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: S6O-04163

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available from the Office of the Public Guardian for people accessing the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Question reference: S6O-04167

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the reoffending rate.

Question reference: S6W-32081

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any obstacles that exist for coastal communities seeking to undertake restoration of marine environments, including (a) planning and (b) financial.

In March this year we consulted on legislative proposals to facilitate marine nature restoration. In the consultation document we set out concerns raised by community groups and restoration organisations with regards to the complexity of the regulatory environment for restoration projects. In response to these concerns we developed proposals to address one element of the complex issues, and while there was broadly support for the proposals, there was a lack of consensus on the detail of the scheme proposed. We will continue to listen carefully to restoration groups and coastal communities throughout the development of the marine and coastal restoration plan, and will identify actions to address barriers to restoration as part of the plan.

Question reference: S6W-32139

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding their protection from pollution and damage, what information it has on how many chalk streams there are in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-31965

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on subsidising teacher training in each financial year since 2010-11.

Initial Teacher Education is fully funded by the Scottish Government, for those students within the controlled subject numbers.

The following table shows funding for publicly funded student places provided by the Scottish Government to providers of Initial Teacher Education and students since 2010-11, based on academic years.

This funding covers tuition fee, student support and teaching grant for activity in addition to the baseline funding provided by Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The student support element assists students to overcome financial barriers to engaging in higher education.

Academic Year	Total (£)
2024-25	14,161,699
2023-24	13,999,830
2022-23	16,490,301
2021-22	14,622,262
2020-21	15,747,780
2019-20	15,561,246
2018-19	13,881,039
2017-18	13,963,750
2016-17	11,025,505
2015-16	9,251,940
2014-15	7,157,020
2013-14	5,616,380
2012-13	3,629,799
2011-12	2,495,655
2010-11	2,971,110

Question reference: S6W-32440

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 December 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its annual progress report on the NHS Recovery Plan for 2024.

I am pleased to announce that the NHS Recovery Plan annual progress report for 2024 has been published today.

We remain committed to delivering on the actions set out in the NHS Recovery Plan, and this annual report sets out the significant progress we have made over the course of this year.

However, it is vital that we recognise, now more than ever, how much has changed since the Plan was first published. Many of the actions set out in the Plan have now been delivered, and where appropriate, as we continue to focus on supporting the ongoing recovery and reform of our health and social care services, alternative approaches to action delivery are underway.

With refreshed commitments as set out in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2024-25, we will continue to align the NHS Recovery Plan progress with ongoing reform work and will continue to work closely with our partners across the health and social care system, Local Government and wider stakeholder partnerships to achieve this. https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836911579

Question reference: S6W-32442

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 December 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what work is underway to improve national flood resilience.

We know that flooding in Scotland will become more frequent and more severe in the decades ahead. As our biggest climate adaptation challenge, we need to do all we can to be prepared for this. That is why today we will publish Scotland’s first Flood Resilience Strategy. Part of our Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029, this strategy will help us meet this challenge and support the changes we need to make over the long-term to make our communities more flood resilient.

Question reference: S6W-32254

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) members of the public and (b) organisations have notified it or its relevant public bodies of unsafe cladding on their buildings in each month since January 2019.

The Scottish Government takes the safety of buildings very seriously and works closely with members of the public and organisations to address concerns about cladding. Since January 2019, notifications regarding potentially unsafe cladding have been received on an ongoing basis. These have been managed in collaboration with relevant public bodies to ensure appropriate actions are taken. The Government continues to prioritise public safety and supports affected parties in addressing these issues.

There are 107 entries in the pilot phase of the Cladding Remediation Programme. Entries in the pilot can comprise a single block or building, or a development, or part of a development consisting of multiple blocks or buildings.

We are aware that pilot assessments have been undertaken for 30 of the pilot entries. A pilot assessment includes any assessment carried out prior to the publication of the Single Building Assessment specification on the 21 June 2024. These numbers relate to known pilot assessments only as developers, home owners or other organisations could have commissioned assessments without informing the Scottish Government and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.

Pilot works to mitigate or remediate risks have started for five of the pilot entries. Works in this context refers to any action taken to address known cladding-related risks, including Urgent Interim Measures. These numbers relate to known works on a pilot entry only, as developers or other organisations could have carried out works without informing the Scottish Government, and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.

Question reference: S6W-32258

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that primary care clinical teams can provide the best (a) prevention, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of chronic kidney disease.

General Practitioners are experienced in preventing, diagnosing, and treating chronic kidney disease and follow established professional guidelines, including those by NICE, in supporting patients through this chronic condition.

Professional clinical management decisions about how best to prevent, diagnose and treat chronic kidney disease by primary care teams are the responsibility of NHS boards and primary care clinicians.

Question reference: S6W-32247

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates work on the new Edinburgh eye hospital will commence.

The 2025-26 draft budget provides £139 million additional investment for health infrastructure, allowing some work to resume on delivering new acute facilities, including the Princes Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

NHS Lothian have been invited to progress the business case and design work, however, the exact timeline has not been established as to when construction will start or when the project will be completed.