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-22718

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what fire safety drills are required for bus companies.

Bus Companies must comply with all safety regulations and conditions as required to be able to hold a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence. The PSV licensing is reserved and is managed by the Traffic Commissioner, the main purpose of the regime is to ensure safe and proper use of vehicles including regular maintenance. Drivers must also complete driver CPC training which includes Fire Evacuation and Fire Safety Training Courses.

Question reference: S6O-02788

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on whether the £3,000 used from Michael Matheson’s office expenses for roaming charges constituted value for money, as required of all expense claims under the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-22689

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many local authorities did not meet the Accounts Commission's deadline to submit their annual accounts for the financial years (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission to secure the audit of all accounts of local authorities and associated bodies (including health and social care integration boards and other joint boards) by appointing either Audit Scotland or firms of accountants as the auditors.

The extent to which local authorities did not meet the Accounts Commission’s deadline to submit their annual accounts is a matter for the Controller of Audit or the Accounts Commission and the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Question reference: S6W-22707

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 15 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will match the UK Government's commitment to provide 15 hours of free childcare support for parents of two-year-olds from April 2024.

Scotland already has one of the most generous childcare offers in the UK. In 2023-24 we are investing around £1 billion in the delivery of 1140 hours of high quality funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) to all three and four year olds and about a quarter of two year olds who face the most disadvantage.

The 1140 hours offer already equates to 30 hours per week during term time for all three and four year olds and eligible two year olds regardless of their parents' working status – putting children first.

The First Minister recently announced in the Programme for Government that over the next year we will work with local government and partners in the ELC sector to significantly expand our childcare programme, including our targeted offer for two year olds, focusing on those who will benefit the most.

Question reference: S6W-22706

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 15 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what childcare support is available for working parents of two-year-olds.

Local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to offer 1140 hours of high quality funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to all eligible children within their area. An ‘eligible child’ is described in the legal framework as all 3 and 4-year-olds from the relevant start date, and some 2 year olds are also eligible.

A range of research shows that while attending high quality ELC improves outcomes for all children, the children facing the most disadvantage benefit the most. Eligibility criteria for early access to funded ELC at age two currently target children in households that receive low or no income benefits, children with care experience, and children whose parents have care experience themselves.

Targeting eligibility for funded ELC at age two in this way ensures that those who will benefit most from high quality ELC provision, benefit first. While some two-year-old children of working parents will be eligible for this offer, eligibility is not dependant on the working status of parents. Currently, the offer of 1140 hours of high quality ELC is available to around a quarter of families with a two-year-old.

The Scottish Government has committed to work with local authorities and our partners in the sector to develop plans to expand access to funded ELC for two-year-olds. We will also continue to work closely with local authorities and providers to maximise uptake of the existing offer as we develop these plans. Further detail, including on the additional investment required to deliver the childcare expansion over this Parliament, will be set out later this year at the Scottish Budget for 2024-25.

Working families can access other support with childcare costs through UK-wide schemes like Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit. Information about these schemes is available at the UK Government website Childcare Choices . This includes an eligibility checker.

Question reference: S6W-22263

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015, and in light of Food Standards Scotland's Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment document stating that "A review to establish the actual costs and benefits and the achievement of the desired effects will take place in 5 years from the date the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 come into force", what plans it has to conduct a post-implementation review of the Regulations, and for what reason there has been a delay in doing so.

The Scottish Government is advised on food safety and standards matters by Food Standards Scotland (FSS). They have advised that a formal post implementation review of the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 has been delayed due to the need to prioritise EU exit related food law work, and more recently matters relating to the Retained EU (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.

A post-implementation review is due to be undertaken as part of consideration of proposed EU changes to labelling requirements for blended honey. FSS has contacted honey producers in Scotland to ask for initial views on these proposals, and are working closely with policy officials on a UK basis to consider next steps.

In the meantime, FSS continues to monitor the effectiveness and suitability of the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2015 through communication with stakeholders, including Local Authorities, businesses and consumers.

Question reference: S6W-22309

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to include mandatory menopause training as part of undergraduate medical degree programmes.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is responsible for setting the national standards of medical education and training as the UK regulator. As part of work improve medical training on women’s health the GMC are introducing specific assessments for undergraduate medical students on women’s health, including on menopause, obstetrics, and gynaecology. This will apply to all medical students in Scotland.

Additionally, NHS Education for Scotland (NES), the body responsible for setting the postgraduate medical education curriculum in Scotland, have been asked to develop menopause and menstrual health training for all healthcare professionals working across the multi-disciplinary teams in primary care general practice.

Question reference: S6W-22324

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many fish counters are currently in operation in Scotland, and where they are located.

The location of the 42 automatic fish counters that are known to Scottish Government are provided in the following table. The vast majority of these are not owned or operated by Scottish Government, and it is not possible to confirm their current operational status.

The Scottish Government operates one fish counter in the North Esk Salmon Fishery District and is a joint operator, of a fish counter in the Helmsdale district with the District Salmon Fishery Board. We recently supported the installation of three new fish counters in the Ayr, Deveron and Laxford districts. These are in the process of being validated and are not yet producing data.

Salmon Fishery District	Location
(Aberdeenshire) Dee	Beltie Burn Cowie Water Culter Burn Dinnet Burn River Muick
(Kirkcudbrightshire) Dee	Tongland Dam
Awe	Awe Barrage
Ayr	Catrine Weir Ayr
Beauly	Aigas Dam Beannachran Dam Kilmorack Dam
Conon	Luichart Dam Tor Achilty Dam Meig Diversion Dam
Deveron	River Isla R Deveron
Doon	Loch Doon
Forth	Carron Dam
Helmsdale	Helmsdale
Kyle of Sutherland	Duchally Diversion Weir (R Cassley) Shin Diversion Dam (R Shin) River Evelix
Laxford	Laxford Bridge
Lochy	River Arkaig Mucomir Power Station (R Lochy)
Morar	Morar fish pass
Ness	Garry Dam (R Garry) Dundreggan Dam (R Moriston)
North Esk	Logie
Pennygown	River Forsa (Mull)
Spey	Knockando Burn Spey Dam (R Spey) Truim Intake (R Truim)
Tay	Lochay Falls (R Lochay) Stronuich (R Lyon) Clunie Dam (R Tummel) Pitlochry Dam (R Tummel)
Tweed	Gala Water River Ettrick Whiteadder
Ugie	River Ugie

Question reference: S6W-22323

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to implement a fish counter on the River Dee, which is a Special Area of Conservation.

Question reference: S6W-22482

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21841 by Richard Lochhead on 25 October 2023, who does have a remit to intervene should a broadband provider choose not to proceed with their commercial build plans.

The decision on whether or not to proceed with planned commercial rollout of broadband infrastructure is a matter solely for the relevant broadband infrastructure provider and their own internal governance. However, the Scottish Government is working to incentivise further commercial build through the series of pledges that comprise our Full Fibre Charter, and I am encouraged by discussions that took place with suppliers at last month’s Charter Forum.

Any homes or businesses not in a supplier’s commercial build plans, and which cannot access a superfast connection, are being supported to access a minimum of a superfast service through the Scottish Government’s R100 programme.