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-25229

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21824 by Jenny Gilruth on 26 October 2023, what percentage of teaching posts have been (a) permanent and (b) temporary in each year since 2010.

In the information held by the Scottish Government, teaching posts are classified into three employment types: Permanent, Temporary, and Temporary-Teacher Induction Scheme. For the purposes of this response, teachers on the Teacher Induction Scheme have been included in the Temporary category.

Teachers may be employed on a permanent contract but be categorised as Temporary if they are working in a post classified as a temporary employment type.

The following table shows the percentage of permanent and temporary full-time equivalent (FTE) teacher posts across all sectors (Primary, Secondary, Special and Centrally Employed) from 2010.

Percentage of teachers (FTE) with Permanent and Temporary posts

	Permanent	Temporary
2023	82	18
2022	81	19
2021	81	19
2020	82	18
2019	83	17
2018	84	16
2017	83	17
2016	84	16
2015	83	17
2014	83	17
2013	84	16
2012	84	16
2011	83	17
2010	84	16

Question reference: S6W-25118

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of its decision to reduce the funding for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on its work in the former coalfield communities.

The Scottish Government’s challenging budget position impacts on the budget available for the delivery of the Empowering Communities Programme which supports Coalfield Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) grant. Officials advised CRT that we would be unable to deliver funding at the same level as previous years and worked with the Trust to help prioritise their 2023-24 work programme on protecting those elements which have the greatest impact and outcomes for coalfields communities.

Question reference: S6W-24931

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the (a) status of and (b) progress in implementing the Rail Fares and Ticketing Strategy, as outlined in section 11 of the 2022 Framework Agreement between Transport Scotland and Scottish Rail Holdings Limited.

Question reference: S6W-25137

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an analysis to determine the number of properties that are off the gas grid that it anticipates will switch to a heat network.

In April 2022, the Scottish Government published the First National Assessment of Potential Heat Network Zones which identified and characterised potential heat network opportunities across Scotland.

This independent analysis found that up to 340,000 homes and up to 74,000 non-domestic premises may be located in areas with the potential for future heat network developments. The analysis sets out a range of characteristics that these properties have, including whether they are in rural areas which are more likely to be off the gas grid.

However, urban properties such as high-rise flats may also be off the gas grid. Due to this, and as the First National Assessment sought to identify potential areas for district heat networks operating at around 65°C, this analysis is likely to be an underestimate of the number of off-gas grid properties that may connect to a heat network in future.

The First National Assessment can be accessed at: Potential heat network zones: first national assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities to publish Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies, which will provide a clearer picture of heat network opportunities across Scotland, including identifying the main heating fuels currently being used within these areas and mapping them at a strategic level.

Question reference: S6W-25084

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide assurance that organisations, including local authorities and third sector organisations, will be notified of funding decisions for 2024-25 before 1 April 2024, to allow them to plan for project delivery in transport and active travel.

I would refer the member to the answer given by my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to question S6W-23223 on 12 December on the issue of the timing of funding decisions, and reiterate that we have committed, as part of developing an approach to fairer funding for the third sector, to deliver improvements in grant-making arrangements, including providing greater clarity and consistency of practice.

We understand that organisations, including local authorities and third sector organisations, need timely grant decisions and payments in order to reduce financial uncertainty and effectively resource delivery. In line with the commitment given by the First Minister, we are working, within the context of the Scottish Budget process, to issue notifications of funding arrangements as soon as is practicably possible.

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: S6O-03175

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has intervened to direct NHS Fife and the relevant education authorities to permit schools to issue basic medication, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, without the need for a GP prescription, in light of reports that primary care is struggling in NHS Fife.

Question reference: S6O-03179

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what public health measures are being taken to minimise harm from vaping, prior to the introduction of the proposed ban on single-use vapes.

Question reference: S6O-03178

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is taking forward the work and priorities of its Ministerial Population Taskforce.

Question reference: S6O-03180

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s funding deficit with the NHS board.

Question reference: S6O-03177

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the EIS and other teacher unions to discuss school-based violence.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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