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: S5O-05128

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness ahead of the June 2021 deadline of the EU settled status scheme.

Question reference: S5W-35587

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the analysis of the responses to the consultation on the draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

We announced our intention in November 2020 to take forward the independent analysis of all the consultation responses and to publish the consultation responses from organisations and groups where we had permission to do so. This was with the intention of publishing both the analysis and the organisational responses together prior to recess on 25 March.

However, the impact of work to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic means it will now not be possible in the time available to ready both the analysis and the organisational responses for publication.

Work will continue and if this administration is returned after the election, my intention is we will proceed with publication of both as soon as practicable in the next session of Parliament.

Question reference: S5O-05109

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is being provided to local authorities for improvements to the road network.

Question reference: S5O-05052

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Developing the Young Workforce programme.

As with many areas of government policy COVID-19 has resulted in changes to the way we have implemented the Developing the Young Workforce programme. Since the outset of the pandemic we have prioritised working with partners and employers through our network of DYW Regional Groups.

This work has focused on the online delivery of activity to support summer leavers in 2020 and the creation of E-DYW, the DYW Skills Academy and Scotland’s Biggest Parents Evening.

The publication of the report from the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, Sandy Begbie was appointed to lead the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee. An integral part of this is the roll out of DYW School Coordinators across Scotland. These roles are being funded by the Scottish Government and will be integral to driving partnerships with education and employers and will be delivered by the employer led DYW Regional Groups.

Question reference: S5O-05033

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what impact Brexit has had on workers coming to Scotland from the EU.

Question reference: S5O-04976

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what mental health and wellbeing support is available to expectant women and new mothers.

Question reference: S5W-33971

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposal for a public service obligation for Wick John o' Groats Airport.

I recognise the issues faced by the Caithness area, both specifically in relation to the loss of the Wick-Edinburgh and Wick-Aberdeen air services and more generally. The current financial situation is very challenging and until the Budget process for 2021-22 is complete we are unable to make any commitments for new expenditure. Support for air services from Wick forms part of the Budget considerations. It remains the case that any intervention would require multiple funding partners to restore scheduled services at Wick.

Question reference: S5W-32971

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when COVID-19 home testing kits will be available in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency.

Home testing kits are provided through the UK Government's Extended Testing Programme, and the provision of kits in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency is a matter for the UK government. We are continuing to liaise with them to ensure kits are made available across as many areas as possible.

NHS Highland have processes in place to support local communities to access testing if they are unable to access home test kits.

In addition, Mobile Testing Units are currently stationed at Fort William, Ullapool, Dornoch, Kingussie and Thurso twice weekly, and in Portree on a Monday and Broadford on a Thursday.

Officials are working on further rollout of walk-through Local Test Sites and a number of locations are under consideration, including sites within the Highland Health Board area.

Question reference: S5W-32930

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when large local authorities such as The Highland Council will be broken up into smaller county-size areas under the COVID-19 Strategic Framework to determine their tier level.

Question reference: S5W-32972

Asked by: Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what awareness raising has been undertaken in advance of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 coming into force.

The Scottish Government has taken a number of steps to raise awareness of the 2019 Act. These steps include:

Arranging for information to be included in Ready Steady Baby: https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/early-parenthood/caring-for-your-new-baby/crying ;
A circular issued in May 2020: https://www.gov.scot/publications/children-equal-protection-from-assault-scotland-act-2019-may-2020-circular/ The Scottish Government issued a further letter, which is being published, on 9 October 2020;
Information on changes to the law: https://www.gov.scot/publications/physical-punishment-and-discipline-of-children-how-the-law-is-changing/ ;
Information on mygov.scot: https://www.mygov.scot/smacking-children/ (Mygov.scot gives people and businesses information about and access to public services in Scotland);
An easy read leaflet on the Act, being published on the Scottish Government website;
The production of materials (posters and Q&As) about the Act for children and young people;
The production of materials (factsheet and Q&As) about the Act aimed at adults with a focus on parents’ and carers’ needs.

The Scottish Government is also preparing information for the day (7 November 2020) when the Act comes fully into effect.

ParentClub provides information on coping with being a parent: https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/coping-with-being-a-parent A specific page on the 2019 Act is being prepared for ParentClub.

The Scottish Government has written to bodies such as local authorities and health boards to provide information on the 2019 Act coming fully into force.

The Scottish Government formed an Implementation Group on work needed to implement the Act. Information on the Implementation Group is at https://www.gov.scot/groups/children-equal-protection-from-assault-scotland-act-implementation-group/

The Scottish Government will continue to raise awareness of the legislation and of the benefits of positive parenting.