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-04946

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 December 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether returning the operation of the Caledonian Sleeper franchise to the terms of the original franchise agreement after 31 March 2022, once the current Emergency Measures Agreement expires, could lead to a default on payment or termination of the contract.

The current Emergency Measures Agreement has been extended until the 28 February 2022. A prior information notice (a technical measure that stems from the relevant procurement regulation) was issued in February 2021 to preserve the Scottish Government’s ability to award a temporary measures agreement from March 2022 should it be necessary at that stage to continue emergency measures type support.

In advance of the expiry of the current Emergency Measures Agreement, the Scottish Government will consider the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of the Sleeper franchise and review the need for any temporary measures agreement.

Question reference: S6W-04940

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 December 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates extending the Caledonian Sleeper franchise Emergency Measures Agreement beyond 31 March 2022 and, if so, what does it anticipate would be the duration of any extension.

The Emergency Measures Agreement, which temporarily varied the terms of the franchise agreement with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd, will expire on 28 February 2022.

A prior information notice (a technical measure that stems from the relevant procurement regulation) was issued in February 2021 to preserve the Scottish Government’s ability to award a temporary measures agreement from March 2022 should it be necessary at that stage to continue emergency measures type support. As the scale and pace of recovery from the impact of the pandemic remains uncertain, the need for such an award, and the duration of any award, is being kept under review.

Question reference: S6W-05043

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the high-rise buildings that have been identified as having cladding that does not meet current building safety standards have had the cladding replaced, and, where the cladding has not been replaced, how many of the identified buildings have (a) a timescale and (b) funding allocated for the required work to be undertaken.

Question reference: S6W-05046

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the locations of the high-rise buildings that have been found to have cladding that requires (a) remediation or (b) replacement.

Question reference: S6W-05045

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects remediation work on high-rise buildings with cladding that does not meet safety standards to be completed, to bring the buildings in line with safety standards.

Question reference: S6W-05044

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £97.1 million received in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government to fund cladding remediation work has been spent.

Question reference: S6W-05042

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) tenants and (b) owner-occupiers who live in high-rise blocks with (i) high pressure laminate and (ii) aluminium composite panel cladding are members of the ministerial working group on building and fire safety.

Question reference: S6W-03685

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to increase the number of face-to-face appointments with GPs.

Public Health Scotland has published guidance on distancing and infection control measures in health settings changing the 2 metre rule to 1 metre – this means more potential space for patients in waiting rooms where it is appropriate, while continuing to ensure everyone is kept safe.

Following this, NHS and Scottish Government guidance for general practices was published on 7 September. This is an important step in getting more in person appointments in primary care.

This guidance also makes clear that there is no longer a need to triage every patient, although they should continue to screen patients for Covid before seeing them face to face. It contains resources for practices to help improve their communication with patients as well as access arrangements.

The Scottish Government’s recently announced winter funding package will help increase NHS and social care capacity this winter. The new funding will support a range of measures to maximise capacity in our hospitals and primary care. Up to £28m of additional funding will underpin a range of measures to aid Dentistry and General Practice.

Question reference: S6O-00556

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish National Investment Bank's investment portfolio.

Question reference: S6W-04567

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the Supply Chain Development Statements submitted by developers as part of the current round of ScotWind Leasing.

Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) are a required component of the ScotWind Leasing process and are therefore administered by Crown Estate Scotland. Crown Estate Scotland will publish the SCDS Outlook documents once Option Agreements are signed by successful applicants. In addition, Crown Estate Scotland will confidentially share the commercially sensitive SCDS Narrative Documents of successful applicants with the Scottish Government and enterprise agencies. The Scottish Government and enterprise agencies would not expect to publish documentation of a commercially sensitive nature.