Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-36393

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Marine Conservation Society 2024 report, State of our Beaches, which records that, compared with 2023, there had been an increase of 7.2% in items of litter found on the beaches surveyed.

The Scottish Government thanks the Marine Conservation Society and all the many volunteers for their excellent work in monitoring beach litter and cleaning our shores. Citizen science is valued, and in combination with data from our scientists and our wider international monitoring programme, it is useful in helping us prioritise policy development to effectively reduce marine litter.

Marine litter is a global challenge and we are working both nationally and internationally to share the development of solutions. We are currently focused on the most problematic of litter items including fishing gear, nurdles, and wet wipes containing plastic. Our work is set out in our Marine Litter Strategy Action Plan, and responsibility for its delivery is shared between the Scottish Government and multiple partners, with progress coordinated through a steering group of which the Marine Conservation Society is a valued member. We are also taking action through our National Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy to reduce land sources of litter which can make their way into our seas.

It takes time for implemented policies and legislation to begin to be reflected in beach litter levels, such as the ban on plastic-stemmed cotton buds from 2019, and the ban on other single-use items including polystyrene food containers from 2022. With more measures and legislation expected in the future; banning wet wipes containing plastic and a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, we expect to see these litter levels reduce.

Question reference: S6W-36087

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, Investigation into the care and treatment of Mr TU, published in March 2023, whether it will introduce measures to ensure that all remand prisoners are provided with suitable accommodation and support upon unexpected release, and if this is the case, what the timeline is for implementing such measures.

Question reference: S6W-36317

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, to ensure timely implementation, what milestones have been set for the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Service audit.

Scottish Government commissioned the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit in July 2024 following a scoping exercise and business case by Public Health Scotland (PHS). PHS are responsible for the delivery and implementation of the FLS audit, which includes setting delivery and evaluation milestones.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-35534 and S6W-35567 on 21 March 2025, S6W-36002 on 1 April 2025 and S6W-36035 on 17 April 2025

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-35591

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide a list of all organisations and groups that have exhibited at the Scottish Parliament, broken down by how many times each has exhibited, and which MSP sponsored the exhibition, since May 2021.

The list below includes all organisations and individuals that have exhibited at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Member-sponsored exhibitions programme, including the number of times they have done so, this session:

#MEAction Scotland - Ben Macpherson MSP
2023 UCI Cycling World Championships - Clare Adamson MSP
Aberdeen Minerals Ltd - Jackie Dunbar MSP
Action Against Stalking - Sharon Dowey MSP
Advice Scotland Direct - Paul O'Kane MSP
Alcohol Focus Scotland - Gillian Mackay MSP
Alzheimer Scotland - Fulton MacGregor MSP
Amey Limited - Sarah Boyack MSP
Art in Healthcare - Sarah Boyack MSP
ARTconnects: The Migration Blanket - Paul Sweeney MSP
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry - Kenneth Gibson MSP
Asthma + Lung UK Scotland - Annie Wells MSP
Asthma and Allergy Foundation - Michael Matheson MSP
Asthma UK/British Lung Foundation Scotland - Alexander Stewart MSP
AstraZeneca - Alexander Stewart MSP
BBC Scotland - Sarah Boyack MSP
Bhopal Saathi - Sarah Boyack MSP
Blood Bikes Scotland - Alexander Stewart MSP
Bodyworks - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
British Heart Foundation - Christine Grahame MSP
British Transport Police - Russell Findlay MSP
Carers Scotland - Gillian Mackay MSP
Cats Protection - Marie McNair MSP
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland - Bob Doris MSP
Christian Aid, Eco Congregation Scotland & Operation Noah: Get Your Skates On - Ross Greer MSP
CILIP Scotland - Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP
CIPD - Tess White MSP
Climate Café CIC - Mark Ruskell MSP
Competition and Markets Authority - Stuart McMillan MSP
Craft Scotland and Panel - Michael Marra MSP
Crichton Carbon Centre - Ariane Burgess MSP
Crisis - Mark Griffin MSP
Crown Estate Scotland - Jenni Minto MSP
Cycling UK - Graham Simpson MSP
Cycling Without Age Scotland - Michael Matheson MSP
Cyrenians - Sarah Boyack MSP
Dignity in Dying Scotland - Liam McArthur MSP
Dogs Trust - Colin Smyth MSP
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
Drinkaware - Jackie Baillie MSP
Dyslexia Scotland - Oliver Mundell MSP
Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council - Foysol Choudhury MSP
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (2) - Emma Harper MSP (1) & Paul Sweeney MSP (1)
Educational Institute of Scotland - Monica Lennon MSP
Elaine Robinson (artist) - Foysol Choudhury MSP
ENABLE Scotland - Paul O'Kane MSP
Energy Industries Council (EIC) - Brian Whittle MSP
Equity - Mark Ruskell MSP
Erskine Veterans Care - Neil Bibby MSP
Fablevision (2) - Paul Sweeney MSP (1) & George Adam MSP (1)
Falling UP - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Family Fund - Bob Doris MSP
Fashion Revolution Scotland - Monica Lennon MSP
Fight Bladder Cancer - Stuart McMillan MSP
Finding Your Feet - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Siobhian Brown MSP
Food Standards Scotland - Paul O’Kane MSP
Forces Children Scotland - Alexander Stewart MSP
Forth Valley Sensory Centre - Michael Matheson MSP
Friends of the Earth Scotland - Mark Ruskell MSP
Friends of Thomas Muir - Rona Mackay MSP
Galloway National Park Association - Colin Smyth MSP
General Dental Council, General Medical Council, Nursing and
Midwifery Council and General Pharmaceutical Council (2) - Anas Sarwar MSP (1) & Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP (1)
Generations Working Together - Carol Mochan MSP
Genetic Alliance UK - Paul McLennan MSP
Glasgow Centre for Population Health - Paul Sweeney MSP
GoFibre - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Golden Threads Group Tapestry Weavers - Daniel Johnson MSP
GREY2K USA Worldwide - Mark Ruskell MSP
Gypsy Traveller History and Future - Maggie Chapman MSP
Health and Social Care Scotland - Jamie Greene MSP
Held In Our Hearts - Stephanie Callaghan MSP
Hey Girls - Paul McLennan MSP
Horticultural Trades Association - Christine Grahame MSP
Hubbub - ACS Clothing Limited - Stephanie Callaghan MSP
Ian Whyte (artist) - Fergus Ewing MSP
Intuitive - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Inverness Women’s Aid/Reina Edmiston Art - Emma Roddick MSP
John Muir Trust - Paul McLennan MSP
Kidney Research UK - Pam Gosal MSP
Kirrie Connections - Graeme Dey MSP
Kooth plc - Paul Sweeney MSP
Lews Castle College UHI - Alasdair Allan MSP
Libereco, Partnership for Human Rights - Willie Rennie MSP
Liquid Gas UK - Liam Kerr MSP
Living Streets Scotland - Foysol Choudhury MSP
Logos Scotland - Murdo Fraser MSP
Lothians Speak Their Name CIC - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Magic Breakfast - Beatrice Wishart MSP
Make 2nds Count - Jeremy Balfour MSP
Marie Curie and University of Glasgow - Evelyn Tweed MSP
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Myeloma UK - Paul O'Kane MSP
National Biodiversity Network Trust - Ariane Burgess MSP
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Clare Adamson MSP
National Mining Museum Scotland - Christine Grahame MSP
National Trust for Scotland - Sharon Dowey MSP
Network Rail Scotland - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Networking Key Services Limited - Foysol Choudhury MSP
NFU Scotland - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Obesity Action Scotland - Clare Haughey MSP
One Parent Families Scotland - Colette Stevenson MSP
Optometry Scotland - Stuart McMillan MSP
Our Seas - Rhoda Grant MSP
Place2Be (2) - Sarah Boyack MSP (1) & Martin Whitfield MSP (1)
Planet Youth - Marie McNair MSP
Planning Aid Scotland - Sarah Boyack MSP
PlusZero - Alasdair Allan MSP
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness - Pam Gosal MSP
Poppyscotland (3) - Presiding Officer (3)
Powering Futures - Michelle Thomson MSP
Quakers in Britain - Michelle Thomson MSP
Recovering Justice/The Scottish Psychedelic Research Group - Pauline McNeill MSP
Relationships Scotland - Emma Harper MSP
Results UK - Miles Briggs MSP
Revive: The coalition for grouse moor reform - Mark Ruskell MSP
Right There - Miles Briggs MSP
RNIB Scotland - Stuart McMillan MSP
Rothesay Pavilion Charity - Clare Adamson MSP
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and MSD - Elena Whitham MSP
Royal College of Occupational Therapists - Emma Harper MSP
Royal Pharmaceutical Society - Jeremy Balfour MSP
RSPB Scotland - Karen Adam MSP
Scotch Whisky Association - Ivan McKee MSP
Scotland Malawi Partnership - Liam McArthur MSP
Scottish Association of Social Work - Fulton MacGregor MSP
Scottish Book Trust - Jackie Baillie MSP
Scottish Coastal Clean Up - Colin Beattie MSP
Scottish Enterprise - Ivan McKee MSP
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations - Collette Stevenson MSP
Scottish Fishermen's Federation - Rachael Hamilton MSP
Scottish Football Museum: Rutherglen Ladies FC - James Dornan MSP
Scottish Grocer's Federation - Gordon MacDonald MSP
Scottish Hazards - Bill Kidd MSP
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Programmes - Paul O'Kane MSP
Scottish Land & Estates - Christine Grahame MSP
Scottish Prison Art - Fulton MacGregor MSP
Scottish Racing - Miles Briggs MSP
Scottish Renewables - Jenni Minto MSP
Scottish SPCA - Emma Harper MSP
Scottish Water - Liam McArthur MSP
Scottish Women's Aid - Monica Lennon MSP
Scottish Youth Parliament (3) - Presiding Officer (3)
SGI-UK Seeds of Hope and Action - Paul McLennan MSP
Shared Lives Plus - Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP
Shetland Islands Council - Beatrice Wishart MSP
Sight Scotland - Stuart McMillan MSP
Skye Arts-Sea, Land & Sky - Emma Roddick MSP
Smart Energy - Liam Kerr MSP
Social Enterprise Scotland - Miles Briggs MSP
Soil Association Scotland - Ariane Burgess MSP
Sovereign Property Partnership - Paul McLennan MSP
SSE Renewables - Paul McLennan MSP
SSEN Transmission - Michael Marra MSP
Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum) - Paul O'Kane MSP
Stena Line, P&O Ferries and Belfast Harbour - Emma Harper MSP
Stroke Association - Gillian Mackay MSP
Suzi Morris (artist) - Ruth Maguire MSP
Team Jak - Jeremy Balfour MSP
The Aiteal Trust - Jackie Baillie MSP
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation/Country Food Trust - Sharon Dowey MSP
The Coalition of Carers in Scotland - Jackie Baillie MSP
The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK - Emma Roddick MSP
The Gift of Grouse - Jim Fairlie MSP
The Larder - Fiona Hyslop MSP
The Leprosy Mission Scotland - Jeremy Balfour MSP
The Munro Society - Liz Smith MSP
The National Lottery Community Fund - Collette Stevenson MSP
The Open University - Clare Adamson MSP
The Royal College of Physicians - Clare Haughey MSP
The Royal Society of Edinburgh - Willie Rennie MSP
The Society of Independent Brewers - Craig Hoy MSP
The Trussell Trust - Claire Baker MSP
The Young Women's Movement - Monica Lennon MSP
Timebanking Scotland - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
TSB Bank - Paul McLennan MSP
Unity Consulting Scotland: Zero Hours Justice - Richard Leonard MSP
University of Edinburgh - Sarah Boyack MSP
University of Parma - Alasdair Allan MSP
University of the West of Scotland - Christina McKelvie MSP
Upstart Scotland - Kaukab Stewart MSP
Victim Support Scotland - Neil Gray MSP
VoiceAbility - Collette Stevenson MSP
WASPI Scotland - Katy Clark MSP
Water Safety Scotland - Clare Adamson MSP
Waverley Care - Gillian Mackay
West Lothian Diabetes Scotland Group - Angela Constance MSP
Women's Support Project - Ruth Maguire MSP
World Horse Welfare, BHS Scotland & Horsescotland - Sharon Dowey MSP
Young Enterprise Scotland - Jackson Carlaw MSP
Young Scot - Karen Adam MSP

Question reference: S6W-36691

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic impact of the recently announced USA import tariffs on Scotland-based businesses, and what representations it has made to the UK Government in response.

We are acutely aware of the risk tariffs on the UK and globally pose on Scottish businesses.

We have carried out initial analysis of trade statistics to understand Scottish exposure to US trade across key products and where that may differ from the UK economy.

The First Minister discussed the matter with the Prime Minister on 11 April and made clear urgent action should be taken to protect Scotland’s economic interests.

Question reference: S6W-36694

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported calls for it to have urgent engagement with the UK Government and international partners regarding securing tariff exemptions for Scotch whisky.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with all our partners to call for a long-term return to tariff free trading that has been mutually beneficial for the Scottish and US spirits sectors, as part of a wider UK-US negotiated solution. I met with the UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security on 2 April to discuss this. The Deputy First Minister met with the US Chamber of Commerce on 3 April and the First Minister met with senior figures in the whisky sector in New York on 7 April to hear directly from the business leaders involved and hosted a business round table which included the Scotch Whisky Association and the Food and Drink Federation on 16 April. The First Minister also met with the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, on the 11 April to discuss tariffs amongst other topics.

Question reference: S6W-36459

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what procedures are in place to ensure that sheriffs and courts have the powers and guidance necessary to override property title issues in the interest of victim safety.

Under section 2 of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, the Lord President as head of the Scottish judiciary is responsible for "making and maintaining appropriate arrangements for the welfare, training and guidance of judicial office holders". Training is delivered through the Judicial Institute, under the direction of the Lord President.

It is for a court to reach a view about the appropriate terms of an order in a particular case based on the existing law and the facts and evidence before them.

There are protection measures available to a person at risk of future abuse by application to a civil court. These include an exclusion order to suspend the legal right of a spouse or civil partner and in some cases, a cohabitant, to live in the family home, for the duration the order is in place. Other conditions can be requested, including preventing a spouse or civil partner from coming within a certain distance of the home, or preventing the removal of any items from the home.

An exclusion order is temporary. It will end, for example, when a married couple divorce or when a civil partnership ends. An exclusion order does not affect who owns or tenants the home, nor prohibits future transactions with the property. Before applying to the court for an exclusion order, the person at risk must have the legal right to live in the family home, either as an owner or tenant or because they have occupancy rights as the spouse or civil partner of person who is so entitled. A non-entitled cohabitant can apply to the civil court for occupancy rights and seek an exclusion order.

The Scottish Law Commission are working on a project at the moment on civil remedies against domestic abuse: Scottish Law Commission :: Aspects of family law

Question reference: S6W-36520

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many households in fuel poverty have had a whole home retrofit, as set out in the December 2021 document, Tackling Fuel Poverty in Scotland.

The Scottish Government funds two programmes targeting households living in or at risk of fuel poverty, Warmer Homes Scotland and Area Based Schemes. Since 2022 these programmes have adopted a `whole house retrofit’ approach based upon national retrofit standards (PAS2035 published by the British Standards Institution). Relevant improvements are installed based upon an individual assessment of the property; in line with technical and regulatory requirements (such as building standards); as well as to reflect the different needs and circumstances of householders.

Since 2022 the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme has delivered retrofit improvements to 8,507 households to this standard (WHS2).

Year	Installed Households
2023-24	1,173
2024-25	7,334
Total	8,507

The number of retrofit improvements delivered through Area Based Schemes since 2013 is published on the Scottish Government website. Area-Based Schemes - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-36218

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS will end the practice of issuing new NHS numbers and changed gender markers to individuals.

The NHS in Scotland uses the Community Health Index (CHI) system for patient records across its IT systems.

There are various reasons why an individual may seek to change their CHI number, including administrative corrections. No medical information is removed from the patient record as part of a CHI change.

There are currently no plans to change existing policies on how CHI records are updated and managed by the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04593

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders about extending the Hospital at Home provision throughout the Borders.

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