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-30733

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the research that it commissioned on the experience of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland during the so-called Tinker Experiment, which was originally due to be completed in September 2024.

Question reference: S6W-30533

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to reduce the number of non-smokers, particularly young people, taking up vaping.

The Scottish Government’s Tobacco and Vaping Framework, published in November 2023, committed to taking action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people.

Alongside the Framework, we launched the Take Hold marketing campaign which successfully increased parents, carers and young people’s awareness of the harms and risks of nicotine addiction from vaping. New resources were also launched on Parent Club, NHS Inform and Young Scot on vaping.

The Scottish Government is committed to aligning with a four-nation approach towards banning the sale and supply of single-use vapes.

In order to align with timescales recently announced by the Welsh and UK governments and provide consistency across the four nations, the Scottish Government will lay legislation to amend the coming into force date in the Scottish regulations banning the sale and supply of these vapes recently passed by the Scottish Parliament from 1 April 2025 to 1 June 2025.

We continue to work closely across the four-nations on the development of the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill to ensure that it reflects Scotland’s public health ambitions and remain hopeful this will be reintroduced as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-30380

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many foreign direct investment recipients there have been in the last five years, broken down by sector.

Data on supported inward investment projects secured and created in Scotland is tracked by Scottish Development International.

Supported inward investment projects (Foreign Direct Investment and Inward Investment from the Rest of the UK) over the last five years is as follows

Sector Number of Projects
2019-20 to 2023-24

Technology & Advanced Engineering 149
Energy 73
Financial & Business Services 59
Life Sciences 46
Food & Drink 39
Tourism 39
Aerospace Defence & Marine 26
Chemical Services 14
Other (e.g Textiles, Creative Industries, 47
Constructions, Education

Question reference: S6W-30414

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Energy Skills Partnership to discuss the coordination of skills initiatives across Scotland.

The Scottish Government engages frequently with the Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) to discuss their work supporting Scotland’s college sector. Skills officials last met with ESP directly in August 2024.

The Scottish Funding Council funds ESP to act as the college sector lead for the transition to net zero, supporting institutions in developing their capability, capacity and curriculum pathways. SFC are represented on the ESP Advisory Board and maintain regular contact with ESP.

Question reference: S6W-30381

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of foreign direct investments over the last five years can be classified as greenfield.

Question reference: S6W-30416

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Scottish Renewables to discuss employment and training initiatives for the renewable energy sector.

The Scottish Government regularly meets with Scottish Renewables to discuss a wide range of matters related to the energy transition. The First Minister met Claire Mack, the Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, in August, and this meeting included discussion of skills, workforce and training in the renewables sector.

Following this, the Minister for Higher and Further Education and the Minister for Climate Action met Claire Mack, along with other partners, in September to discuss the needs of the energy sector.

Question reference: S6O-03904

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to help secure the future of community libraries.

Question reference: S6O-03906

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on levels of compliance with ScotRail’s alcohol ban.

Question reference: S6O-03905

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to support oil and gas companies to collaborate with renewables companies to test and deploy new technologies.

Question reference: S6O-03902

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding cross-border machinery theft in rural areas, including the Scottish Borders.