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-18960

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to establish a dedicated space to address the role of Scotland in empire, colonialism and slavery, as recommended by the Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums steering group.

I am carefully considering the Scottish Government’s response to the steering group’s recommendations, including the one which focused on establishing a new organisation to create a dedicated space to address the legacy of colonialism in Scotland. This is an important agenda and we will continue to seek ways of raising awareness of the role Scotland played in slavery and empire and how our museums and galleries can play their part in that.

Question reference: S6W-18684

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress towards implementing the recommendations in the Final Report of the Women in Agriculture Taskforce.

We are continuing to progress the implementation of the recommendations of the Women in Agriculture Taskforce. As part of this we continue to deliver solutions that deliver positive change for women living and working in Scottish agriculture through the Women in Agriculture Development Programme.

This financial year (2023-24) we are providing £500,000 to support further activity and opportunities for women in agriculture. We also remain committed to increasing our funding to £600,000 per year over the course of this Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-18691

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbine appeals it has considered in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) planning authority area and (b) decision taken.

Question reference: S6W-18694

Asked by: Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in (a) Clackmannanshire and (b) Stirling were eligible for (i) 100% rates relief and (ii) all other levels of rates relief, through the Small Business Bonus Scheme, in (A) 2021, (B) 2022 and (C) 2023.

Tables 1 and 2 present the number of properties receiving SBBS as at 1 June 2021 and 1 July 2022, in Clackmannanshire and Stirling council areas. These figures are based on the billing data provided by councils to the Scottish Government as at those dates.

Equivalent figures for 2023 are not currently available. These are expected to be published in late 2023.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of properties eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme, as we are unable to reliably identify business chains.

Table 1: Properties receiving SBBS relief in Clackmannanshire.

Year	100% SBBS	Other SBBS awards
2021	790	50
2022	800	50

Source: Non-Domestic Rates Relief Statistics 2022 tables 8b and 8c. In 2021 and 2022, ‘Other SBBS awards’ are usually, but not always, 25%.

Table 2: Properties receiving SBBS relief in Stirling.

Year	100% SBBS	Other SBBS awards
2021	2,940	170
2022	2,940	170

Source: Non-Domestic Rates Relief Statistics 2022 tables 8b and 8c. In 2021 and 2022, ‘Other SBBS awards’ are usually, but not always, 25%.

Properties which were in receipt of SBBS relief on 31 March 2023, and saw an increase in their net rates liability from the 1 April 2023, may be eligible for the Small Business Transitional Relief. This relief caps the maximum increase in the net rates liability relative to 31 March 2023 at £600 in 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-18669

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review any of the statutory duties placed on local authorities by the Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with COSLA to agree a New Deal with Local Government in Scotland that promotes sustainability, empowerment and provides greater fiscal flexibility over local funding with clear accountability for delivery of shared priorities and outcomes.

As part of the New Deal, we are committed to concluding the Local Governance Review in this parliament, ensuring that decisions are taken as close as possible to those they affect the most is at the heart of our approach to public service reform in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18623

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made for providing free period products or helping to provide access to period products within funding allocated for international development programmes.

The Scottish Government has funded two successful international projects to help tackle global challenges around period dignity. Funding of £100,000 was provided to Water Aid Foundation to support women in Rwanda, and just under £13,000 was provided to a project through the Freedom From Fistula Foundation in Malawi.

These projects helped communities make and sell reusable period products and generate an income for community members. Funding was also used to donate free products to school pupils in these countries. Both projects were funded in collaboration with international development programmes and through the social justice budget.

Question reference: S6W-18430

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reconsidered or revised any impact assessments as a result of the delay in implementing the Deposit Return Scheme, and, if so, which ones.

A suite of impact assessments has been updated to reflect the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2023, which changed the implementation date of the scheme to 1 March 2024, alongside a number of simplification measures.

Updated versions of the Islands Communities Impact Assessment, Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessments will be published shortly, alongside a supplementary analysis to the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment in light of the amendments laid in May

These changes pre-date my statement to Parliament on 7 June 2023 on the reset of date to 2025 as a result of conditions set by the UK Government very late in the process and I will be setting out detailed proposals for Parliament as appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-18431

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many stakeholders it has met with, to date, to discuss barcodes for products within scope of the Deposit Return Scheme.

In line with the DRS governance structure, officials meet regularly with a range of stakeholders from multiple sectors to discuss operational issues including barcodes for DRS articles.

There are no barcode requirements with Scotland’s DRS Regulations. Producers must provide SEPA with relevant information that supports the identification of scheme articles, which may include barcodes.

Decisions over barcodes rest with drinks producers and the scheme administrator, and will depend on a range of factors.

Question reference: S6W-18427

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received legal advice on the position of paying compensation in the event that the Deposit Return Scheme is cancelled.

Question reference: S6W-18428

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 14 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the First Minister and the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity last met to discuss the Deposit Return Scheme.