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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-34180

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on media training for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in each year since 2018, broken down by department.

Question reference: S6W-35130

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-34613

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much electricity has been generated by any solar panels installed on government-owned buildings in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-34611

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated carbon emissions savings have been as a result of installing solar panels on government-owned buildings in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-34610

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been of installing solar panels on government-owned buildings in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-34564

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for residents who are in dispute with park home site owners.

Disputes with a site owner about agreements under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 are decided in the Sheriff Court in Scotland. Residents would usually be advised to seek independent legal advice if they believe a site owner is not meeting their legal obligations.

The Scottish Government funds a consumer service, Advice Direct Scotland (ADS), that provides clear, practical advice on all consumer issues to people in Scotland and can refer cases to a local Trading Standards team. Shelter Scotland also has information about Mobile Homes on its website.

In addition to the formal processes for resolving any dispute, if the site operator is a member of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association a resident can approach them. They cannot make a decision in a dispute between a site owner and a resident but they do offer a conciliation service which aims to assist the parties to reach agreement.

The Scottish Confederation of Park Home Residents Associations also provides useful information and support to help residents.

Question reference: S6W-34571

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support residents in cases where park home sites are sold or transferred to new owners.

Scottish Government does not have a role in the sale or transfer of sites between owners. Under the terms of residential mobile home site licencing, anyone who applies for a site licence as the result of the sale or transfer of a site will need to meet the license conditions set by the local authority. This includes completing a 'fit and proper person test' to make sure the person holding the site licence (and the person who manages the site, if it's someone else) is an appropriate person to have one.

Question reference: S6W-34566

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors and enforces compliance with existing regulations for park home sites.

Local authorities are the licensing authority for permanent residential mobile home sites in their area and are responsible for setting the licence conditions and enforcing them if breached.

To ensure a degree of consistency, under section 5(6) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, the Scottish Government publishes guidance (https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-local-authorities-licensing-system-mobile-homes-sites-permanent-residents/) to local authorities on how to operate the licencing system effectively. This includes a set of model standards (https://www.gov.scot/publications/model-standards-residential-mobile-home-site-licences/) for sites which covers issues such as site safety and maintenance, supply of utilities, roads, gateways and traffic routes as well as pedestrian routes. Different organisations have responsibility for enforcing the range of regulations for different services on sites.

Pitch agreements for permanent residential mobile home sites are regulated by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 which sets out the rights and responsibilities of site owners and mobile home owners. Disputes under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 are heard by the Sheriff Court.

Question reference: S6W-34496

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31037 by Jenny Gilruth on 15 November 2024, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making in taking forward its work to update the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967, and by what date it plans to re-consult on the regulations.

The Scottish Government intends to refresh and modernise the School Premises Regulations (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) to ensure that they meet the needs of pupils and schools in Scotland. The Scottish Government still intends to re-consult this year on the Regulations.

Scottish Government officials are taking steps to engage with relevant stakeholders and will be reaching out to further interested parties.

Question reference: S6W-34563

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 21 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that park home site owners comply with safety and maintenance standards.

Local authorities are the licensing authority for permanent residential mobile home sites in their area and are responsible for setting the licence conditions and enforcing them if breached.

To ensure a degree of consistency, under section 5(6) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, the Scottish Government publishes guidance (https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-local-authorities-licensing-system-mobile-homes-sites-permanent-residents/) to local authorities on how to operate the licencing system effectively. This includes a set of model standards (https://www.gov.scot/publications/model-standards-residential-mobile-home-site-licences/) for sites which covers issues such as site safety and maintenance, supply of utilities, roads, gateways and traffic routes as well as pedestrian routes. Different organisations have responsibility for enforcing safety standards, depending on the service provided.