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: S5W-25546

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 8 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the economic impact on Scotland of the current oil price being $60 a barrel, and how this compares with the price of $140 in 2014.

The global fall in the oil price in 2014 resulted in a challenging environment for the oil and gas industry, and in particular its workforce and the supply chain, with the resulting economic impacts being felt most strongly in the North East of Scotland. Over that period the industry demonstrated strong resilience to remain competitive and continues to be a crucial part of Scotland’s economy and energy mix. The strength and diversity of Scotland’s economic base has resulted in continued economic growth over the period.

In 2014, oil and gas extraction was responsible for £15.5 billion, or 9.6%, of Scotland’s GDP. The equivalent value for 2018 was £16.2 billion, or 9%, of Scotland’s GDP.

In 2014, the approximate sales income from oil and gas produced in Scotland was estimated to be £20.7 billion. The equivalent value for 2018 was £24.8 billion.

In 2014, employment in the extraction of oil and gas and support services was 33,000. The equivalent figure for 2018 was 25,000.

The sector and its skilled workforce has a vital part to play in Scotland’s energy transition, including the deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage and supporting the development of a strong hydrogen industry in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-25547

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 8 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will recommence the publication of its oil and gas analytical bulletin.

The Scottish Government produces regular publications providing detailed information on oil and gas.

Oil and Gas Production Statistics 2018 was published in September 2019 and contains estimates of oil and gas production activity in Scotland, including production volumes, approximate sales income, operating costs and capital expenditure. This publication can be found via https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/oilgas2018

The Annual Compendium of Scottish Energy Statistics was published in May 2019 and contains statistics and analysis of the Scottish oil and gas industry and wider energy sector. This publication can be found via https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/Energy/ACSES

Further detailed energy statistics are regularly updated and published in the Energy Statistics Database. This can be found via https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/Energy/Database

Question reference: S5W-25416

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not published any monthly spending data for the last four months and, in the interests of transparency and accountability and the Parliament's ability to scrutinise its work, whether, as a matter of urgency, it will now do so.

Question reference: S5W-25415

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to publish data on its spending over £25,000 on a monthly basis, and in the interests of transparency and accountability and the Parliament's ability to scrutinise its work, whether, as a matter of urgency, it will publish the data for each month since November 2018.

Question reference: S5W-25414

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to publish data on its spending over £25,000 on a monthly basis, for what reason its last publication of such information, which covered August, September and October 2018, was on 10 May 2019, and what its response is to concerns that not publishing such information impacts on its transparency and accountability and the Parliament's ability to scrutinise its work.

Question reference: S5W-25398

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and specialist health professional support available for hospice provision and respite breaks for young adults with complex and rare conditions.

Question reference: S5W-25399

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) hospices, (b) charities and (c) health and social care partnerships on the availability of hospice provision and respite breaks for young adults with complex and rare conditions.

Question reference: S5W-25397

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what NHS funding and commissioning mechanisms are in place for hospice provision and respite breaks for young adults with complex and rare conditions.

The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 makes clear that it is the responsibility of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to plan and commission services for their area, using the integrated budget under their control, to meet the specific needs of their local population. This includes hospice care and respite services.

Earlier this year representatives from the Integration Joint Board Chief Officers’ Group and independent Hospices agreed a national level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between IJBs and independent Scottish Hospices. A central principle of the MOU is to establish effective, reciprocal relationships between IJBs and Hospices to help provide sustainability for hospice services and move away from a transactional relationship. Scottish Government officials are providing support in this work.

Additionally, our implementation plan for rare diseases, which was published 2014, includes 51 commitments to improve the care and support for those living with complex and rare conditions. A progress report, published 2018, sets out the most recent work being taken forward and can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/rare-disease-scotland-progress-report/

Question reference: S5O-03654

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for pupils with additional support needs.

Question reference: S5W-24986

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many places there have been at Scottish universities for (a) Scottish-domiciled and (b) fee paying students to study medicine in each year since 2014, also broken down by institution.

(a) The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) allocates funded places for eligible Scottish domiciled and EU students. I refer the member to Scottish Parliament information Centre (SPICe) Bib number 60970.

In AY 2019-20 the SFC set a minimum core intake target for eligible Scottish domiciled and EU students studying medicine.

(b) The SFC does not allocate funded places for rest of UK or international students, however these students are reflected in the overall intake targets.