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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 43237 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-16113

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when any further decisions will be taken regarding how the deposit value of price-marked packs of containers that are within the scope of the Deposit Return Scheme should be displayed when the scheme launches.

Question reference: S6W-16401

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce a minimum national allowance for foster and kinship care, and for what reason it has not yet done so.

The Scottish Government is committed to working constructively with COSLA to set a Scottish Recommended Allowance for foster and kinship allowances. Officials are meeting on a regular basis and these conversations have been constructive, yet challenging, given the wider financial environment. We know that it has taken longer than originally anticipated, which is why we are exploring all available options, and working at pace with COSLA to deliver the allowance as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-16486

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with One Parent Families Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed.

In addition, Scottish Government officials engage with stakeholder organisations as part of the policy development process. Officials, from across portfolios, work closely with One Parent Families Scotland to better understand the needs of single parent families and to ensure these families achieve their potential, reach a decent standard of living and are able to contribute to Scottish society.

Officials, from across portfolios, have regularly met One Parent Families Scotland since May 2021 and will continue to meet with them for the purposes of policy development and grant funding monitoring.

Question reference: S6W-16402

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of not providing the planned minimum national allowance for foster and kinship care, on those who would be entitled to such an allowance.

The rate of payment for the Scottish Recommended Allowance is still subject to negotiations with COSLA and, therefore, we have not undertaken an impact assessment. Foster and kinship carers are, however, already entitled to an allowance at a rate set by the local authority, which is age dependent, and should cover the needs of the child. Many local authorities also make additional payments to cover specific requirements. The variation in rates means that it is likely that some local authorities may already be paying a rate that will be equal to, or above, a new national minimum rate. The Scottish Recommended Allowance will, however, ensure that a consistent and transparent level of financial support is provided to all foster and kinship carers across the country.

Question reference: S6W-16591

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the reintroduction of the lynx species in suitable remote areas, and what recent discussions it has had with (a) NatureScot and (b) other stakeholders, such as the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, on this matter.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that reintroductions of native wildlife can play in meeting our nature restoration ambitions, but has no current plans to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivorous species into Scotland. We have not recently engaged with stakeholders, including the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, on this issue.

Anyone seeking to reintroduce lynx or another species into Scotland would require a licence from NatureScot. Thus far, no licence applications for the reintroduction of lynx have been submitted.

Should a licence application be made in the future, the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations sets out the process that NatureScot would be required to follow in considering whether any translocation or reintroduction project may be appropriate. This includes the need to give consideration to benefits and risks, whether of a biological or socio-economic nature.

Question reference: S6W-16412

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessments it has undertaken regarding any financial reliance of Scottish universities on international funding.

The Scottish Government along with the Scottish Funding Council work with and engage, on an ongoing basis with a range of stakeholders including Universities Scotland and individual institutions, to monitor and secure the long term sustainability of the sector as a whole and ensure that Scottish Universities continue to deliver world class education.

These issues were discussed at a meeting between the previous Cabinet Secretary and Universities Scotland. As part of that discussion, it was recognised that as autonomous institutions Scottish universities are responsible for managing their long term institutional stability as operated through their own entry requirements, admissions policies and budgets. It was also agreed that it was vital to explore further the impact of the UK Government’s policy on immigration on Scottish Universities’ international student recruitment.

The Scottish Government welcomes the contribution that international students make to our society, culture and economy. International students add to the diversity of our communities, enrich the learning experience and support local businesses and jobs. Our priority is to become more active internationally fostering good global connections, and by promoting educational and research exchange to raise the profile of Scotland as a place to live, work and study.

Question reference: S6W-16368

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Prison Service’s upcoming Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy will give consideration to the gender self-identification of prisoners in prisoner placement decisions.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The review of the Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy 2014 is currently ongoing. The review is considering the suitability of the current policy’s position on self-identification, along with other potential options which would allow SPS to make safe and appropriate decisions about the placement and management of transgender people in custody.

Question reference: S6W-17261

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the consequences of climate change were factored into the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

NPF4 encourages, promotes and facilitates development that adapts to the current and future impacts of climate change so that our places are more resilient. Our response to climate change has shaped the long-term spatial strategy and national developments and Policy 1 gives significant weight to the climate and nature crises in all plans and decisions. Policy 2 in NPF4 sets out that development proposals will be sited and designed to adapt to current and future risks from climate change, and development proposals to retrofit measures to existing developments that reduce emissions or support adaptation to climate change are also supported.

Question reference: S6W-17145

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022, whether it will provide a (a) list of projects that have been funded by the £1 million Islands Programme resource funding allocated to support the National Islands Plan and (b) breakdown of how much funding has been allocated to each project.

20 projects were funded through the 2022 Islands Programme resource funding to support delivery of the National Islands Plan. These can be found in the following table:

Project	Amount
Scottish Islands Federation ‎	£56,000.00
Scottish Futures Trust	£128,000.00
Shetland Anchor Project	£29,000.00
Island Heritage and Culture Posts for all six island Local Authorities	£242,000
Island Skills and Employment Repopulation Pilot	£210,000
Ulva Culture & Heritage Practical Policy Test – North West Mull Community Woodland Company	£7,500.00
North Ayrshire Council - Regeneration of Millport Town Hall	£20,000.00
Islands Profiles Project	£5,000.00
Island Communities Impact Assessment Guidance	£410.55
Gaelic translation of Implementation Route Map edits following Spending Review	£66.96
National Islands Plan Annual Report 2021 Publication in English and Gaelic	£8,283.98
Publication of Islands Bond Analysis and Scottish Government Response	£1,195.12
Castlebay Hall Hire for Island Healthcare Event	£42.50
National Islands Plan Implementation Route Map 2022 Publication in English and Gaelic	£6613.21
National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022 publication in English and Gaelic	£10,996.26
National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022 Gaelic translation	£5212.20
Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund	£200,000.00
Islands Programme Gaelic translations	£599.90
Hebridean Trust - Hynish Practical Policy Test	£15,000.00
Harris Tweed New Entrants Training Scheme	£25,000.00

Question reference: S6W-16424

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to introduce new restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol products.

Our recent consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion set out a range of potential options to restrict alcohol advertising and promotion, in order to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms.

The consultation closed on 9 March. An independent contractor will comprehensively analyse the responses and a report will be published later this year. We will then further consider possible restrictions.