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-15201

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought on any potential difficulties of linked SMEs successfully applying for the SME Loan Scheme, in light of reports that some linked SMEs that have considered decoupling in order to secure a loan have been warned that, if they do so, HMRC may suspect tax fraud and open investigations.

The Scottish Government eligibility criteria prevent SMEs that are more than 25% owned or have more than a 25% stake in another business to access funding through the SME Loan. This is to protect public finance, make certain that the economic benefit from investment is realised by the intended party and ensure that there is a clear route for loan repayments to be made.

Although some businesses have expressed their disappointment at not being able to access funding we consider that this protection is necessary and proportionate. Advisors will ask about the current ownership structure of businesses in order to assess their eligibility for the SME loan scheme. However, Business Energy Scotland do not provide advice to businesses about ownership or their organisational structure.

Question reference: S6W-15025

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with CalMac regarding employment conditions on its vessels, chartered from CMAL, which are operating on routes on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.

Question reference: S6W-15030

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates any financial benefit will be to David MacBrayne Ltd from Associated British Ports’ acquisition of Solent Gateway Ltd.

Question reference: S6W-15368

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline any specific actions it is taking to reverse the reported long-term decline in the number of dairy herds, and what its most recent estimate is of the number of dairy herds.

The Scottish Government is aware that figures released by the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association (SDCA) in January reveal an annual reduction of the number of dairy herds in Scotland to 804 herds.

In their news release to accompany the publication of dairy herd statistics the SDCA however noted positively that there was considerable investment in new milking parlours and robots in South West Scotland.

We are continuing to support the Scottish dairy sector by funding the Scottish Dairy Hub, to provide dairy farmers with reliable, accurate and relevant information to inform decision making, as well as funding the Scottish Dairy Growth Board to champion growth of the Scottish Dairy sector in global markets.

As well as receiving farm payments through the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and other schemes, dairy farms have been eligible in recent years to receive support in purchasing farm equipment through the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS) and the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS).

As part of the Agricultural Reform Programme the Scottish Government has stated the intention of reforming agricultural support with conditions which reduce emissions and improve farm performance. In February we published details on areas of interest for future farm support conditions which included dairy cattle nutrition, breeding and health. If adopted these measures will support dairy businesses and herd improvement.

Question reference: S6W-15332

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of a crime of animal cruelty, of any kind, in each year since 2016, and, of those, how many were given a (a) lifetime and (b) temporary ban on owning animals.

The latest available information on convictions is for the financial year 2020-21 and is provided in the following table.

Number of people convicted for animal cruelty offences, where main charge, 2016-17 to 2020-21.

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
Total convicted	60	75	63	56	33

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database.

Note: Main charges were under Animal Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 sections 19-23,29(1)(A)(B) and 29(2)(A)&(B); Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Section 2; Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 Section 1(1); Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sections 10A(1), 11(1)(A), 11A(2)(B)&(6), 11(1)(AA), 11C(B), 11(G)(1) and 11(2)(A)&(F); Welfare of animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regs 2006 Regulation 3(1)(A); Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 Section 7.

(a), (b) The number of disqualifications on owning animals is not held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-15219

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when in Spring 2023 the long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful will be announced.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to an infrastructure solution to address the A83 Rest and Be Thankful landslip risks. This scheme is technically challenging and the landscape is dynamic so it is vital we understand the terrain we are working in, in order to develop a suitable solution of the correct standard in the correct place.

The necessary engineering and environmental assessment work is progressing at pace and whilst I cannot confirm a precise date for the announcement of the preferred route for the long term solution at this time, I can confirm that it remains our intention to announce the decision this Spring.

Question reference: S6W-15216

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what potential impact the current inflationary pressures may have on the delivery of the (a) medium- and (b) long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to an infrastructure solution to address the A83 Rest and Be Thankful landslip risks. I share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.

Transport Scotland continues to progress design and assessment work on both the medium and long-term solutions at pace. Transport Scotland also continues to explore methods to reduce the timescales to bring forward both the medium-term and long-term improvements as soon as possible, whilst continuing to maximise the availability of the existing A83.

Clearly market conditions have changed in the past few years - the pandemic, Brexit and inflationary pressures have all played their respective parts in changing the procurement and delivery landscape across Government. However, we will continuously review the impact of current inflationary pressures and market conditions on both medium and long-term measures.

A detailed programme for the proposed medium-term improvements to the Old Military Road through Glen Croe is now being developed. It is expected that these works will be carried out on a phased basis starting later this year. I will provide an update on the delivery programme for the medium-term improvements at the next A83 Taskforce meeting which is scheduled to take place in June 2023.

In terms of the long-term solution, we are working towards announcing a preferred route option by this Spring.

Question reference: S6W-15206

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards delivering the National Dashcam Safety Portal initiative, led by Police Scotland with financial support from the Road Safety Framework Fund.

The Scottish Government recognise the significance of National Dashcam Safety Portal initiative and its potential positive impact on road user behaviour and therefore the road safety outcomes for communities across Scotland.

I met with Police Scotland on 9 February to discuss the importance of delivering the NDSP.Police Scotland is now reviewing the project’s timings as part of their wider planning for 2023/24 and beyond.

All those involved in delivering the NDSP remain committed to implementing this valuable safety initiative.

Question reference: S6W-15122

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 March 2023

To ask Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the outcome of its 2016 commitment to provide £30 million over five years to the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).

Question reference: S6W-15171

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to remove funding from any of the school culture coordinators that it presently supports and, if so, how many coordinators will be affected.

The Scottish Government does not fund culture coordinator posts in schools. However, some Local Authorities choose to employ culture coordinators to support the delivery of the Youth Music Initiative programme, administered on behalf of the Scottish Government by Creative Scotland.

Creative Scotland do not require Local Authorities to have a specific coordinator role in place to deliver the fund. Scottish Government give Local Authorities the financial freedom to operate independently and allocate the resources available to them in response to local need.