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-04694

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when statistics on liquor licensing will next be published.

Question reference: S6W-04654

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote agriculture in the (a) primary and (b) secondary school curriculum, and how much funding has been allocated for this purpose since 2007.

Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to deliver a broad general education suited to the needs of learners in their own contexts, including on agriculture. For example, the Social Studies Experiences and Outcomes enable young people to explore foods produced in Scotland, discuss agricultural production methods and consider sustainability.

The Scottish Government funds the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and Education Scotland for programmes helping ensure children can explore where food comes from and learn about careers in food and farming. Since 2012 the Scottish Government has given RHET £563,276 for such projects, and has provided £3.32m to Education Scotland for the Food for Thought Fund, which supports food education projects in schools.

We have set up a Commission to review learning in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors, and provide Scottish Ministers with independent advice on how to improve learning pathways and attract more people into these sectors, supporting the delivery of a just transition to net-zero.

Question reference: S6W-04599

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02085 by Maree Todd on 23 August 2021, how regularly women who have had breast cancer are screened following recovery, and how many women over 70 who have had breast cancer self-referred into the breast screening programme in each year since 2011.

Following treatment for breast cancer, women are followed up by the symptomatic breast service annually, commonly for at least 5 years. After that, women who are aged between 50 and 70 years are invited to attend the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) every 3 years. Women who are aged 71 years or over following discharge from symptomatic breast cancer treatment and follow up appointments can ordinarily self-refer to the SBSP once every 3 years; however, self-referrals for women in this age-group are currently suspended due to capacity challenges in the programme associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of women who had breast cancer and self-referred into the SBSP following treatment is not routinely collected or reported, and therefore the Scottish government cannot provide this information.

Question reference: S6W-04452

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) other support (i) it, (ii) enterprise agencies and (iii) its other bodies and agencies have offered to Siemens Gamesa.

Question reference: S6W-03975

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03377 by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2021, (a) how many and (b) which elective surgeries have (i) been cancelled and (ii) taken place in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in each month since January 2021.

Having spoken to Public Health Scotland, I can confirm that only limited information is published in the Stage of Treatment publication on cancelled planned operations. You will find this information at: Cancelled planned operations - Month ending 30 September 2021 - Cancelled planned operations - Publications - Public Health Scotland

If you would like more detailed information, I would suggest contacting NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde directly.

Question reference: S6W-04735

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the development of a museum at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow once the site is decommissioned by the Scottish Prison Service, on a similar basis to the Peterhead Prison Museum, which opened in 2016 after the closure of Peterhead prison in 2013.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

As was the case for the disposal of the former HMP Peterhead site, SPS will dispose of the site at HMP Barlinnie in accordance with Scottish Government policy which is set out in guidance within the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Thereafter, it will be for any potential purchaser to determine the future use of the site in conjunction with the relevant Planning Authority.

Question reference: S6W-04644

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the provision of "additional support for rural and islands homes which require bespoke and targeted advice", as set out in its Shared Policy Programme with the Scottish Green Party, how rural and island residents and communities can apply for the support; which organisations will be resourced to deliver the support, and whether the support will include (a) additional finance for home owners and (b) subsidised training and accreditation for engineers, plumbers and electricians in areas where there are currently very few companies that install renewable heating systems and appropriate insulation.

The Scottish Government will consult on a draft Islands Energy Strategy in 2022, setting out its approach to supporting island residents and communities to develop renewable energy solutions that can promote resilience, enhance sustainability, and meet their energy needs now and in the future. As part of this work, we will review the evidence base and options for an "islands uplift" across our delivery programmes as part of our commitment to provide additional support for rural and island homes for heat and energy efficiency.

Support is available to all householders across Scotland, including in rural and island areas, through Home Energy Scotland (HES), funded by the Scottish Government. HES offers free, bespoke advice on measures appropriate to homes, and on the funding available for all domestic energy efficiency and renewables measures, including zero emissions heating. Loans are available of up to a maximum of £15,000 for energy efficiency measures (attracting up to 45% cashback grant (£6,000) and a maximum £17,500 for renewables measures (attracting up to 75% cashback grant (£7,500)).

Rural and island community groups and organisations can access advice and funding support to explore their renewable energy options through the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) delivered by Local Energy Scotland (LES).

The Scottish Government's investment of at least £1.8 billion will strengthen demand and support an increase in jobs and skilled workers right across Scotland. We will work with industry to co-produce a ‘Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan’ by Summer 2022 which will include a focus on developing local supply chains, attracting inward investment and securing local jobs, training and skills, particularly in our islands and remote communities.

Question reference: S6W-04574

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the process that free advice and law centres must undertake to apply for its funding, and what the reasons are for the process operating in this way.

The Scottish Government funds advice services through a combination of longstanding funding relationships that ensure continuity of services, such as those delivered by Citizens Advice Scotland and the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux, or through a bidding process for funds aligned to specific policy objectives. All bid-in funds have their own assessment criteria based on the needs of the policy areas with responsibility for the funding programme, however all grant funding offered from the Scottish Government must adhere to the rules set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Question reference: S6W-04536

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any ministerial meetings that have taken place with Zero Waste Scotland since February 2021.

Zero Waste Scotland officials have met twice with Scottish Government Ministers in the period February 2021 to present.

Details of both occasions are outlined below and include: meeting date, meeting purpose, location and a list of attendees.

19 Aug 21 - Introductory Ministerial Meeting - Virtual via Microsoft Teams

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson
Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Miri McAllan
Vic Emery, Chair, Zero Waste Scotland
Iain Gulland, CEO, Zero Waste Scotland
SG Supporting Officials

27 Sep 21 - Introductory Ministerial Meeting – Virtual via Microsoft Teams

Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater
Vic Emery, Chair, Zero Waste Scotland
Iain Gulland, CEO, Zero Waste Scotland
SG Supporting Officials

Question reference: S6W-04200

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many pharmacy closures there have been in each of the last 12 months, and what information it has on the reason for each closure.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of pharmacies that have closed over the past 12 months nor reasons for closures. The provision of community pharmacy pharmaceutical care services are the responsibility of territorial Health Boards as set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, including pharmacy closures. Each Health Board holds separate data on those community pharmacies that have been unable to deliver pharmaceutical care services due to closures.

Any challenges faced by community pharmacies in ensuring the safe and effective dispensing of treatments should be discussed with the local Health Board.