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-15527

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the amount of school meal debt that has been forgiven since 1 January 2022, broken down by local authority area.

The information you have requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Decisions around school meal debt management, including all aspects of policy and practice, are at the discretion of each individual local authority. Local authorities' approaches to school meal debt management, including all aspects of policy and practice, should be compassionate, proportionate, and seek to minimise as far as possible the stigmatisation of children, young people, and their families.

Question reference: S6W-15347

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how much money has been spent on youth work by local authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

The available spend information on youth work by local authority for 2020-21 and 2021-22 is set out in the following table. Please note that the information you have requested is not available at individual local authority level prior to 2020-21.

Local Authority	2020-21	2021-22
	£000s	£000s
Aberdeen City	1,012	914
Aberdeenshire	1,381	1,774
Angus	580	315
Argyll & Bute	950	585
City of Edinburgh	5,234	5,529
Clackmannanshire	515	689
Dumfries & Galloway	1,860	2,687
Dundee City	2,134	Not Available
East Ayrshire	1,143	980
East Dunbartonshire	357	324
East Lothian	77	118
East Renfrewshire	1,180	1,034
Falkirk	1,164	1,072
Fife	5,325	5,188
Glasgow City	Not Available	Not Available
Highland	2,134	2,495
Inverclyde	1,282	1,280
Midlothian	1,354	752
Moray	679	555
Na h-Eileanan Siar	702	760
North Ayrshire	3,252	2,861
North Lanarkshire	6,362	6,158
Orkney Islands	101	165
Perth & Kinross	1,065	807
Renfrewshire	257	190
Scottish Borders	523	498
Shetland Islands	1,533	1,705
South Ayrshire	1,415	1,793
South Lanarkshire	5,835	5,547
Stirling	1,217	2,873
West Dunbartonshire	634	454
West Lothian	1,152	1,148

Question reference: S6W-15427

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to upgrade the technology available in schools to support children and young people with dyslexia and visual stress.

We want all children and young people, including those with dyslexia, to receive the support they need to reach their full potential. The Additional Support for Learning Act places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. We are committed to supporting teachers and school staff to meet these needs.

We have provided a range of free professional learning opportunities for teachers aimed at supporting practitioners to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in supporting learners with dyslexia, and reduce barriers to learning. This includes the Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit and identification pathway, launched in 2017, and the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice online professional learning modules, which enable staff to gain professional recognition in this area.

We are committed to ensuring that every child has access to a device by the end of this Parliament, in 2026. We are working with COSLA and local authorities to plan and deliver this programme, ensuring it meets the needs of all learners.

Question reference: S6W-15436

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the final version of its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, which is currently open for consultation, and whether it will provide an update on its policy of a presumption against new oil and gas developments.

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan is open for consultation until 9 May 2023. The final version of the Energy Strategy and Just Transitional Plan will be published once we have conducted a thorough review of the consultation responses and engaged with the full range of stakeholders. The Scottish Government’s position on oil and gas is part of the consultation process and we will provide an update in the final Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. We are not pre-empting responses.

Question reference: S6W-15417

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on any plans that Circularity Scotland has to publish details of the remuneration of its chair, chief executive officer, and executive board members.

Question reference: S6O-02024

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase employment opportunities within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, in light of the recent Fraser of Allander Institute report, The economic contribution of the Pharmaceuticals Sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-02026

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is for the migration strategy in an independent Scotland, including how it could address any workforce and recruitment challenges resulting from the withdrawal from the European Union.

Question reference: S6O-02020

Asked by: Ruth Maguire, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support families whose children have died as a result of illegal drugs.

Question reference: S6O-02025

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants are working in its Constitutional Futures Division.

Question reference: S6O-02023

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to dual the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead.