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-10906

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its £20 million scheme to explore ways of extending the public water networks to households that rely on a private water supply.

The initial phase of the project is nearly complete. This early work has sought to understand how we identify communities which have been affected by repeated water scarcity events, to establish the proximity to public water mains, to assess the water network capacity and estimate the costs associated with extending the mains to potentially allow those on private water supplies to make a connection. Scottish Water is completing the studies with final results expected soon.

Question reference: S6W-10905

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered piloting its £20 million scheme to explore ways of extending the public water networks to households that rely on a private water supply in Argyll and Bute.

Question reference: S6W-10914

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the Young Islanders Network for 2022-23, and how much funding will be allocated to it for the remainder of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-10911

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it would cost to retrofit every street light to include an electric vehicle charging point.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how much it estimates it would cost to retrofit every street light to include an electric vehicle charging point. Costs will be influenced by a range of factors including the location of and type of lamppost, the electric vehicle charge point technology itself as well as any associated installation and civils works. Retrofitting would also need to factor in the variable on-going cost of operation and maintenance.

Question reference: S6W-10917

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that people in Scotland are aware of the 30 September 2022 deadline for using paper £20 and £50 notes.

Paper £20 and £50 notes will be withdrawn from circulation on 30 September. This change will have an impact on individuals and businesses within Scotland.

The decision to withdraw these notes in Scotland coincides with the withdrawal of Bank of England £20 and £50 paper notes from circulation on the same date. In advance of 30 September deadline the Bank of England have issued multiple news releases to inform individuals and businesses that paper £20 and £50 notes will not be accepted beyond this date. This mirrors the approach of the previous decision to withdraw the legal tender status of paper £5 and £10 notes across the UK in 2018.

Additionally, a press release has been issued on 1 September by the Committee of Scottish Bankers on behalf of Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank to inform Scottish customers of the upcoming 30 th of September deadline.

It is important to note that 30 September is only the deadline for which paper £20 and £50 notes can be used to purchase goods and services in shops. Beyond this date paper notes can still be deposited into bank accounts at banks and post offices. Notes can also be exchanged for the corresponding polymer note at certain banks and post offices in Scotland, and Bank of England paper notes can be exchanged directly with the Bank of England via post.

Question reference: S6W-10915

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government by what measure it will monitor the efficacy of the Young Islanders Network.

In addition to reporting requirements associated with our delivery partner’s (Youth Scotland) Offer of Grant and their own associated progress monitoring and reporting, the National Islands Plan itself has governance structures, including the NIP Delivery Group (which includes representation from the YIN), the Islands Strategic Group and our requirement to produce an Annual Report on the implementation of the National Islands Plan to Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-10489

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) local authorities have drawn up a list of potential (i) church halls, (ii) village halls and (iii) community centres to be used as temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, and, if so, whether it can confirm each location.

Question reference: S6W-10488

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm whether it has advised local authorities to create temporary accommodation in (a) church halls, (b) village halls and (c) community centres, in light of this being reported in the media.

No it has not. The Scottish Government continues to explore all options to ensure that there is sufficient and safe accommodation for any displaced people from Ukraine arriving in Scotland. This includes contingency plans for emergency accommodation as well as increasing temporary accommodation, by for example getting the second ship, which has now docked in Glasgow, prepared to safely host displaced people from Ukraine.

Question reference: S6W-10490

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how long it estimates Ukrainian refugees will be temporarily housed on board the (a) MS Victoria I and (b) MS Ambition before permanent housing is secured.

The Scottish Government is clear that we do not want to see people spending more time in temporary accommodation than is absolutely necessary, including on our two passenger ships.

Our priority is to ensure that people who have already arrived, and will arrive from Ukraine, are able to stay in appropriate temporary accommodation and get the right support, then move into safe, sustainable longer term accommodation.

Question reference: S6O-01373

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to improve the reliability and resilience of Scotland’s ferry network.