Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-32487

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with UK Government officials regarding the implementation of ultra high frequency electronic identification technology in livestock.

Question reference: S6W-32298

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many houses have been bought as second homes or investment properties at a value of less than £40,000, thus making them exempt from liabilty to the additional dwelling supplement, in each year since the supplement was introduced.

Question reference: S6W-31733

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a general development programme to promote the improvement of shipbuilding and dock facilities in Scotland, including through patient loans, grants for capital investments and refund guarantees for shipbuilding projects, in compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

The Scottish Government provides a range of support to shipbuilding, marine engineering, harbours and ports across Scotland but has no plans to introduce a new general development programme to promote and improve shipbuilding and dock facilities.

The Scottish Government, the Enterprise Agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank have, for example, supported major recent investments at Stornoway Harbour, Aberdeen Harbour and Ardersier Port. In addition, the Green Freeports programme, in partnership with the UK Government, is also helping to drive investment and high-quality job creation at multiple port locations situated within Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport respectively.

This Government took a proactive approach to preserve commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde at Ferguson Marine and remains committed to invest in the skills and capabilities needed to secure a sustainable future for the shipyard.

Question reference: S6W-32104

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31765 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 December 2024, how many indefinite awards of Adult Disability Payments have been introduced for people, in respect of mental health-related claims, in the last five years.

Social Security Scotland routinely publishes information on Adult Disability Payment applications and caseload, broken down by disability condition. No information on the number of indefinite awards made as a result of Adult Disability Payment applications is currently published.

From 21 March 2022 to 31 October 2024, there were 282,930 part 1 Adult Disability Payment applications received from new applicants, of which 86,275 had the primary disability condition “Mental and Behavioural Disorders”.

The latest Adult Disability Payment official statistics publication can be found at: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/publications/statistics. The next release of Adult Disability Payment statistics which will cover the period to the end of January 2024, is due to be published on 18 March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-32097

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to provide deer managers with clarity about the circumstances under which NatureScot might intervene on deer management issues under any new interventionist powers predicated on nature recovery.

As set out in the Programme for Government 2024-25: Serving Scotland the Natural Environment Bill will include provisions to modernise the way in which deer are managed in Scotland.

In January 2024 the Scottish Government consulted on a range of potential reforms to deer management Managing deer for climate and nature: Consultation, including the introduction of new powers designed to secure effective deer management that supports Scottish Government nature and climate objectives. In addition to the formal consultation, Ministers and officials have met with deer managers and their representatives to discuss issues arising from the consultation.

The circumstances in which any new intervention powers could be used will be set out on the face of the Bill and in the accompanying documents.

Question reference: S6W-32075

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided not to consult with the public on the recent proposed changes to ticket office opening hours on the ScotRail network.

Question reference: S6W-32108

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31765 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 December 2024, what steps it has taken to enable and assist people on indefinite Adult Disability Payments to return to the workforce to some degree.

Adult Disability Payment provides financial support to disabled adults to help mitigate the additional costs of being disabled or having a long-term ill health condition so they can lead their lives more independently and fully. It is not an income replacement benefit and eligibility for Adult Disability Payment is not related to employment.

The Scottish Government are working to improve employment opportunities for those who face barriers in the labour market, including disabled people and those with ill health conditions. Through No One Left Behind, the Scottish Government are delivering person-centred, tailored employability services and in-work support through locally designed services. Between April and June 2024, 30% of participants accessing the service reported a disability, the largest proportion in a single quarter to date.

Work is underway to drive forward the commitment to implement Specialist Employability Support for disabled people across all 32 Local Authorities from Summer 2025 so that they can access secure fulfilling jobs.

Question reference: S6W-32072

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-02170 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2024, in relation to ScotRail’s proposed changes in staff deployment that will make "60 staff actively more available" to support passengers in tackling concerns around antisocial behaviour, at which stations these 60 staff are currently located, and what certainty can be provided to passengers regarding staff presence if it is the case that the booking office is not open at any of those stations.

Staff deployment is an operational matter for ScotRail as the employer.

It is incumbent on ScotRail and Scottish Rail Holdings to demonstrate that aims set out it their proposals to adjust the opening hours of some of ScotRail ticket offices can be achieved. This includes any improvements that can be delivered, which would enable ScotRail staff to help British Transport Police tackle anti-social behaviour.

Question reference: S6W-32109

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Caledonian Sleeper service between Aberdeen and London will return to the regular service of six times a week.

Question reference: S6W-32103

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31765 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 December 2024, how many indefinite awards of Adult Disability Payments are currently ongoing (a) overall and (b) for mental health-related claims only.

Social Security Scotland routinely publishes information on Adult Disability Payment applications and caseload, broken down by disability condition. No information on the number of indefinite awards made as a result of Adult Disability Payment applications is currently published.

As of 31 October 2024, statistics showed that there were 374,655 clients on the Adult Disability Payment caseload, of which 142,480 had the primary disability condition “Mental and Behavioural Disorders”.

The latest Adult Disability Payment official statistics publication can be found at: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/publications/statistics. The next release of Adult Disability Payment statistics which will cover the period to the end of January 2024, is due to be published on 18 March 2024.

Chamber and committees