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-25192

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what changes are anticipated to the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) provision of training for healthcare professionals as a result of the Scottish Budget 2024-25.

The 2024-25 Scottish Budget will provide an uplift of over half a billion, bringing the budget for NHS Boards to over £14.2 billion, of which NES will receive £550.2 million. Health boards are responsible for ensuring best use of available resources to support delivery of services and strategic objectives.

NES plays a critical role in supporting the education, training and wider development of the NHS Scotland workforce, and in particular the medical workforce where target training numbers have already been confirmed for 2024-25. As part of this, the Board is actively contributing to a number of wider policy developments as set out in Programme for Government, the NHS Recovery Plan and the National workforce Strategy. The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the National Workforce Strategy and achieving the overall vision for “A sustainable, skilled workforce with attractive career choices and fair work where all are respected and valued for the work they do”.

Question reference: S6W-25183

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board are currently waiting for elective vasectomy surgery.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government the member may wish to contact NHS Boards directly for information.

Public Health Scotland does not hold procedure level information only the speciality which in this case would be Urology.

PHS continues to work in collaboration with the Scottish Government, NHS Boards and key stakeholders to improve waiting times information. Statistics relating to the waits patients experience for Inpatient or Day Case treatment at specialty level are published up to 20 September 2023 in the link below.

Stage of treatment waiting times - Inpatients, day cases and new outpatients quarter ending 30 September 2023 - NHS waiting times - stage of treatment - Publications - Public Health Scotland

Question reference: S6W-25298

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it has provided to Refugee Sanctuary Scotland since 2019.

Refugee Sanctuary Scotland was formerly known as Refugee Survival Trust, up to July 2023. The Scottish Government has not provided funding to Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, but has provided funding to the organisation under their former name since 2019.

The following table contains a list of objectives set by Scottish Government with reference to the funding provided to the organisation then known as Refugee Survival Trust since 2019.

Funding	Objective
Immediate Priorities Fund	To address the additional needs of asylum seekers and people subject to NRPF that will occur as a result of anticipated Covid-19 restrictions in the Glasgow area for the period 2020 - 2021.
Immediate Priorities Fund	To address the immediate needs of refugees and asylum seekers, in particular those experiencing or at risk of destitution during the current public health crisis 2020 – 2021.
Immediate Priorities Fund	To address challenges as a result of Covid-19, to support vulnerable individuals and those in need, to help communities respond to the needs and challenges they are experiencing, and protect the wellbeing of the people of Scotland 2020 – 2021.

Refugee Survival Trust also received funding under the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) Open Fund, which is operated by Paths for All, for a pilot project facilitating public transport access.

Question reference: S6W-24939

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much Serco NorthLink Ferries received from the (a) final annual subsidy and (b) annual revenue from passengers in relation to the provision of the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract in (i) 2021, (ii) 2022 and (iii) 2023.

The grant subsidy paid to the operator is paid by contract years (July till the following June) and represents the difference between the costs of operating the service and the income generated.

This information is collated and published each year on the Transport Scotland website but in contract year form from 2011.

The annual subsidy figures published to date covering the periods in question can be found in the latest published report at Scottish Transport Statistics 2022 | Transport Scotland under chapter 9 table 9.14a , referencing the notes as advised.

This information is published in March of the following year to the report in question.

The annual subsidy for 2020-2021 was £34,174k. The total revenue for contract year 2020-2021 was £29,128k. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the financial components of the contract revenue as this information is commercially confidential.

The annual subsidy for 2021-2022 was £38,851k. The total revenue for contract year 2021-2022 was £39,328k. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the financial components of the contract revenue as this information is commercially confidential.

The annual subsidy for 2022-2023 was £47,109k. The total revenue for contract year 2022-2023 was £43,625k these will be the figures used in the Scottish Transport Statistics 2023 report when published this year. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the financial components of the contract revenue as this information is commercially confidential.

Question reference: S6W-25064

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the minutes of the meeting of the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Cross Sector Working Group on 11 October 2023, which hospital has RAAC present and also has some water ingress.

The building referred to on 11 October 2023 Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Cross Sector Working Group minutes was the Ward 1 Plant Room at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

The Plant room was surveyed on Friday 22 September 2023 . The surveying Engineer noted that there was no immediate concern of structural collapse and made recommendations. Immediate remedial action was taken to ensure the area was safe. There is no immediate risk to patients, staff, or visitors.

Question reference: S6W-25024

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from Peel Ports that “endless tinkering” by the Scottish Government has caused the delays to the repair of Ardrossan Harbour.

We refute any such suggestion and remain committed to delivering efficient and sustainable ferry service for the Arran community.

The development of the Ardrossan project remains challenging for all partners. The tender design work identified gaps in the original base case submitted by Peel Ports Group and North Ayrshire Council.

The project scope is of vital importance to the business case and cost estimate review work. There is a clear need for a robust business case to support decisions by partners on this scale of project. The impact of recent announcements from Peel Ports Group around the condition and integrity of the existing port infrastructure is under review.

Question reference: S6W-24969

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills plans to meet the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) director of education and skills.

Question reference: S6T-01801

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported decision to delay the progress of all new NHS capital projects for up to two years, including the Ayr National Treatment Centre.

Question reference: S6T-01797

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether the A96 will be dualled from Inverness to Aberdeen.

Question reference: S6F-02847

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the analysis by Citizens Advice Scotland suggesting that over 660,000 people are experiencing mental health problems due to increasing household debt.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

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