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-22709

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it expects to meet its target for transferring all Personal Independence Payment claimants to Adult Disability Payment by the end of 2025.

Question reference: S6W-22694

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22175 by Jenni Minto on 30 October 2023, in light of it having provided this data in the answer to question S3W-33114 by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 May 2010, for what reason it stated in its answer that this information is not held centrally, and whether it will now provide the information requested.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. For convenience, the National Records of Scotland have provided the data requested below:

Table 1: Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norovirus (A08.1) was the underlying cause of death, 2015 to 2022.

Year	NHS Board area	All deaths	Pre-existing conditions	No pre-existing conditions
2015	Fife	1	1	0
2015	Highland	1	1	0
2015	Lothian	3	3	0
2015	Tayside	2	2	0
2016	Ayrshire and Arran	1	1	0
2016	Fife	1	1	0
2016	Grampian	2	2	0
2016	Highland	2	2	0
2016	Lanarkshire	1	1	0
2016	Lothian	2	2	0
2016	Tayside	3	3	0
2017	Fife	1	1	0
2017	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	2	2	0
2017	Lothian	2	2	0
2018	Ayrshire and Arran	2	2	0
2018	Grampian	1	1	0
2018	Lanarkshire	1	1	0
2018	Lothian	1	1	0
2018	Tayside	1	1	0
2019	Forth Valley	1	1	0
2019	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	1	1	0
2019	Highland	1	1	0
2019	Lothian	2	2	0
2019	Tayside	1	1	0
2020	Fife	1	1	0
2020	Highland	1	1	0
2020	Lothian	3	3	0
2021	Grampian	1	1	0
2022	Fife	1	1	0
2022	Grampian	1	1	0
2022	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	2	2	0
2022	Lanarkshire	2	2	0
2022	Lothian	3	3	0
2022	Tayside	1	0	1

Table 2: Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norovirus (A08.1) was mentioned on the death certificate, 2015 to 2022.

Year	NHS Board area	All deaths	Pre-existing conditions	No pre-existing conditions
2015	Borders	2	2	0
2015	Fife	1	1	0
2015	Highland	3	3	0
2015	Lanarkshire	1	1	0
2015	Lothian	4	4	0
2015	Tayside	4	4	0
2016	Ayrshire and Arran	1	1	0
2016	Fife	2	2	0
2016	Grampian	3	3	0
2016	Highland	3	3	0
2016	Lanarkshire	2	2	0
2016	Lothian	6	6	0
2016	Tayside	4	4	0
2017	Ayrshire and Arran	1	1	0
2017	Fife	1	1	0
2017	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	6	5	1
2017	Lothian	3	3	0
2017	Tayside	1	1	0
2018	Ayrshire and Arran	2	2	0
2018	Fife	2	2	0
2018	Grampian	4	4	0
2018	Highland	1	1	0
2018	Lanarkshire	1	1	0
2018	Lothian	3	3	0
2018	Tayside	2	2	0
2019	Borders	1	1	0
2019	Fife	1	1	0
2019	Forth Valley	1	1	0
2019	Grampian	1	1	0
2019	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	3	3	0
2019	Highland	3	2	1
2019	Lothian	2	2	0
2019	Tayside	4	4	0
2020	Fife	1	1	0
2020	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	1	1	0
2020	Highland	1	1	0
2020	Lothian	4	4	0
2021	Ayrshire and Arran	1	1	0
2021	Grampian	1	1	0
2021	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	1	1	0
2021	Tayside	2	2	0
2022	Borders	1	1	0
2022	Fife	1	1	0
2022	Grampian	2	2	0
2022	Greater Glasgow and Clyde	2	2	0
2022	Lanarkshire	3	3	0
2022	Lothian	8	8	0
2022	Tayside	1	0	1

Source: National Records of Scotland

The International Classification for Disease (10th edition) is used to code deaths. The code used is Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norovirus (A08.1).

Figures include non-residents. Deaths are allocated to area based on the usual residence of the deceased. If the deceased was not a Scottish resident, the death is allocated to the area where the death occurred.

The figures by underlying cause (Table 1) are a subset of those which have mentions of A08.1 on the death certificate (Table 2). Therefore, the deaths in Table 2 will include all of the deaths in Table 1.

The year is based on date of registration. In Scotland deaths must be registered within 8 days although in practice, the average time between death and registration is around 3 days.

Question reference: S6W-22684

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce an equivalent scheme to the Community Facilities Programme in Wales, which provides small and large grants to community and voluntary sector organisations to improve community facilities that are well used by local people, such as churches, post offices and community shops.

In Scotland we have a well established policy framework supporting our communities, delivered through a range of programmes and funds including funding to develop and improve community facilities.

For example, our Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) has invested over £180m capital funding since its launch in 2021-22. The PBIP includes investment delivered through local government and the delivery of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF). PBIP is shaped by the needs and aspirations of local communities and has provided direct support for community and voluntary sector organisations to create and improve local facilities.

The RCGF provides capital funding to community-focused projects to help deliver regeneration in deprived and fragile areas. RCGF is primarily aimed at either providing new infrastructure or enhancing existing infrastructure that will improve the economic, social, and physical environment of communities. The fund has supported communities across Scotland to create and improve hundreds of assets and facilities, bringing back into use vacant and derelict buildings, including historic and landmark buildings.

Our Empowering Communities Programme complements the PBIP with revenue investment enabling communities to connect with and maximise impact from the capital investment, supporting the capacity, resilience, and sustainability of communities.

Question reference: S6W-22687

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent estimate it has made of the total costs incurred per chronic kidney disease patient who undergoes dialysis treatment at home compared with dialysis treatment in hospital.

Question reference: S6W-22708

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, since August 2022, what percentage of claimants to be automatically transferred to Adult Disability Payment have been transferred because (a) their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award is due to be reviewed, (b) their PIP award is coming to an end and (c) they have reported a change in circumstances to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Official statistics show that as of 31 July 2023, 51,260 people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance had their award transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland. This accounts for 55% of the Adult Disability Payment caseload.

Information is not readily available showing a breakdown of the reasons for transfers from Personal Independence Payment to Adult Disability Payment. The next set of statistics covering the quarter up until end of October 2023 are due to be published on 19 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22702

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its Flexible Workforce Development Fund has been accessed in each year since it has been established, broken down by sector.

This information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under BiB No 64673.

Data relating to colleges and the Open University in Scotland is based on bimonthly returns to the Scottish Funding Council from institutions delivering the Flexible Workforce Development Fund and should therefore be considered as an informal indication of how the Fund has been spent.

Data relating to AY 2022-23 is provisional as 2022-23 delivery is due to be completed at the end of December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22718

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what fire safety drills are required for bus companies.

Bus Companies must comply with all safety regulations and conditions as required to be able to hold a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence. The PSV licensing is reserved and is managed by the Traffic Commissioner, the main purpose of the regime is to ensure safe and proper use of vehicles including regular maintenance. Drivers must also complete driver CPC training which includes Fire Evacuation and Fire Safety Training Courses.

Question reference: S6W-22678

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy raised any concerns in relation to human rights during his visit to the United Arab Emirates in October 2023.

The Scottish Government is committed to upholding its robust standards when it comes to Human Rights. I visited the UAE between 24-27 October and met senior government and business leaders to promote Scotland’s planned COP28 business programme and advance our bilateral trade and investment relationship with the UAE. I took the opportunity to raise Human Rights as part of the discussions around the Scottish Government’s commitment to creating a wellbeing economy to drive not just a wealthy society but a fair and just society. It was agreed to share further insight and intelligence about this work in Scotland and also to learn more about the measures the UAE has taken to tackle issues in their own society.

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.