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-02944

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to help protect consumers from online scams.

The Scottish Government works closely with CyberScotland Partners including Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help protect the public from cyber threats and supports the publishing of a regular CyberScotland Bulletin which references content from Police Scotland, NCSC, SCVO, Scottish Business Resilience Centre, GetSafeOnline, Take5, Trading Standards Scam Share and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland.

On 19 March 2021, we published Scotland’s Scams Prevention, Awareness & Enforcement Strategy, which will facilitate a more coordinated approach to tackling scams in Scotland. The strategy introduces a new framework for tackling scams, with an emphasis on: disrupting scams at source; building capacity, skills and resilience amongst individuals to avoid the risk that scams pose; streamlining the reporting and advice landscape so that people can access the right support at the right time to meet their needs; and improving coordination and intelligence sharing between frontline advice providers, enforcement bodies and wider advocacy organisations.

We encourage anyone who identifies a suspicious email to forward it to [email protected] and to report any suspicious scam websites using the NCSC Scam Website Reporting Service ( https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website ). Any victims of online scams or fraud should report to Police Scotland by calling 101

Question reference: S6W-02938

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have indicated that they plan to introduce the workplace parking levy.

The discretionary power to set up workplace parking licensing (WPL) schemes is intended as a tool for local authorities to use among a suite of measures when developing their local transport strategies. Depending on local circumstances, WPL schemes have the potential to encourage the use of more sustainable travel modes, reducing congestion, improving air quality and reducing emissions. The Scottish Government has recently concluded a consultation on the regulatory framework and supporting guidance which will underpin local authorities’ WPL schemes, with a view to this being in force in 2022. Once these are in place, it will be for local authorities to decide whether they wish to implement WPL locally and to shape proposals to suit local circumstances.

City of Edinburgh Council has included plans to take forward a WPL scheme as part of its published City Mobility Plan 2021-2030.

Local authorities will be required to undertake a public consultation and impact assessments before implementing a WPL scheme.

Question reference: S6W-02931

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent buy it on procurement from small businesses in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.

We recognise the massive role that SMEs and micro businesses play across public procurement in Scotland and regard their success as key to unlocking opportunities for all, through fostering apprenticeships, jobs and economic growth.

£13.3 billion worth of public procurement spend in 2019-20 has been analysed. We know the size of the supplier for £11.7 billion of spend and £5.4 billion (46.2%) of this went to SMEs.

The Small Business Survey Scotland 2019 Small Business Survey Scotland 2019 found that 24 per cent of SME employers in Scotland had actually done business for the public sector in the past 12 months compared to 22 per cent for the UK as a whole Small Business Survey UK 2019 . This survey found that, of those SME employers in Scotland that have worked for the public sector in the past 12 months, the greatest share (55 per cent) reported that local authorities were their main customer. This is higher than the UK as a whole at 44 per cent.

A copy of the table detailing the value of core Scottish Government procurement spend with small to medium sized enterprises for the period 2007-2008 to 2020-2021 within UK local authority areas, based on data contained in the Scottish Procurement Information Hub, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 62701).

Question reference: S6F-00319

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that, in the last year, ministers overturned almost 50% of planning applications.

Question reference: S6W-02942

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports there have been of dementia patients being moved between wards at night (boarding) in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-02945

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend breast cancer screening for women over 80.

The age ranges for each of the screening programmes, including the breast screening programme, are based on evidence about the risks and benefits of screening people at different ages. They are developed in line with advice from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which informs decisions taken across the UK on screening programmes, including those taken by the Scottish Government. Currently their recommendation is to invite women aged between 50 and 70 for routine breast screening every three years.

The UK NSC review their recommendations as new evidence that could improve outcomes emerges. The previous review cycle for the breast screening programme was completed in 2019 and the next cycle is estimated to complete in 2022-2023.

Women over the age of 71 usually have the option to self-refer into the breast screening programme, however this option is currently paused to allow the programme to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and will resume as soon as capacity allows.

In the meantime, it remains important for women at any age to be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and to report any concerns to a GP so that these can be thoroughly investigated. More information on symptoms can be found on the NHS Inform website at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/breast-cancer-female#symptoms-of-breast-cancer.

Question reference: S6W-02934

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many planning decisions have been called in by ministers in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-02946

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to appoint a new National Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-02943

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it offers to help improve online access to local authority services.

The ability to access public services offered online by local authorities and other public bodies is critical, and our experiences of the pandemic have highlighted the pressing need to close the digital divide.

Since May 2020 the Scottish Government has invested £48 million through the Connecting Scotland programme to provide a device, connectivity, as well as training and support to those on low incomes, allowing them to realise the full benefits of being online, including accessing local authority services.

Connecting Scotland is delivered in collaboration with key partners, including local authorities, COSLA, SCVO and third sector organisations.

The recently published report Connecting Scotland - A Year in View sets out the scale of the investment and the impact of the programme. So far, Connecting Scotland has brought 40,000 people online and is on the way to reaching 60,000 by the end of 2021. As set out in the Programme for Government, by the end of this Parliament, we will ensure Connecting Scotland has supported up to 300,000 households to get online, backed by £200 million of investment.

Question reference: S6W-02947

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a new national strategy for palliative and end of life care.

Year 1999-2021	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
Total called in cases	29	31	22	14	19	38	18	18	19	14	8	9	5	3	5	10	8	6	6	6	9	9	5