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-10321

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how microplastics, such as those from artificial sports pitches, (a) can be safely disposed of and (b) recycled in Scotland.

Through the ‘Pitch In’ project, KIMO International and the NGO Fidra , have developed a community toolkit and best practice guidance to reduce the source of microplastic pollution. This includes information on reducing this source of microplastic pollution. Marine Scotland is working with stakeholders to support the implementation of this guidance in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is also taking action on the issue of microplastics pollution from plastic pellets, powders and flakes. We have supported the plastic industry’s voluntary ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ initiative which gives guidance for best handling practice, and are currently working with the industry to develop an auditable full supply-chain certification approach to reduce plastic loss from all businesses handling this material.

Question reference: S6W-10330

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what number of thrombectomies should a 24/7 service be able to perform, how this capacity will be achieved, and in what timescale.

We estimate that a fully functioning 24/7, Scotland-wide thrombectomy service could deliver around 800 thrombectomies per year.

Through the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG), work is currently underway to establish the optimal approach to increasing the out-of-hours availability of thrombectomies, the resources required to do so and the appropriate timescales for safely increasing capacity.

As the thrombectomy service develops we will continue to work closely with NHS colleagues and stakeholders to consider how to improve the service to ensure that safe and high quality interventions are provided to patients.

Question reference: S6W-10345

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of those in Scotland who signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme are waiting for guests to move in.

Under current arrangements, applications to sponsor or host under the Homes for Ukraine scheme are made to the UK Government, and processed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Home Office.

The UK Government published data relating to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but has not published data on numbers of available hosts or sponsors. Published data is available at: Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Scottish Government will be releasing data on matching progress for super sponsor visa holders in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S6W-10237

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08749 by Shona Robison on 14 June 2022, what modelling it is undertaking to establish (a) the likely number of future applications to the fund and (b) any risk of homelessness among mortgage payers, in light of the Bank of England increasing the base rate to 1.75% and reports that inflation could reach 13% by October 2022.

The Scottish Government monitors trends in arrears and repossessions data published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and UK Finance which is collated in the quarterly Scottish Housing Market Review Scottish housing market reviews - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Home Owners Support Fund is a last resort scheme aimed at properties at the lowest 20% of the housing market. Applicants must have either mortgage arrears or have an interest only mortgage that has reached the end of its term and have no appropriate option to either repay the loan or to re-mortgage. There are a range of protections, advice and support services already in place for homeowners and not all of those affected by the current cost of living crisis will apply to the scheme.

Question reference: S6W-10239

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) budget and (b) expenditure of the Home Owners' Support Fund has been in each of the past six years, broken down by the (i) Mortgage to Rent and (ii) Mortgage to Shared Equity schemes, and whether any underspend (A) has been carried forward to 2022-23 and (B) can be carried forward to 2023-24.

The following table shows Home Owners Support Fund (HOSF) budget and expenditure for each of the last six years broken down by Mortgage to Rent (MTR) and Mortgage to Shared Equity (MTSE). HOSF is a demand led scheme and any difference between budget and actual spend reflects demand in that year and so there is no underspend or carry forward.

Financial Year	HOSF Budget	HOSF MTR Actual Expenditure	HOSF MTSE Actual Expenditure	Total Expenditure
Financial Year	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)
2016-17	5.000	2.980	0.000	2.980
2017-18	3.000	1.127	0.000	1.127
2018-19	2.500	1.536	0.000	1.536
2019-20	2.500	1.191	0.000	1.191
2020-21	2.000	0.303	0.000	0.303
2021-22	Figures will be published shortly
Total (£m)	15.000	7.137	0.000	7.137

Budget and expenditure figures for 2021-22 will be published shortly.

Question reference: S6W-10238

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08749 by Shona Robison on 14 June 2022, and in light of the Bank of England increasing the base rate to 1.75%, when the review (a) began and (b) will complete, and how it will announce the findings and outcomes of the review.

Question reference: S6W-10426

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many Home Owners' Support Fund applications it has processed on an exceptional basis where (a) an eviction notice has been served and (b) a trustee intends to force the sale of the property, broken down by each year of the fund's operation.

Question reference: S6W-10365

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that Confucius Classroom Hubs in Scottish schools received funding from (a) the Scottish Government and (b) the Chinese Government in 2021-22, and, if this is the case, how much was received from each body.

Confucius Classroom Hubs do not receive funding directly from the Scottish Government or the Chinese Government. Hubs in local authority schools are funded by the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS) via local authorities. Specialist classrooms (such as at Edinburgh Zoo), and Jordanhill School receive their funding directly from CISS.

In 2021-22, the Scottish Government provided CISS with a grant of £490,573. CISS publishes a joint annual report with Scotland’s Centre for Languages (SCILT) which includes information about funding and spending (available at: About Us (scilt.org.uk) ) . According to the 2021-22 annual report, approximately £400,000 was allocated from China in that year.

It is the responsibility of local authorities and schools to choose which languages to teach, and to determine what resources to draw on and partners to work with in order to support learning. Schools and teachers also remain responsible for curriculum making and the teaching in the classroom.

Question reference: S6W-10354

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the £80 fixed penalty fine for the offence of littering.

The Scottish Government recently consulted on proposals for our new National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, including measures to strengthen enforcement measures.

The Scottish Government aims to deliver a strong and consistent enforcement model across Scotland that is fit for purpose, promotes positive behaviours and acts as a proportionate deterrent and effectively stops people from littering and flytipping.

We will publish the final Strategy later this year, taking account of consultation responses.

Question reference: S6W-10355

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many fixed penalties for the offence of littering have been issued in each year since 2007, and how many of these have been paid.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on the number of fixed penalties issued for the offence of littering, nor information on how many of these have been paid.

This detailed information can be obtained by contacting individual issuing authorities. Authorised officers from Local Authorities, Police Scotland and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park can issue Fixed Penalty Notices for the offence of littering.