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-14996

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether time-booking practices are used in the development of policy and strategy, to provide an understanding of the number of staff and associated costs, in terms of staff time and salaries, of any particular project, support delivery, and help ensure transparency and accountability for public funds, and whether such practices were employed in the development of the latest draft Biodiversity Strategy.

Time booking practices are not widely used in the Scottish Government and were not used in the preparation of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

Costs associated with the development of the strategy mainly relate to staffing. Given the wide range of policy areas which have an impact on biodiversity, a large number of staff will have contributed sometimes quite small amounts of time to developing the strategy, in addition to the small core team for whom the development of the strategy was a primary objective. There were also some direct costs associated with the development of the strategy, including consultation analysis, strategic impact assessment and the design/publication of the draft strategy, all of which have been subject to standard government procurement procedures.

Question reference: S6W-15013

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) assessment it is undertaking and (b) mitigations it is planning regarding the potential impact on affordable housing supply, including through reduced numbers of section 75 agreements and availability of off-the-shelf properties, as a result of any downturn in private sector housebuilding, in light of reports from Barratt Homes that it is no longer buying land and that Bellway's activity in the land market is "markedly lower".

The Scottish Government works closely with local partners to monitor delivery of the affordable housing programme on the ground and to overcome delivery issues where they may arise.

We will continue to work with local authorities in ensuring there is an effective pipeline of potential projects, through their annual Strategic Housing Investment Plans, which look five years ahead. We will also consider options for off the shelf purchases where local authorities identify these as a priority.

The potential impact on affordable housing supply of developer contributions, including through Section 75 agreements, is also reviewed regularly.

Question reference: S6W-14993

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group has met since June 2022, and, if so, for what reasons the minutes and agendas of any such meetings have not been published.

Question reference: S6W-14694

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) improve access to data relevant to, (b) agree indicators to support data mapping for and (c) support the streamlining and standardisation of information currently collected for heart disease.

Question reference: S6W-14672

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established nationally-agreed pathways of care for heart disease, and, if so, what (a) these include and (b) resources it provides to support their implementation.

Question reference: S6W-14639

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) energy companies and (b) their representatives on issues regarding the force-fitting of prepayment meters.

While policy on energy markets is a matter reserved to the UK Government and the responsibility for supplier guidance sits with Ofgem, the Scottish Government opposes the forced installation of prepayment meters, which increases the risk of self- rationing and self-disconnection. The additional costs associated with prepayment meters also lead to increased debt.

We are engaging with Ofgem regarding its request to suppliers to immediately halt forced installations and remote switching to prepayment meters until 31 March 2023, as well as its consultation on the rules and guidance on the use of prepayment meters by suppliers. We will use this engagement to ensure that the rights and interests of Scottish consumers are fully considered.

Last year, the First Minister chaired two energy summits which were attended by energy suppliers. We continue to build upon the progress made at these summits, and are looking to suppliers for assurance that they are exploring all possible options to support struggling customers, especially those living in vulnerable circumstances.

Question reference: S6W-15623

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6T-01244

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Loganair and Highlands and Islands Airports regarding the suspension of many island flights from 17 March.

Question reference: S6T-01236

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent comments by the Chief Executive of CalMac, what action it is taking to prevent island residents being impacted by any reliability issues affecting their ferry services over the next two years.

Question reference: S6T-01225

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that small shops in Scotland fear they cannot survive because of the costs and impacts of the Deposit Return Scheme, what its position is on Circularity Scotland’s confirmation on 1 March that retailers who use Reverse Vending Machines would have to wait one month for payment for returned bottles, rather than the previously expected seven days.