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-21650

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide guidance on physical restraint in educational settings.

The Scottish Government held a public consultation on the draft of new physical intervention in schools guidance in 2022.

We are carefully considering all responses received on this sensitive topic and a consultation analysis report is being prepared for my consideration by education officials.

I recognise there has been a delay to this work. We remain committed to publishing the final guidance as soon as possible following the completion of the consultation analysis.

We recognise that there have been calls for further legislation. Alongside the publication of the guidance, and in line with our original commitments, we are exploring options to strengthen the legal framework in this area during the course of this parliamentary term. This includes the option of placing the guidance on a statutory basis.

Question reference: S6W-20369

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 August 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 2 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Scottish Parliament on the Fiscal Framework review.

I met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen on 20 July to discuss the review of the Scottish Government’s Fiscal Framework.

Following a series of negotiations, we have agreed on an updated Fiscal Framework, which will be published today. This follows the completion of an independent report into the Scottish Government’s block grant adjustments, which will also be published today.

This agreement updates the 2016 Fiscal Framework following a Parliament’s worth of experience and helps to keep the Scottish Government’s devolution settlement up to date.

Alongside this agreement both governments acknowledged the important independent work undertaken by Audit Scotland and the Scottish Fiscal Commission in providing scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s finances. Both Governments reaffirmed their support for these bodies and the calls from the Finance and Public Administration committee to increase this reporting as set out in their letter to the Commission of May 2023. Both governments noted that the Framework for Audit and Accountability which sits alongside the Scottish Government’s Fiscal Framework will also be reviewed in due course.

I would also like to thank the Finance and Public Administration Committee for its contribution to the public discourse on the Framework since 2016, including the evidence submitted to the call for stakeholder input to the Independent Report, and which have informed this revised agreement.

Question reference: S6W-19286

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series.

I am pleased to inform the Parliament that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and is today publishing Creating a Modern Constitution for an Independent Scotland.

The fourth paper in the Building a New Scotland series sets out the proposals for developing a written constitution for an independent Scotland, providing the opportunity to replace the sovereignty of the Westminster Parliament with the sovereignty of the people in Scotland.

The paper sets out how the people of Scotland would have the direct opportunity to shape and build a better country. It contains this Government’s proposals for how an independent Scotland could put in place an ambitious written constitution, that would enshrine and protect rights. A written constitution for Scotland, designed by the people who live here, could also protect key features of Scotland’s democracy, such as the Scottish Parliament and the courts, and provide constitutional recognition of the NHS in Scotland, giving people the right to access a system of health care, available free at the point of need.

The Scottish Government intends to seek agreement of the Parliamentary Bureau to a debate on this paper in the next week.

The next paper in the Building a New Scotland series will give more detail on citizenship in an independent Scotland and will be published in the summer.

Building a New Scotland: Creating a Modern Constitution for an Independent Scotland is available to view on the Scottish Government website from today at www.gov.scot/newscotland .

Question reference: S6W-18222

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance medical education in relation to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in medical schools.

Question reference: S6W-18221

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance continuous professional development (CPD) among clinicians, in relation to awareness of the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

The Scottish Government’s Neurological Care and Support Framework 2020-25 sets out our vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), can access the care and support they need to live well.

Under the Framework we have funded Action for ME and partner organisations to promote and disseminate an online learning module authored by Dr Nina Muirhead, on ME/CFS for GPs and health professionals, which aims to support person-centred care, informed by good practice and current research.

In June 2021, the Scottish Government presented the online learning module to the Scottish Deans Medical Education Group who agreed to review the module with the view of introducing it into the medical schools’ respective curricula.

In addition to Scottish Government activities, we understand that NHS Education for Scotland are currently finalising a Practice Based Small Group Learning CPD module for GPs, Pharmacist and Nurses working in General Practice/Primary Care.

Question reference: S2O-12498

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 29 March 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve signage for access to the Cairngorms from the A9.

Question reference: S2W-31427

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2007
Current Status: Answered by Johann Lamont on 16 February 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it has incurred to date in (a) legal and (b) court costs in pursuing the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s application).

Question reference: S2W-31428

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2007
Current Status: Answered by Johann Lamont on 16 February 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it expects to incur in (a) legal and (b) court costs in pursuing the case of The Scottish Ministers versus The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s application).

Question reference: S2W-31401

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2007
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what professional qualifications are held by staff employed by Fisheries Research Services at Freshwater Laboratory Faskally.

All staff at FreshwaterLaboratory Faskally hold the qualifications required by the Scottish Executive Payand Grading Benchmark Guidance. This information is given in pages 1 and 2 of theSE Pay and Grading Benchmark Guidance, a copy of which has been placed inthe Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41684). Any additional specialistexperience or formal qualifications necessary for individual posts is stated inrecruitment advertisements and will be held by the staff member in post.

Question reference: S2W-31404

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2007
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 February 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacant staff posts at Fisheries Research Services’ (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally have had to be re-advertised in each year since 2000.

Details of vacant posts,applications and re-advertisements at Fisheries Research Services are asfollows:

Dates	FRS Location	Number of Vacancies	Number of Applications	Number of Re-Advertisements
1 April 2004 – 31 March 2005	Marine Laboratory	11	195	1
1 April 2004 – 31 March 2005	Freshwater Laboratory	1	5	0
1 April 2005 – 31 March 2006	Marine Laboratory	7	57	1
1 April 2005 – 31 March 2006	Freshwater Laboratory	7	100	0
1 April 2006 – present	Marine Laboratory	13	166	3
1 April 2006 - present	Freshwater Laboratory	2	27	1

Figures for the years 1 April 2000 – 31 March 2004 arenot held centrally.