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-10997

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many Ukrainian refugees have been re-matched with different households through the Super Sponsor scheme.

The Scottish Government recognises that there may be instances where a host relationship breaks down. Where a relationship breaks down, it is the responsibility of local authorities to re-enter a displaced person into the matching process and find a suitable alternative accommodation.

On 22 September, the Scottish Government published its first summary of the latest Scotland-level data and information on people displaced by the war in Ukraine coming to Scotland through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme visa schemes which provides detail on matching progress: Key points - Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland: statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-10998

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for re-matching Ukrainian refugees from one household to another through the Super Sponsor scheme.

The Scottish Government recognises that there may be instances where a host relationship breaks down. Where a relationship breaks down, the displaced person can make contact with their local authority who will re-enter them to the matching process and find a suitable alternative accommodation.

It is important to recognise that matching people with hosts is a complex process. Time must be taken to ensure that the needs of both the host family and Ukrainians are met, and that both are suitably supported to make a decision that is right for them. Their housing and support needs and preferences will be assessed and the matching service will seek to match them with accommodation suitable for their needs. Where additional needs are identified, they will be directed to specialist local authority support teams.

We have made £11.2m of additional funding available to local authorities, which they can use to bolster their resettlement teams, enhance the pace of host checks, and support refurbishment of properties. In addition we have funded additional staff in local authorities to speed up the process and we are also introducing a new digital matching tool to support the matching process. We are currently reviewing the operation of the super sponsor scheme, including measures to improve matching.

Question reference: S6W-10803

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce commencement regulations for the fireworks licensing scheme, as set out in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 was passed by the Scottish Parliament in June of this year and received Royal Assent on 10 August.

Firework licensing, Part 2 of the Act, will require further secondary legislation, as well as development of an appropriate licensing system, and therefore will not be in place until late 2023/early 2024 at the earliest. Commencement regulations will be introduced in advance of the system being operational.

Question reference: S6W-10830

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of construction work on Deposit Return Scheme sorting and counting centres showing (a) which sites are under construction, (b) when construction began on each site and (c) the expected completion date.

Question reference: S6W-10727

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with the UK Government regarding any National Grid restrictions for renewable energy projects that are (a) in the research and proposal phase and (b) currently generating electricity.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with BEIS and Ofgem and National Grid ESO to discuss the arrangements under which all generators, both existing and new, access and use the GB electricity system.

National Grid ESO regularly assess the need for investment in our electricity system. The latest assessment has identified over £21bn of transmission network investment needed in GB. This vital investment will minimise constraints on the system while supporting new connection of generation to meet 2030 targets and maintain system security.

This is a reserved issue and Scottish Government has no powers to change the regulations in respect to electricity network access. It is vital that industry, government, and the regulator work together to enable timely delivery of these investments while ensuring that UK regulatory levers drive down costs and increase benefits for customers and communities.

Question reference: S6W-10767

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government which cities are developing business cases for large-scale transformation of places involving buildings, transport and greenspaces to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts, blending public and private investment, and how much progress it anticipates will have been made on this by the end of 2022.

Many cities in Scotland have set ambitious net zero targets and are developing robust plans to deliver them. All 32 of Scotland’s Local Authorities signed Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration in 2007 and 28 Scottish Local Authorities have recognised or declared a climate emergency.

The Cities Commission For Climate Investment (3Ci) continues to work with selected local authorities to launch local place-based Net Zero pilots by providing technical assistance and support for project identification, design, investment structures and other key elements.

Glasgow and Edinburgh have bid to be a part of the European Union's 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities mission and NetZeroCities project. The Scottish Government recognises that involvement in such a Mission presents a real opportunity to enable all of our seven cities to benefit from Scotland’s involvement in this hugely important Mission.

The Scottish Government welcomes the billion pound transformation of Glasgow’s Buchanan Street Quarter which will see Scottish Government officials working with Buchanan Galleries owner Landsec and Glasgow City Council to transform Glasgow’s famous shopping street with a multi-purpose shopping, residential and office quarter.

Question reference: S6W-10771

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what projections have been made for Circularity Scotland’s annual turnover following the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6O-01440

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what contribution colleges make to widening access to higher education for students living in the most deprived areas.

Question reference: S6O-01436

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Competition and Markets Authority regarding the impact on Scotland of its investigation into the variation of prices across the UK in relation to the supply of road fuel.

Question reference: S6O-01439

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to revive the bus industry following a slump in passenger numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.