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-00200

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding reports of retail stock and staff shortages in the run-up to Christmas.

Question reference: S6F-00196

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

Question reference: S6F-00195

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the increase in ambulance waiting times in parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-00189

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to tackle public displays of anti-Irish racism and anti-Catholic prejudice.

Question reference: S6F-00173

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-00174

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-01463

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to minimise the loss of farming opportunities for new entrants to farming that might arise as a result of plans to increase forestry cover.

All applicants to Scottish Forestry for woodland creation grants are expected to undertake pre-application due diligence to identify significant issues from the proposal.

Depending upon the agricultural land classification as defined by the James Hutton Institute, the applicant may be required to consult with Scottish Government Rural Payment and Inspectorate Division (SGRPID) to obtain feedback upon the likelihood of the proposal having a negative impact upon the agricultural sector and jobs in particular and then act on any issues identified with appropriate mitigation.

In addition, to support the development of increase woodland cover on existing farmland, Scottish Forestry has developed a Forestry Grant Scheme option called “Sheep and Trees”. This option was developed in partnership with the National Sheep Association Scotland, National Farmers Union Scotland and SGRPID, to better integrate forestry and farming practices, and provide new opportunities for farm enterprises; it is available to new tenant farmers with landlord or leasehold approval.

Scottish Government is also working on the “integrating trees on your land – farming for a better climate” 2 initiative. This initiative involves showcasing opportunities, through case studies, for farmers to integrate trees planting in the wider farm enterprise with a view to helping new entrant farmers to adopt a more holistic and diverse approach to their enterprise.

Question reference: S6W-01964

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether taxi operators are routinely included in its consultations with public transport bodies, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Transport Scotland engages and consults with taxi operators on an ongoing basis through various strands of the agency’s work. Taxi operators are key consultees for matters related to rail station access and operators have participated in national Low Emission Zone consultations and attended various stakeholder events including Mobility as a Service. Transport Scotland values the ongoing participation from taxi operators in helping to inform and influence policy making through these engagement channels.

Question reference: S6W-01970

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with an annual income of (a) £20,000 or under, (b) £20,001 to £30,000, (c) £30,001 to £40,000, (d) £40,001 to £50,000, (e) £50,001 to £60,000, (f) £60,001 to £80,000, (g) £80,000 to £100,000 and (h) £100,001 or higher have received electric vehicle loans.

Scottish Government through Energy Saving Trust provided loans through the Local Carbon Transport Loan to households on the following incomes:

A) £20,000 or under - 167 loans

B) £20,001 - £30,000 - 587 loans

C) £30,001 - £40,000 - 531 loans

D) £40,001 - £50,000 - 398 loans

E) £50,001 - £60,000 - 305 loans

F) £60,001 - £80,000 - 264 loans

G) £80,001 - 100,000 - 87 loans

H) £100,001 or higher - 85 loans

The figures are based on the combined income of the household and not the income of the applicant. The information is based on the loans paid from 1st January 2019 - 5th August 2021, we are unable to provide data from before January 2019, this data also includes combined family incomes.

Question reference: S6W-01612

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta’s report, The Economics of Biodiversity, which was published by the UK Government in February 2021, what steps it (a) has taken and (b) will take to ensure that Scotland's demands on nature do not exceed nature’s capacity to supply.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss is unwavering. Many of the points made in the Dasgupta review align closely with our existing approaches, and with our Wellbeing Economy, Inclusive Growth and Green Recovery, and “four pillars” approach to economic development. The Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party have agreed to work together to develop a new Natural Environment Bill which will put in place key legislative changes to restore and protect nature, including statutory targets for nature restoration.

Our Environment Strategy and our Statement of Intent on biodiversity published in December 2020 fully recognise the value of nature and the essential services and benefits it provides to Scotland’s people. The Statement of Intent signals our ambitions for biodiversity in Scotland, and commits Scotland to development of a new biodiversity strategy within 12 months of COP15. It also commits us to:

Endorsing the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, launched at the UN General Assembly in September which commits signatories to reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, sending a united signal to step up global ambition for nature, climate and people.
Extending the area protected for nature in Scotland to at least 30% of our land area by 2030.
Ensuring that National Planning Framework 4 works to secure positive effects for biodiversity.
Increasing ecological connectivity through support for locally-driven projects.

In July 2021 we launched the Nature Restoration Fund, which provided an additional £10 million capital funding for projects that will restore nature, safeguard wildlife and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss and climate change.