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-32103

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the economic and cultural impact of the BBC on Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the appointment of the new chair of the Corporation, including the role that the Commissioner of Public Appointments will play in the process, and whether it has sought to ensure that the process used (a) is transparent with an open competition criteria and (b) will require any preferred candidate to (i) uphold the BBC Royal Charter and draft Framework Agreement and (ii) fully support the licence fee as the BBC’s funding mechanism.

Given Scottish Ministers’ formal consultative role in reviewing the BBC Charter and our strong interest in its independence and effective governance, I have written to the UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ahead of the appointments processes at both the BBC and Ofcom. I have reiterated my expectation for fair, impartial and transparent appointment processes that result in the appointment of Chairs who will advance the mission of the BBC and ensure the delivery of its public purposes for all in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-32257

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what planning it is carrying out to support pilot performances for live performance venues and companies.

Following the First Minister’s announcement on 21 September of further measures to protect the population from the spread of COVID-19, the Scottish Government has paused the pilot events programme. Prior to this, discussions had been underway with a number of stakeholders about potential pilots, including live performance venues and companies. Over the coming weeks, the Scottish Government will continue work with stakeholders to restart the pilot events programme when it is considered safe to do so.

Question reference: S5O-04626

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that independent foodbanks have seen at least a doubling in demand for emergency food parcels compared with last year.

Question reference: S5W-31567

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the meeting of the National Partnership for Culture on 24 June 2020 at which the group agreed to request information from it regarding “the financial landscape for culture, including budgets, gift aid and efficacy of spending”, whether this request was received and, if so, whether it will publish the information that it provided in response.

Scottish Government culture officials received the request for information regarding the financial landscape for culture from the National Partnership for Culture on 24 June 2020.

On 30 June 2020, Scottish Government officials provided to the National Partnership weblinks to the following documents: Putting Artists In The Picture: A Sustainable Arts Funding System For Scotland (CTEEA 2019); the Programme for Government 2019-2020; Local government 2019-2020 provisional outturn; Creative Scotland's Annual Report 2018-2019, data published by the Charity Aid Foundation on charitable giving, and Scottish Government webpages giving an overview of support to culture and heritage. This information has therefore already been published.

Related to the original request, Scottish Government officials later provided a draft report commissioned by Creative Scotland on Local Government Support for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries in Scotland. The report - delayed due to COVID19 - is being finalised and will be published later in 2020.

Question reference: S5W-31569

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the priorities and work plan paper of the National Partnership for Culture will be submitted to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture.

Question reference: S5W-31568

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Partnership for Culture will next meet, and what subsequent meetings are scheduled.

Question reference: S5W-31571

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what representation the heritage and museums sector has on the National Partnership for Culture.

As outlined in the National Partnership for Culture’s terms of reference, members were selected based on personal qualities, skills, experience and expertise rather than as representatives of any organisation or sector. There is therefore no representation from the heritage and museums sector per se. However, the Chair of the Partnership continues to liaise with a range of stakeholders from across the culture sector, and, in accordance with its remit, continues to invite non-members to participate in themed discussions.

Question reference: S5W-31570

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what role the National Partnership for Culture has had in allocating the £97 million in Barnett consequentials that arose in July 2020, which it has confirmed will be issued to the arts, culture and heritage sector.

The National Partnership for Culture has had no role in allocating funds from the £97m in Barnett consequentials.

However, at its second meeting on 23 July, which was attended by Scottish Government officials, the National Partnership for Culture discussed the £97 million support for the arts, culture and heritage sector, reaching the consensus that this funding should prioritise the ongoing creation of work and creative activities and noted the importance of embedding equality and diversity into decision-making.

These principles are reflected in important elements of the funding package recently announced by Creative Scotland, for example the £5m Sustaining Creative Practice Fund, which will support artists to continue developing new creative work.

Question reference: S5W-31498

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made by the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh following the announcement of its terms of reference in May 2020.

There is a considerable programme of work required to establish an independent statutory Inquiry with separate premises, a dedicated Secretariat and legal team, as well as the necessary infrastructure to manage evidence gathering, hearings and deliberations. The current Coronavirus health pandemic has had an impact on the Scottish Government’s ability to take forward work on the Public Inquiry, as resources needed to be refocused on essential Covid-19 priorities.

Since the announcement of the Terms of Reference in May, my officials have been working with Lord Bracadale and his team to put in place all the resources needed to make an effective start to proceedings, before announcing the formal “setting up date” for the Inquiry. The key appointments of the Secretary, Solicitor, Senior and Junior Counsel to the Inquiry have been made and work continues on the appointment of Assessors and identification of suitable premises. I continue to liaise with Lord Bracadale and will be providing further updates in due course.

Question reference: S5O-04600

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £97 million in UK Government consequentials announced on 5 July for the arts, culture and heritage sectors is still to be allocated, and when a decision will be made on the allocation of any remaining funding.