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-29450

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out a review of the support required by local authorities to ensure that there is robust enforcement of the legislation that covers the private rented sector.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill includes a package of reforms to the private rented sector which are in the interests of both tenants and responsible landlords. Should Parliament pass the legislation, it is intended that a full review will be undertaken of the support required by local authorities to ensure robust enforcement in the PRS. This will include an assessment of the enforcement provisions and the resource required to adequately support this.

Question reference: S6W-29445

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to undertake a comprehensive review of the landlord registration system, spanning people, processes and systems.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with local authorities on the processes and operation of the landlord register digital platform, which is maintained and updated on an ongoing basis.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill includes a package of important reforms to the private rented sector which are in the interest of both tenants and responsible landlords. Should Parliament pass the legislation, it is intended that a full review of the current landlord registration regime will be undertaken, taking account of the impact of the new measures.

Question reference: S6O-03726

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of senior lawyers seeking the introduction of a domestic abuse register.

Question reference: S6W-29168

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans on re-opening the Fair Start Scotland (FSS) employability service to new referrals.

Question reference: S6W-29169

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently employed directly or indirectly by the Scottish Government to deliver the Fair Start Scotland (FSS) employability service.

Question reference: S6W-29265

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan 2021-24 to include further focus on the intersectionality of women’s health inequalities, sexual health services, pain, chronic conditions and mental health.

The next phase of the Women’s Health Plan is in the early stages of development.

The ambition of the Women’s Health Plan is that women and girls enjoy the best possible health, throughout their lives. This remains the ambition of the Scottish Government and will continue to be our guiding principle as we consider our next steps for the Women’s Health Plan following the end of this initial three year phase in August 2024.

This next phase will be developed in collaboration with women and girls, including our lived experience stakeholder group, clinical experts, other relevant stakeholders and our Women’s Health Champion, using the most up-to-date evidence base.

Any future priorities will be determined in partnership with our stakeholders, and informed by women and girls, so are yet to be decided.

Question reference: S6O-03710

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, which showed a 22% rise in crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 in a single year.

Question reference: S6W-29262

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 4 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reform the public sector equality duty by producing regulations that aim to improve outcomes for people with protected characteristics.

The Scottish Government is taking forward a phased approach to improvement, which will include efforts to enhance the regulatory regime in Scotland, within the limits of devolved competence. We intend on progressing key initiatives, including our approach to inclusive communications, pay gap reporting, and utilising ministerial powers under Regulation 11. We are also considering insights from commissioned international research to inform our policies.

However, after careful consideration, we will not pursue regulatory changes for inclusive communications at this time. I have updated stakeholders on this work in a communication on 14 August, 2024, reinforcing our commitment to equitable outcomes across the public sector.

Question reference: S6W-29264

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to create a permanent national "fund to leave" for women experiencing domestic abuse.

The Scottish Government received the final evaluation of the fund to leave pilot from Scottish Women’s Aid in August. This has fed into a wider assessment of the pilot looking at how it delivered against its objectives; how it improved outcomes for women and/or prevented their homelessness; and what lessons were learned during the pilot. The assessment is nearing completion and we will then be in a position to set out next steps.

Question reference: S6O-03673

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to assist local authorities with repairing potholes, in light of reports of the detrimental impact that large numbers of potholes are having on drivers across Scotland.