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: S6F-01051

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on what the Scottish Government is doing to support households through the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6F-01049

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01048

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-08025

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its budget has been allocated to support private sector development of (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind energy projects in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-08026

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its budget has been allocated to support public sector development of (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind energy projects in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-07921

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the abatement of pension rules for NHS staff beyond October 2022.

Question reference: S6W-08065

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards establishing a Youth National Performing Company, and when it anticipates that this will be in place.

This Government’s recent manifesto included a commitment to establish a Youth National Performing Company. Work will commence soon setting out what this will look like and how it could be achieved. I will write to the Member to provide her with an update as work progresses.

The Scottish Government provides regular funding of £150,000 to the Scottish Youth Theatre per year. In addition, we have provided £130,000 of additional support in 2021-2022. The Scottish Youth Theatre was also awarded funding from the Creative Scotland Cultural Organisations Recovery Fund to support their recovery from the pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-07942

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of people who have had COVID-19, and who were eligible for anti-viral medication, who (a) received and (b) did not receive this medication within five days.

As at the week beginning 11 April 2022, over 6300 non-hospitalised individuals had received COVID-19 treatments (oral antivirals or monoclonal antibody treatment) in Scotland since 22 December 2021.

Adults and children (aged 12 years and above) are eligible to be assessed for their suitability for new COVID-19 treatments if they:

? have symptoms of coronavirus that started in the last 5 days with no signs of clinical recovery;

? are a member of one of the patient groups considered at high risk from coronavirus and with a clinical condition prioritised for treatment; and

? coronavirus is confirmed by a positive lateral flow device (LFD) or PCR test.

Some COVID-19 positive individuals who meet the eligibility criteria will decide not to receive antiviral treatments, or may be unable to, for example due to other medications they are taking.

The information on those who were eligible for treatment and who received it within five days and those who did not receive it within five days is not held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-07830

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07108 by Lorna Slater on 22 March 2022, which states that the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) that will be used in Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was estimated at 3,021, whether it now estimates that number to be around 5,000, in light of this reportedly being stated in a DRS workshop held by Circularity Scotland in March 2022, and, if so, what action it will take to further amend the final BRIA to reflect the additional costs associated with this increased estimate.

Our best and final estimate of the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) that will be required to operate Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is 3,021, as set out in Table 2 of the amended final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) published on 15 December 2021. At the time of drafting the amended final BRIA, Circularity Scotland Ltd (CSL) confirmed that this matched their estimate.

We have had no further discussions with CSL regarding any estimated numbers of RVMs since that time and do not recognise the figure of around 5,000. Although it is entirely appropriate for CSL to continue to update its own assumptions regarding key parameters for DRS, our best and final estimate prior to implementation remains unchanged and we have no intention to further revisit the amended final BRIA.

Question reference: S6W-08063

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to create a Migration Service for Scotland, including when it anticipates that this will be in place.

Scotland’s population is predicted to decline from 2028 and the ending of free movement has hindered our ability to attract and retain the people our communities, public services and economy needs. It is vital that we expand the advice and support available to people moving to Scotland, showcasing all that we have to offer.

Consequently, we have made a Programme for Government commitment to deliver a Migration Service which support those who have chosen to make Scotland their home. This service will build on existing resources focusing on two elements: attracting people from across the world to Scotland and ensuring that those who have moved have access to the information required to stay here. We are currently in the policy development phase of delivering the service which we anticipate will be operational in 2023-24.