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-15237

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the WWF report, Affordable Warmth: Next Steps for Clean Heat in Scotland, in light of reports that Scotland will fall "significantly short" of its target for decarbonising heating in homes.

I am grateful to WWF Scotland for this contribution to the important discussion on how we cut emissions from our homes and buildings while – critically - ensuring a just transition for all households. The WWF is an important stakeholder, and a strong supporter of the outcomes that the Scottish Government is determined to achieve. The report aligns with our focus on the importance of energy efficiency and on heat pumps and heat networks. Our targets are ambitious, given the seriousness of the climate emergency and the size of the challenge to reduce emissions from our buildings. We will continue to do everything in our power to meet these targets, and to make Scotland’s homes more comfortable and affordable to heat.

Scotland’s homes and buildings currently account for around a fifth of all our greenhouse gas emissions, and we are committed to taking bold, ambitious steps to ensure we reduce these emissions to meet our climate obligations. Our Heat in Buildings Strategy sets a hugely ambitious vision to cut carbon and improve energy efficiency across Scotland’s homes over the coming years and the report notes that the policies and targets set out in the Strategy will meet our overall objective for 2045.

We recognise that this is a decisive decade for action which is why, since the Strategy was published, we have been working to support and speed up the delivery of zero direct emission heating systems: ensuring the sector is ready to accelerate and that households have the appropriate information, financial support and incentives to switch to climate-friendly heating systems. I look forward to consulting on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill in the coming months, and seeking views on our plans for regulation to accelerate green heating installation and higher energy efficiency standards in Scotland’s homes and buildings.

Question reference: S6W-15204

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects to meet its target of 81% of Scotland’s water environment being in a good condition by 2027, in light of reports that the target date for cleaning up waterways in England has been moved back to 2063.

As I announced in my statement to the Scottish Parliament in December 2021, the publication of Scotland’s third River Basin Management Plan sets out our ambitious objectives aiming to improve the overall condition of Scotland’s water environment from 66% currently classified at good condition to 81% by 2027. Our position has not changed and the Scottish Government remains committed to meeting this target. In comparison, England’s water environment is currently classified at 16% in good ecological status only.

Question reference: S6W-15163

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of Police Scotland Special Constables fell to 423 in 2022, compared with 1,394 in 2014, and what steps it is taking to increase the number of Special Constables.

The Scottish Government is grateful to Special Constables who are an integral part of Police Scotland’s workforce mix.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on Police Scotland’s Special Constable programme. Statistics on Special Constable numbers and recruitment are a matter for the Chief Constable.

Whilst Police Scotland are actively recruiting they have in recent years focused their investment on fully trained Special Constables who are willing to deploy regularly and able to fully support officers in our communities.

Question reference: S6W-15209

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the interim findings from the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.

The Green Heat Finance Taskforce will publish the interim report in spring this year. This report is one of a number of documents relating to Heat in Buildings that will be published this year, such as the Consultation on Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, introducing powers to create a regulatory framework which drives energy efficiency and zero direct emissions heating across Scotland’s building stock.

Question reference: S6W-15137

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers have been allocated to the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-15012

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the exact date on which it requested data from the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the Winter Heating Payment.

Throughout our programme of work to deliver the new Winter Heating Payment in Scotland, the Scottish Government engaged regularly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and emphasised the need for data to be transferred as early as possible.

DWP were unable to provide the data required prior to 31 January. The Scottish Government and DWP have begun discussions about the feasibility of moving payments forward for future years.

Question reference: S6W-14915

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12081 by Mairi McAllan on 24 November 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how many (a) ministers, (b) civil servants, (c) ministerial staff and (d) other Scottish Government representatives attended COP27, and what (i) travel, (ii) accommodation and (iii) other expenses were incurred for this delegation.

Question reference: S6W-14798

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can commit to setting a (a) start date and (b) timetable for its national conversation on rail services, as announced by the Minister for Transport in the Scottish Parliament on 9 February 2022.

The National Rail Conversation will be formally launched in April to mark the one year anniversary of ScotRail coming in to public ownership. Through the National Rail Conversation, we will listen to feedback from passengers, staff and stakeholders to shape a vision for ScotRail which best meets the needs of the people of Scotland. I will announce the timetable for the conversation at the launch.

Question reference: S6W-14799

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to increase the number of apprenticeships working for ScotRail as (a) drivers and (b) engineers.

While recruitment is an operational matter for ScotRail to manage, the Scottish Government is supportive of ScotRail’s target to increase apprenticeships.

ScotRail, working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and the Train Drivers union ASLEF, is developing a new Modern Apprenticeship Framework in Train Driving.

Over the past 2 decades ScotRail has offered apprenticeships in engineering across all 4 of its depots. The 2023 cohort will see a 100% increase in apprenticeship numbers on the previous year’s intake. ScotRail will continue to identify apprenticeship opportunities as part of the workforce planning activity to support skills needs and employment opportunities.

Question reference: S6W-14786

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of the "waking watch" patrol at Lancefield Quay is, and who will be liable for the costs of the contract.