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-34206

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what most recent assessment has been made of the cost-effectiveness of private company involvement in audiology services compared with in-house NHS provision.

While the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland, re-phasing of funding has meant that not all the challenges we are facing will be addressed in a single budget and therefore there is no community hearing service in operation at this time.

While our response to the Independent Review of Audiology is implemented, we will continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform, and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

Question reference: S6W-34410

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to expand the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) programme to include new types of projects or industries, and, if so, what these new areas of focus would be.

Question reference: S6W-34404

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount of funding allocated for the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) has been in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-34370

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that it will deliver the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan by 2035, and whether it will propose a ministerial statement on this issue.

Question reference: S6W-34380

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what distance of rail electrification will need to be delivered by 2035 as part of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan.

Question reference: S6W-34383

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any recent discussions with the UK Government regarding A77 upgrades.

Question reference: S6W-34261

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many investigations into food crime have been carried out by Food Standards Scotland since 2018, broken down by type of crime.

All information/intelligence relating to food crime is assessed and, where appropriate, is subject to further investigation or referred to relevant enforcement authorities, e.g. local authorities. Since 2018, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) investigators have undertaken forty-seven investigations of varying complexity into alleged food crime, many of which were conducted jointly with local authorities or with the collaboration of other law enforcement agencies (LEA), with FSS having a lead role.

Of these forty-seven investigations:

11 identified fraud
4 identified culpable and reckless conduct (serious food safety issues)
3 identified animal cruelty at FSS approved premises
1 identified breaches of hygiene regulations at approved premises
7 proved no crime had been committed

(Note: the above listing refers to the principal crime type as in a number of cases there were multiple crime counts, including statutory food safety offences).

As regards the remaining 21 investigations, these identified regulatory food crime or other related matters falling under the principal remit of local authorities or other law enforcement agencies (LEA including international LEA), which were referred for consideration of further action.

Question reference: S6W-34212

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what role Food Standards Scotland plays in public health campaigns related to diet and nutrition.

Whilst the organisational focus of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is to support positive changes to the food environment, they remain committed to providing consumers with consistent messaging around a healthy balanced diet. As detailed within the Public Health Nutrition strategy, FSS continue to deliver consistent dietary advice using existing tools such as Eat Well, Your Way and building on the previous successes of our campaigns to increase awareness of advice on vitamin D supplementation during the winter months.

Question reference: S6W-34217

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to recruit and retain civil servants in Aberdeen for roles in Food Standards Scotland.

The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) approach to recruitment is consistent with Civil Service rules on open and fair recruitment. A staff Engagement Survey is undertaken every year to understand staff views on working for FSS and that informs their approach to retention. FSS’ current staff engagement score is 72% which places them 5th across the UK civil service compared to organisations of a comparable size and 9th overall. FSS jobs that are advertised either internally or externally are open to Aberdeen residents to apply.

Question reference: S6T-02380

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with the UK Government on the recently announced £200 million investment in Grangemouth, as part of the National Wealth Fund.