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-20234

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government in what locations surface dressing has been used on the trunk road network in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S6W-20524

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers act as a young carers champion.

Question reference: S6W-20590

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS Education for Scotland has reportedly been asked to support practitioners to complete annual health checks; whether it will provide the best practice information and guidelines for practitioners, including on the specific health needs of people with Down’s syndrome, and whether there will be consideration of distinct health checks, such as separate documentation, for people with Down’s syndrome or learning disabilities in order to further ensure consistency and efficacy.

Question reference: S6W-20510

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to widen student loan eligibility for those over the age of 61.

A policy decision has been made to link the student loan age cap in Scotland to the UK state pension age, ensuring a 5 year gap between the two. This was implemented to allow students sufficient time to complete their studies, enter repayment and pay back some/all of their student loan. The current age cap of 61 reflects the UK state pension age of 66 and will increase in line with any future changes.

Question reference: S6W-20561

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates its student mental health plan will be published by the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year.

Question reference: S6W-20540

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its evaluation of the four delivery model pilots for school swimming.

Question reference: S6W-20447

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role that it and relevant agencies and bodies have played regarding the UK and Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2028.

The Scottish Government is working in partnership with governments and football associations across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland on the joint bid to host EURO 2028. This bid was submitted jointly by the five football associations of the UK and Ireland on 12 April, 2023. The winning bid will be announced on 10 October, 2023.

Together with the Scottish Football Association and partners across the bid nations, we are continuing to develop legacy, sustainability and governance plans, in the event of a successful bid. UEFA EURO 2028 will have a significant global reach and has the potential to leave a positive lasting legacy in Scotland by generating significant economic, environmental and social benefits. The bid vision – Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future’ – is a promise to help the Football Associations and UEFA grow a more diverse and inclusive game.

Question reference: S6W-20368

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to receive a response from the Lord Advocate regarding the reported review on the legal feasibility of safe drug consumption rooms, and whether it will propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement to update the Parliament on the progress being made, and, if so, when it will propose this for.

The decision on whether or not to issue a statement of prosecution policy in relation to the prosecution of users of any proposed safer drug consumption facility is for the Lord Advocate to consider in her position as independent head of the systems of prosecution and investigation of deaths. This decision is independent of Scottish Government so the timing of this response is unknown.

Once the Lord Advocate reaches a decision the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy will be able to respond appropriately, likely including a ministerial statement.

Question reference: S6W-20157

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12757 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 December 2022, what progress has been made to have tactile paving installed at the group of 18 high priority stations in phase 1 of the current Rail Regulatory Control Period 6.

As advised in the answer provided for S6W-12757 on 16 December 2022, phase 1 of the tactile paving at 18 stations was completed in March 2022.

Network Rail advise that, working closely with ScotRail, the aim is that all remaining stations owned and managed by Scotland’s Railway will have tactile paving installed by the end of 2023. These works are subject to sourcing materials.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-20236

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any community concerns about proposals to plant Sitka spruce on Warblaw Hill in Langholm.

Scottish Government is aware of community concerns and Scottish Forestry attended a public consultation drop in event held in Langholm on 4 th May this year, which was arranged by the land owners and their forestry agents with encouragement to do so by officials.

As a result of the drop in session, the proposal which is being developed by Gresham House Forestry on behalf of James Jones and Sons, a private sector sawmilling company, will incorporate ideas and suggestions provided by the local community. It is expected that Sitka spruce, in the final design, will amount to only 25-35% of the total area, with the rest of the tree planting being designed to incorporate other diverse conifer species, native broadleaves and open unplanted ground. In addition, more than 40 % of the area will be retained for agricultural purposes, with the protection and incorporation of existing and new footpaths and public access routes.