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-20288

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to commission a study into the cause of mass whale beachings.

Scottish Government fund the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) which already undertakes investigations into the cause of death of marine animals (e.g. dolphins, whales, porpoises, seals, turtles and basking sharks) stranded around the Scottish coastline. Samples and data are collected at the strandings location and carcases are collected for further investigation via necropsy following a risk-based approach.

Question reference: S6W-20347

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 11 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide the dates of all Open Government Partnership meetings in 2023, including those scheduled to take place.

The Open Government Partnership Steering Group meets at a minimum three times per year.

The Open Government Partnership Steering Group met on 17 May 2023. The following dates are confirmed for the Open Government Partnership Steering Group to next meet:

26 September 2023
6 December 2023

Scottish Government proactively publishes the minute of each meeting, which includes the date of the next scheduled meeting. This information can be found on the Open Government Partnership Steering Group page . This information is also shared via Scotland’s Open Government Network .

Question reference: S6W-20145

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment in the Bute House Agreement to "consult as soon as practicable on proposals to apply a cap to fishing activity in inshore waters", when it expects to deliver any such consultation.

The Bute House Agreement builds on the actions in our Fisheries Management Strategy which sets out our approach to managing Scottish sea fisheries in partnership with our stakeholders, to deliver the best results for the future of our marine environment, our fishing industry and the communities that rely on them.

Observing our co-management approach, policies relating to inshore fishing will be progressed further through our Regional Inshore Fisheries Group network and Fisheries Management and Conservation group, prior to full consultation.

Question reference: S6W-20020

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many new schools are currently planned to be built, broken down by local authority.

Question reference: S6W-20569

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-20303

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported calls from Climate Camp Scotland and Unite for the Scottish Government to produce a green industrial strategy, which would include plans for decarbonisation of large industrial plants such as the INEOS complex at Grangemouth.

Scotland is committed to reaching net zero and to ensuring the journey is fair and just for everyone.

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan lays out over 150 actions, as well as consulting on further actions, to help maximise a just transition to net zero for our economy, communities, business and workers

Decarbonising industry is critical to our climate goals and the infrastructure and expertise at Grangemouth will play a key role. That is why we have committed to delivering a dedicated Just Transition Plan for the Grangemouth industrial area.

We will work closely with industry, unions, the workforce and the community to make sure they have a say in the plan for Grangemouth’s future.

Question reference: S6W-20253

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19464 by Shona Robison on 24 July 2023, whether it will consider amending section 5 of the air travel policy to mandate that all official domestic trips within Scotland and the UK undertaken by ministers and officials utilise terrestrial or maritime modes of travel in place of air travel.

We are actively exploring various measures to address emissions from business travel. As part of this process, we will consult on amending the air travel policy to mandate terrestrial or maritime modes of travel for official domestic trips within Scotland and the UK.

While the potential amendment to the policy is under consideration, we are also mindful of the practical implications it may entail. Transitioning to alternative modes of travel will require careful planning, and consideration of the logistical requirements for ministers and officials. Ensuring efficiency, accessibility, and the ability to fulfil official duties effectively will be essential during this process.

As we move forward, we will engage with relevant stakeholders, to ensure that any potential amendments to the air travel policy are well-informed and representative of the broader public interest.

Question reference: S6W-20084

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff on ferry routes across the Pentland Firth.

Transport Scotland is considering future ferry fares policy as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan alongside our wider Fair Fares Review, which will report by the end of 2023 and recommend a package of measures which can be considered for implementation from 2024-25 and onwards to address the wider issues of cost and availability across all modes of public transport.

Meantime, we are continuing to take action on ferry fares with fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks to remain frozen until the end of March 2024.

Any introduction of new RET measures on lifeline ferry services in Scotland would now need to comply with the requirements of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and there have been extensive discussions on the Subsidy Control Act 2022 but no separate specific discussions on RET with the UK Government.

Question reference: S6W-20161

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail any (a) internal and (b) external discussions it has had regarding a permanent memorial to the victims of forced adoption, since the First Minister's statement to the Parliament on historic forced adoption on 22 March 2023.

We are considering the calls for a meaningful and fitting recognition of the pain and trauma suffered by those with experience of historic forced adoption. It is Scottish Government policy that the costs of creating and maintaining memorials are not to be met from public funds. We will, however, continue to engage those affected and be led by their views on the most appropriate form of commemoration and validation for these past injustices. We would be happy to support to any specific initiative raising funding in this area.

Question reference: S6W-20159

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the date on which it will publish the study that it has commissioned on the support that people with experience of forced adoption can access, as referred to in the First Minister’s statement to the Parliament on historic forced adoption on 22 March 2023.