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-14862

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings from the Cameron House Hotel Fatal Accident Inquiry, whether it will make further enforcement powers available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is an enforcing authority for fire safety in hotels and other relevant premises across Scotland and already has the necessary powers available to them to enforce fire safety .

As an enforcing authority, SFRS work with duty holders in relevant premises to achieve compliance in fire safety through an auditing framework and providing advice and support. Where partnership working does not produce compliance, SFRS may decide to take enforcement or prohibition action where necessary.

Question reference: S6W-15044

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06730 by Mairi Gougeon on 8 March 2022, how many new local chill and processing units have been established through the £80,000 Covid Recovery Opportunities Fund.

Three pilot projects are being supported through this fund. These are located in North Argyll, Moray, and South West Scotland. All three have seen estimated costs increase significantly since the original funding offers were made and have had to adapt plans and budgets accordingly. Subject to planning consent in one instance, work is anticipated to commence within the next few weeks.

An announcement will be made as soon as all three projects get underway. A programme of open days and knowledge transfer is an important element of this project.

Question reference: S6W-15043

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it works with the Scottish Venison Association to promote wild venison products.

The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the Scottish Venison Association.

We have provided funding for a variety of projects to help with promotion of wild venison products. For example, Scottish Government funded a £60,000 online promotion campaign in 2021 as part of the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership Covid recovery programme. Further funding is being provided for ongoing market research through Scotland Food and Drink, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Scotland and The Knowledge Bank to make available data on key venison markets and trends in London, South East England and Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-14655

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water uses dowsing rods and, if so, how much it has spent on these in each of the last four years.

As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked Douglas Millican, Chief Executive, to respond. His response is as follows:

Scottish Water does not support or encourage the use of dowsing and provides its employees with equipment and training to ensure they use methods for finding underground assets and leaks which are scientifically tried and tested. These include ground microphones, correlators, and metal detectors and other devices to pinpoint the exact location of underground assets and leaks. Scottish Water does not budget or spend money on any form of divination or dowsing tools and training.

Question reference: S6W-15062

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to recommence operations at Stoneywood paper mill in Aberdeen.

My officials in Scottish Enterprise remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators and continue to work closely with them to help find a sustainable future for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen.

The administration process continues to progress and prior to formal marketing of the site, the Administrator has re-engaged with potential interested parties. Any discussions between interested parties and the Administrator will likely take place in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S6O-01934

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the ongoing negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

Question reference: S6O-01937

Asked by: Ruth Maguire, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what gender-specific risk and safety planning is carried out to support Ukrainian refugees at the point of their arrival in Scotland, as well as in the medium and long term.

Question reference: S6O-01939

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its contributions to development in Malawi through its Malawi Development Programme 2018-23.

Question reference: S6O-01943

Asked by: Natalie Don-Innes, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the Victim Surcharge Fund is aiming to support women who are victims of domestic abuse.

Question reference: S6O-01950

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the continuation of the Curriculum for Excellence.