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-14611

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will fully enact the remaining regulations in the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 relating to vaping products by restricting in-store displays, billboard and similar advertising, free and nominally priced samples, sponsorship and brand sharing.

On 28 September 2022 the Scottish Government published the report from our consultation on proposals to make regulations under sections 17 to 19 of the 2016 Act, which would introduce restrictions on the following:

advertising
brand-sharing in products and services
free distribution and nominal pricing
sponsorship of an activity, event or person

The responses, together with the analysis report will inform and shape the final vaping restrictions which we aim to bring forward in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-14625

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that producers and retailers are receiving conflicting information regarding the Deposit Return Scheme from SEPA and Circularity Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-14536

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the current estimated total cost, including design, contract management, construction, legal, and administrative costs, is for the upgrading of the ferry terminal at Tarbert to allow its use by Hull 802, and what percentage of the total cost will be funded by (a) it and (b) other bodies.

The works at each of the ports as part of the Skye Triangle Infrastructure programme (Tarbert, Lochmaddy & Uig) are aimed at replacing life expired infrastructure, improving resilience and increasing the range of vessels that can use the ports. The Tarbert (Harris) project is estimated to cost £23million. Our response to the Freedom of Information Request 2022-00297832 published in July 2022 outlined that we have offered a capital funding contribution of up to £19.599million with the remaining contribution to be met by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) as statutory harbour authority.

Question reference: S6W-14547

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have expressed interest in the Community Bus Fund.

Question reference: S6W-14879

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out its own analysis of the potential environmental impact of a new semi-closed salmon farm in Loch Long, and whether this analysis includes (a) energy use, (b) percentage of solid and aqueous waste that will be captured, (c) chemical effluent, (d) stocking density and any implications for animal welfare and disease transmission, (e) any risks to wild salmon from potential escape events and (f) reliability of the technology, in light of it not having been tested in Scotland.

An appeal has been lodged with Scottish Ministers on behalf of Loch Long Salmon Limited against the decision by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority to refuse planning permission for a marine fish farm and associated development at Beinn Reithe, Loch Long. A reporter has been appointed to consider this appeal and is currently assessing what if any further information is required to fully consider this appeal. The planning authority has been asked to submit its response to the appeal, which will include copies of all information submitted on the application. This will include any consultation responses, including those from Marine Scotland, submitted on the planning application. Given this is a live appeal it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits or otherwise of the proposal.

Question reference: S6W-15018

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to remove any asbestos from NHS Scotland premises.

We recognise the hazard of asbestos and the risks to health it poses. However, asbestos is only dangerous when it is disturbed or in poor condition. The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance states that it is safe for asbestos to remain in place if it is in good condition, well-protected and unlikely to be disturbed. Health boards carry out annual asbestos monitoring surveys and asbestos management plans are in place across the NHS estate. The Scottish Government will double its NHS estate maintenance budget and health boards can use that money to remove asbestos as and when it is appropriate to do so.

Question reference: S6W-14948

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to bring forward legislation to enhance, promote and protect the Scots language.

The Scottish Government’s consultation on Gaelic and Scots closed on 8 December 2022 and the responses from this consultation will help inform part of the work to develop Scots language policy and the proposed Scottish Languages Bill.

As part of the consultation process, the Gaelic and Scots Division undertook a variety of public engagement events to ensure the views of Scots speakers and stakeholders were heard. This included attendance at the Scots Cross Party Group. The responses to the consultation are now being analysed and will help shape any future legislation.

Question reference: S6W-14214

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation breakdown is of those who are eligible for, but do not currently have (a) a young persons and (b) an older persons bus pass.

From data provided in the 2019 Scottish Household Survey, the percentage of people aged 60+ without a concessionary bus pass (National Entitlement Card (NEC)), broken down by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles, was as follows:

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles	% with no NEC (aged 60+)
1 - Most Deprived	11
2	11
3	14
4	11
5 - Least Deprived	9

There is no breakdown for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme per SIMD quintile, as the scheme launched in January 2022.

Question reference: S6W-14575

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update regarding the selection process for the chairs of the short-life working groups tasked with implementation of the delivery of the framework for pain management service delivery.

As set out in the Governance arrangements published in the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery – Implementation Plan, the chairs for each Short-Life Working Group (SLWG) are drawn from the chronic pain community and appointed based on their expertise, experience and diversity of skills required to deliver the Actions for each Aim set out in the Plan. The Plan is available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/framework-pain-management-service-delivery-implementation-plan/ .

Question reference: S6W-14586

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12922 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 December 2022, which states that it expects "an update from Transport Scotland on this matter imminently", whether the update has now been produced, and, if so, whether it will provide a revised answer to the question.