related eviction or repossession.

This investment provides households across Scotland with a holistic, multi-channel offering, ensuring they are able to access advice and support in a manner which best suits their needs.

In addition, as part of the UK Government’s Mortgage Charter, announced in June this year, the UK’s largest mortgage lenders and the Financial Conduct Authority agreed a set of standards that they will adopt when helping borrowers worried about higher rates.

Anyone who is concerned about the paying their mortgage should contact their lender as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-23213

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing monitoring of labour conditions is undertaken in relation to private sector projects that have been granted public funding, such as through Peatland ACTION, under its Fair Work First guidance.

Monitoring compliance with Fair Work First principles, including the requirements to pay workers at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective voice, is the responsibility of individual grant managers across government and of relevant funders across the wider public sector, including through our Peatland ACTION programme. It takes place within existing grant assurance and monitoring processes, as with any other condition of grant, such as agreed outcomes.
Peatland Action partners comply with these principles as part of their own procurement frameworks that govern the respective grant agreements. They do this through a range of measures like mandated self-declaration when applying for grants and the regular liaison with the contractors during the course of ensuing works including site visits.

Question reference: S6W-23199

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it received the advice relating to the European Convention on Human Rights implications of Compulsory Rental Orders and Compulsory Sales Orders; whether it has been refreshed, and whether ministers have begun the "substantial consideration" that officials have suggested.

We have committed to continue consideration of the justification for, and practical operation of, Compulsory Sales Orders in the 2023-24 Programme for Government. Parliament will be informed of the outcome of this work in due course. In the meantime local authorities already have powers to utilise Compulsory Purchase Orders, and we have further committed to reforming and modernising the Compulsory Purchase Order process.

Question reference: S6W-23203

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the rationale was for reprofiling £11.6 million from the Primary Care Reform and Delivery budget line, as set out in the letter of 21 November 2023 from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

Question reference: S6W-23269

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the National Trust for Scotland estimate that only 30% of the actions in the 2019 Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector have been delivered, mainly due to a lack of resource.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector to support our workforce in developing the skills required to manage, protect and conserve our built heritage.

We acknowledge that action delivery from the 2019 plan was impacted by both the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

The Scottish Government will continue to deliver support for Scotland’s historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, which is leading on developing the current Skills Investment Plan, building on the lessons learned from previous plans and increasing resource to maximise delivery.