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-04351

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports virtual libraries.

Question reference: S6O-04346

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its work on international development and support for humanitarian aid is being used to ensure the safety and security of those who are fleeing war and persecution.

Question reference: S6O-04359

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it and its partner organisations are taking to tackle antisocial behaviour in city centres.

Question reference: S6O-04348

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to maintain arts and cultural programmes.

Question reference: S6O-04370

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its guidance on the use of mobile phones in classrooms.

Question reference: S6O-04355

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action to counter the reported proliferation of child sex abuse images online.

Question reference: S6O-04372

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council regarding the University of Dundee.

Question reference: S6O-04357

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of the Emma Caldwell public inquiry.

Question reference: S6W-34942

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports community ownership of land in urban areas.

Communities in Scotland now have more options than ever before to take ownership of land and assets, including several distinct rights to buy, and they can now choose which route to community ownership best suits their aspirations.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act’s 2003 and 2016 give Urban Communities the right to submit applications under Part 2 (Community Right to Buy), Part 3A (Community Right to Buy Abandoned, Neglected or Detrimental Land) and Part 5 (Right to Buy Land to Further Sustainable Development). The guidance provided in the Scottish Government webpages Community Rights to Buy: introduction - Community Rights to Buy: overview - gov.scot provides communities with the information, forms and tools they require.

Other legal powers and mechanisms available to communities

https://www.gov.scot/policies/community-empowerment/asset-transfer/

https://www.gov.scot/policies/community-empowerment/participation-requests/

https://www.kltr.gov.uk/bona-vacantia/ownerless-property-transfer-scheme-opts/

The Scottish Land Fund(SLF), which is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, offers grants of up to £1 million to help communities take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop projects. The fund was opened to urban groups from April 2016 and currently provides £7.1m per year to support communities.

Question reference: S6W-34562

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 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what new regulations are being considered to enhance the protection of park home residents.

Following a public consultation (https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/change-to-basis-of-pitch-uprating-consultation/), the Scottish Government has confirmed its intention to update the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to change the presumed basis of pitch fee uprating from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index, for both existing and future contracts.

We also propose to make a further change so that the statistical basis for uprating pitch fees can be amended by secondary rather than primary legislation in the future. Provision for the change was included in the Housing Scotland Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March 2024 and is currently at Stage 2. No new regulations are being considered.