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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Displaying 3333 questions Show Answers
Question reference: S6W-24125
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 8 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances there have been in the last 12 months, in the form of total prisoner weeks, where a prisoner has been unable to shower at least twice a week for any reason.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-24120
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 8 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many prison cells housing the general prison population and those in solitary confinement do not allow direct access to (a) artificial lighting sufficient for reading purposes and (b) natural light, and where in the prison estate any such cells are located.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-24090
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the review of home slaughter guidance being undertaken by Food Standards Scotland to be completed, and whether it will publish its findings.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-24089
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 January 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to piloting an extension of the on-farm seasonal slaughter arrangements for poultry to the beef and lamb sectors.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-24086
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many court hearings have been (a) postponed or (b) cancelled due to reportedly ongoing issues with the Scottish Prison Service's prisoner escort services.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-24085
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many court hearings that were redirected to Aberdeen or Inverness, due to the pause to solemn criminal business in island courts, have been (a) delayed, (b) postponed and (c) cancelled due to the failure or inability of a witness or complainer to attend proceedings on the date and time summoned.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-24087
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases that would have otherwise taken place in island courts have now been heard at "hub" courts in (a) Inverness and (b) Aberdeen as a result of the pause to solemn criminal business in island courts, broken down by affected island court.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-23747
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23651 by Siobhian Brown on 7 December 2023, as part of its plans to consult on marriage law reforms, whether it will consult on introducing so-called "no-fault" divorce, not requiring irretrievable marital breakdown.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-23748
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23651 by Siobhian Brown on 7 December 2023, as part of its plans to consult on marriage law reforms, whether it will consult on abolishing for opposite-sex couples, as well as same-sex couples, the rule that marriage is voidable by reason of impotence.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-23761
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2023
- Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 20 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20734 by Siobhian Brown on 30 August 2023, what its position is on whether the same cited considerations for same-sex sexual infidelity being treated as unreasonable behaviour or non-cohabitation could also apply to opposite-sex adultery, and, if it considers this could be the case, what its position is on whether the existence of adultery as a grounds for divorce is redundant.
Answer
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