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-23062

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 17 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series will be published.

The Scottish Government continues to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and I’m pleased to confirm that today we are publishing An independent Scotland in the EU.

This is the seventh paper in the Building a New Scotland series, which sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for an independent Scotland in the EU. It details how EU membership is central to Scotland’s future economic and social success, and explains the benefits of EU membership to an independent Scotland, as well as what Scotland could contribute to the EU as a member state.

I can also confirm that we intend to bring the matters raised in this publication forward for a debate in the Chamber.

The Scottish Government is continuing to prepare further papers in the Building a New Scotland series. The next will be published shortly setting out our prospectus for the marine environment in an independent Scotland.

Building a New Scotland: An independent Scotland in the EU is available to view on the Scottish Government website from today at www.gov.scot/newscotland .

Question reference: S6W-23063

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of a council tax freeze for 2024-25, whether a change to the council tax multipliers for bands E to H will be progressed for 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-22895

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) management plans for key Scottish stocks, (b) a consultation on fisheries management for offshore Marine Protected Areas, (c) fisheries management measures in Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features and (d) the other commitments set out in the future fisheries management plan will be delivered, and, if so, when.

The fisheries policy authorities intend to deliver the Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) according to the timescales set out in Annex A of the Joint Fisheries Statement .

Fisheries management proposals for offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be consulted on in early 2024. Fisheries management proposals for all inshore MPAs and Priority Marine Features (PMFs) are expected to go to public consultation at the end of 2024.

The Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy has a timeframe of ten years, and will be delivered over the course of December 2020 to December 2030. The actions within the Strategy are intended to be delivered across this full timeframe.

Question reference: S6O-02788

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on whether the £3,000 used from Michael Matheson’s office expenses for roaming charges constituted value for money, as required of all expense claims under the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme.

Question reference: S6O-02796

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when SPCB staff were notified by Michael Matheson of his holiday to Morocco and intention to take a parliamentary device abroad.

Question reference: S6O-02747

Asked by: Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on its work to ensure that the crèche facility can offer more than four hours per week per child.

Question reference: S6O-02781

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what difficulties there are, if any, in recruiting staff for jobs in the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S6O-02795

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how the Staff Cost Provision uprating for 2024-25 will be calculated.

Question reference: S6O-02784

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider having a third exhibition area, in light of there being considerable demand for such spaces.

Question reference: S6O-02785

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body under what circumstances Fairtrade products are used in catering in the Scottish Parliament.