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: S6F-02208

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the position set out by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its Concluding Observations on the combined sixth and seventh reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, regarding the legal minimum age of marriage in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18408

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Creative Industries Leadership Group last met, and when it next plans to meet.

Question reference: S6W-17954

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 25 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what independent assessment will take place of the Wellbeing Economy Monitor.

On 4 April I held the first meeting of a group of experts in wellbeing economy, which includes the Carnegie UK Trust, Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and other stakeholders. I have committed to working further with this group as we transition to a Wellbeing Economy. The assessment of the performance measures in the Wellbeing Economy Monitor is currently undertaken by officials, with a clear methodology in terms of measuring change. Given my engagement with the expert group, I am happy to seek their continued views on measuring and reporting. Any updated process should also take account of the conclusions of the ongoing review of Scotland’s National Outcomes to ensure continued alignment. That review is due to conclude in 2024.

Question reference: S6O-02301

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the continuation of the independent contractor model in general practice.

Question reference: S6F-02164

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports of world-leading dementia expert, Craig Ritchie, leaving the NHS and his comments referring to problems with infrastructure and blockages in the system.

Question reference: S6W-17470

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards meeting its Programme for Government 2021-22 commitment to increase the number of employee-owned businesses to 500 by 2030, and what funding is being provided to increase this number.

The latest census on employee owned businesses was undertaken in March 2022. At that time there were 146 Scottish-registered employee-owned businesses and worker co-operatives and 49 non-Scottish registered employee-owned businesses.

Co-Operative Development Scotland, funded through Scottish Enterprise, continues to work to raise awareness of the value of co-operative and employee ownership models and provides specialist advice and support to businesses making the transition to employee ownership.

Question reference: S6W-17471

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Programme for Government 2021-22 commitment to increase the number of employee-owned businesses to 500 by 2030 relates to businesses operating in Scotland, or businesses based in Scotland.

Research has shown that employee-owned businesses and other inclusive ownership models are fairer, more inclusive places to work and as a result enjoy greater financial and social resilience.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to increase the number of employee owned businesses seeks to widen the benefits of employee ownership to as many businesses and as many employee-owners as possible across Scotland. For this reason the number relates to businesses operating in and based in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17469

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when updated figures will be available on the number of employee-owned businesses that are (a) based and (b) operating in Scotland.

Figures on employee owned businesses in Scotland are collated every two years in a census exercise commissioned by Co-operative Development Scotland and published shortly thereafter. The last census was undertaken in February and March 2022

At that time there were 146 Scottish-registered employee-owned businesses and worker co-operatives and 49 non-Scottish registered employee-owned businesses. The census revealed that the Scottish registered EOB's and worker co-operatives have a combined turnover of £691m and employ 5,350 people.

Question reference: S6W-16683

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evaluated the outcomes of the specialist domestic abuse courts in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and, if not, whether it has any plans to do so.

Question reference: S6W-16685

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to roll out domestic abuse courts across Scotland.

The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, which was passed unanimously by this Parliament, provides that it is the responsibility of the Lord President as Head of the independent judiciary and of Sheriffs Principal, to ensure the efficient disposal of business through Scotland’s courts, including sheriff courts.

Where the Lord President, in consultation with the relevant Sheriff Principal, considers that it is appropriate to establish a specialism in domestic abuse cases in a particular sheriffdom, they are able to do so.

There is no requirement for the involvement or approval of the Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Parliament.