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-22318

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much flax fibre is currently produced annually in Scotland, and what assessment has been made of any potential benefits of increased production.

Question reference: S6W-22324

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many fish counters are currently in operation in Scotland, and where they are located.

The location of the 42 automatic fish counters that are known to Scottish Government are provided in the following table. The vast majority of these are not owned or operated by Scottish Government, and it is not possible to confirm their current operational status.

The Scottish Government operates one fish counter in the North Esk Salmon Fishery District and is a joint operator, of a fish counter in the Helmsdale district with the District Salmon Fishery Board. We recently supported the installation of three new fish counters in the Ayr, Deveron and Laxford districts. These are in the process of being validated and are not yet producing data.

Salmon Fishery District	Location
(Aberdeenshire) Dee	Beltie Burn Cowie Water Culter Burn Dinnet Burn River Muick
(Kirkcudbrightshire) Dee	Tongland Dam
Awe	Awe Barrage
Ayr	Catrine Weir Ayr
Beauly	Aigas Dam Beannachran Dam Kilmorack Dam
Conon	Luichart Dam Tor Achilty Dam Meig Diversion Dam
Deveron	River Isla R Deveron
Doon	Loch Doon
Forth	Carron Dam
Helmsdale	Helmsdale
Kyle of Sutherland	Duchally Diversion Weir (R Cassley) Shin Diversion Dam (R Shin) River Evelix
Laxford	Laxford Bridge
Lochy	River Arkaig Mucomir Power Station (R Lochy)
Morar	Morar fish pass
Ness	Garry Dam (R Garry) Dundreggan Dam (R Moriston)
North Esk	Logie
Pennygown	River Forsa (Mull)
Spey	Knockando Burn Spey Dam (R Spey) Truim Intake (R Truim)
Tay	Lochay Falls (R Lochay) Stronuich (R Lyon) Clunie Dam (R Tummel) Pitlochry Dam (R Tummel)
Tweed	Gala Water River Ettrick Whiteadder
Ugie	River Ugie

Question reference: S6W-22325

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on rail infrastructure in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the UK Government. The responsibility for determining and monitoring its operation, maintenance and renewal expenditure rests with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Transport Scotland funds Network Rail in accordance with the ORR’s determination. Therefore, Scottish Government does not hold the full investment information broken down by local authority within Scotland.

Therefore, I recommend that the member contacts Network Rail or the ORR for the detailed information requested for how much has been spent on rail infrastructure in each local authority area in each of the last ten years.

Question reference: S6W-22319

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any recent engagement with industry representatives or stakeholders that are seeking to expand flax production in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22775

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the UK Government on climate policy, and whether there it will provide an update on the timing of its draft Climate Change Plan.

The unprecedented changes by the UK Government reneging on their net zero commitments, including the rolling back of policies already announced and accounted for, have repercussions on our ability to produce a draft Climate Change Plan that is just and fair by the end of November. I am meeting with the UK Government again on 15 November to urge them to reconsider their position, and to stop putting party politics ahead of planetary health.

This, tied with the uncertain economic outlook for the UK as a whole and the constraints of devolution placed upon us, make this challenging task ever more difficult.

The Scottish Government are continuing to develop climate policies and are fully committed to bringing forward a draft of the next Climate Change Plan, covering the period 2025 to 2040, which is fair and just for everyone. It is regrettably not possible to do this by our own November deadline, but will progress in line with statutory deadlines.

Question reference: S6W-22536

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's announcement of an additional £100 million for the arts and culture sector on 17 October 2023, how this figure was arrived at; how the funding will be distributed over the next five years, and whether it will be attributed on an annual rolling basis, or using a multi-year approach.

Ministers will take decisions about where the funding is allocated in 2024-25 and future years subject to the outcome of the Scottish Budget process and associated approval by the Scottish Parliament.

The draft budget will be published later this year and will be the subject of Parliamentary scrutiny in early 2024. The Scottish Government intends to present the Draft Budget 2024-25 to Parliament on 19 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22547

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it will undertake to promote the growth of workboat, small passenger vessel and recreational boat use on the upper Clyde at Glasgow.

This year leadership of the Clyde Mission migrated from Scottish Government to Glasgow City Region through the transfer of £40m. Clyde Mission was launched in 2020 with a focus on the unique opportunities and competitive advantage of the river, incorporated in five missions, one of which is creating better places for people and communities along the river. At present there are no dedicated initiatives that promote the growth of workboat, small passenger vessel and recreation boat use on the upper Clyde at Glasgow, however if a proposal was submitted then both Scottish Government and Regional Partners would be able to consider.

Question reference: S6W-22546

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will promote the development of a marina at the former Prince's Dock basin in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-22524

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been arrested in relation to violence on trains in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-22409

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people in energy arrears who are undergoing high energy use intensity NHS treatment at home.