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-20614

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether adoptees records have been made available via the National Record of Scotland's ScotlandsPeople Centre, and what discussions it has had with adult adoptees regarding making records available via the National Record of Scotland's ScotlandsPeople Centre.

No adoption records have been made available via ScotlandsPeople Centre, nor the ScotlandsPeople website.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to provide further reassurance following the removal of index entries to the Adopted Children Register from the ScotlandsPeople website. Relevant entries were removed as a precautionary measure while NRS reviews the way this information was made available.

Question reference: S6W-20837

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Police Scotland, (b) local authorities and (c) Transport Scotland regarding road safety on the North Coast 500 route, and whether it will provide an update on what actions have been taken to address the reported excessive speed and dangerous driving on the route.

Transport Scotland are in regular discussions with a range of operational partners, including Police Scotland and local road authorities, to explore ways to enhance road safety in the north of Scotland. This includes discussion through the Road Safety Framework Local Partnership Forum which last met on 15 June 2023.

Over the summer months additional and targeted safety camera and police officer resources have been deployed across the road network, including the North Coast 500, to encourage good driver behaviour and enhanced levels of speed limit compliance.

Question reference: S6W-20799

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many companies owning (a) onshore wind turbines in Scotland and (b) offshore wind turbines in Scottish waters were registered in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) overseas between 2014 and 2022.

Question reference: S6W-20694

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Transport Scotland document, Ferry Concession, Guidance Note for Operators, which states, "Single concession holder: - will be able to access at no charge a berth in a same sex cabin, either two or four berth", whether it will raise with Serco Northlink Ferries its current policy, which is reportedly not in line with the stated guidance.

Question reference: S6W-21063

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has budgeted for the establishment of a new Small Business Unit, as proposed in its Programme for Government 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-20695

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Northern Isles ferry service journey from Lerwick to Kirkwall, and in light of Transport Scotland being responsible for ensuring that any policy decision about service delivery is made taking full account of equality issues, including medical needs, what consideration has been given to (a) allowing passengers to use a concessionary voucher for use of a cabin during the evening sailing from Lerwick to Kirkwall and (b) reinstating shared cabins to allow concessionary voucher holders use of a berth on all routes.

National Concessionary Travel Scheme vouchers can currently only be used for cabins on overnight sailings. Concessionary Travel arrangements are being reviewed as part of the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.

The decision to remove shared cabins was taken solely by NorthLink following their risk assessments. The Scottish Government notes concerns about the impact of the removal of shared cabins on the National Concessionary Travel Scheme entitlement and this will also be considered through the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.

Question reference: S6W-21091

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown of how it spent any Barnett consequential funding in the Scottish Budget 2023-24.

Barnett consequentials are not ring-fenced for a particular purpose or allocated on an individual basis, rather the totality of funds available to the Scottish Government are considered for allocation in the Scottish Budget and subsequent revisions. The 2023-24 Scottish Budget document, which was laid before parliament on 15 December 2022 provided detail of all commitments funded from within that overall Budget envelope.

In-year changes to budgets, including allocation of any additional Barnett consequentials that have accrued since the Budget was laid will be set out in forthcoming Budget Revisions documents.

Question reference: S6W-20994

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) number and (b) value is of contracts that it has awarded to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

A full breakdown of the total number and value of contracts awarded to consulting companies covering the last five fiscal years for the Scottish Government only, is provided in the following table.

Fiscal Years	No of Awards to Consultant Suppliers ‎ (in period)	Total Contract Award Value
2017-18	66	£ 3,256,129
2018-19	57	£ 6,051,465
2019-20	93	£ 12,790,879
2020-21	65	£ 1,900,295
2021-22	89	£ 30,127,792
Total	370	£ 54,126,560

Question reference: S6W-21048

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate any risks posed by the reported removal of four fire appliances in Fife.

Question reference: S6W-21045

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 12 September 2023