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-19535

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils with additional support needs disappeared from the education system during the 2022-23 academic year, in light of recent reports that thousands of school pupils were unaccounted for by local authorities elsewhere in the UK.

Question reference: S6W-19500

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering on the action points identified in its suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters.

The National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) has made very strong progress in delivering the suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters . NSPLG’s final annual report published in October 2022 and can be found here . Delivery has been maintained since October, including focussed work on improving responses for people in suicidal crisis, using the principles of Time, Space and Compassion.

The delivery of Every Life Matters has created an excellent platform to drive forward Creating Hope Together - our ambitious new strategy and action plan , which the Scottish Government published with COSLA in September 2022. The evidence and support for Every Life Matters actions means we are continuing to deliver on those actions as part of our ongoing work.

The Scottish Government and COSLA published our suicide prevention delivery priorities for 2023-24 on 28 June 2023. These were shaped through stakeholder discussions and a range of evidence, including views from people with lived experience of suicide.

Question reference: S6W-19730

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scotia Arts since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-19534

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils disappeared from the education system during the 2022-23 academic year, in light of recent reports that thousands of school pupils were unaccounted for by local authorities elsewhere in the UK.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Local authorities may hold this information.

The Scottish Government’s guidance ‘Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1: a positive approach to the promotion and management of attendance in Scottish schools’ makes clear the need for schools to follow up absence immediately, and to continue to follow up absence for those for whom there are welfare concerns.

Local authorities are expected to have robust processes and guidance for children who do not attend school from the first day they are missing until they are re-engaged with education. Where children are missing for extended periods of time, or are not on a school roll or being educated otherwise, the Children Missing from Education Guidance and Service can support local authorities in this.

Question reference: S6W-19538

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the decision to close the SME Loan Scheme for new solar PV applications, (a) when and (b) on what basis the decision was taken; on what date the decision came into effect, and whether the decision is permanent.

The decision to close the SME Loan Scheme to new Solar PV was taken on 20 June 2023 and was implemented on 27 June.

Solar is a key part of our energy transition and is recognised as such in our draft strategy. Solar PV is also an increasingly established technology which is often deliverable without government support. On this basis, and considering finite budgets, the decision was taken in order to keep remaining budget resource available to support SMEs to install zero direct emissions heating and energy efficiency measures, in line with our Heat in Buildings Strategy priorities. We will regularly review our budget position and consider reinstating a more targeted Solar PV offering if additional funding becomes available.

Question reference: S6W-19540

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time has been for processing SME Loan Scheme applications, broken down by application type in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

The following table shows the average amount of time it has taken from a loan application being received to either a loan offer or rejection being sent. Applications processed are not dependent on measure types and there is a single application form for the SME Loan covering all technologies that are funded.

Financial Year	Average processing time
2022-23	38 working days
2023-24	27 working days

Individual processing times vary around this average and can be subject to businesses replying to the administration teams queries promptly. Such queries can range from the application form not being fully completed, quotes not meeting the scheme criteria or having to request financial accounts for review.

Question reference: S6W-20062

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it considers when taking a decision on whether to override an existing local authority decision refusing planning permission for a wind farm development, or aspects of such a development.

The majority of planning appeals are decided by reporters from Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Government. Whilst Scottish ministers have the power to recall an appeal for their own decision, they would normally only do so in appeals that raise issues of national importance.

Windfarm appeal decisions are made on the planning merits of the case and in overall accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Reporters take full account of all submissions made by parties, including any representations from members of the local community. The reporter will carry out an inspection of the appeal site and surrounding area.

Question reference: S6W-19387

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of the Warm Home Prescription pilot in Aberdeenshire, and whether it is in a position to work with partners in the NHS, third sector and energy providers to extend the Warm Home Prescription model across Scotland, to support the health of more vulnerable individuals who are at risk of illness and hospitalisation, such as people with chronic kidney disease, because of a cold home.

While the UK-led Warm Home Prescription pilot was reportedly extended into Aberdeenshire in late 2022, the Scottish Government understands that an evaluation of this pilot is not available at the present time and the Scottish Government does not hold data on general practice prescriptions for the Warm Homes pilot. The Scottish Government would consider the merits of the approach upon receipt of any evaluation and would discuss with partners as appropriate at that time, dependent on the data and research findings provided.

Question reference: S6W-19904

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the latest known levels of average household water bills in Scotland, and on how this compares to the levels in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Question reference: S6W-19862

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further information on the "programme of work on digital inclusion being undertaken with a particular focus on mental health and housing to better understand potential barriers to digital access", as set out in its Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The £2m programme commitment was initially set out in the digital health and care delivery plan and aims to benefit more than 2,000 people by providing devices and building digital skills and confidence to access growing online services such as digital therapies.

As part of this, an initial £600,000 “Digital Pioneers” project funding call was issued in April 2023 . An announcement will be made on the Digital Pioneer projects who have been selected shortly.