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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1854 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-19763

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of each organisation that has received funding from its Creative Communities programme in each year since it was established.

Question reference: S6W-19756

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its paper, A Culture Strategy for Scotland, whether it is actively promoting Historic Environment Scotland’s work on climate change, and, if so, whether it can provide examples of this.

Question reference: S6W-19745

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its paper, A Culture Strategy for Scotland, in what ways it has supported the cultural workforce through fair work practices.

Question reference: S6W-19723

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the National Theatre of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

National Theatre of Scotland is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Companies and has met with Scottish Ministers on two occasions since May 2021.

On 28 September 2021, National Theatre of Scotland held an introductory meeting with the Minister for Culture, Europe and international Development, where the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions and support for the culture sector were discussed

On 11 January 2023, National Theatre of Scotland, along with the other National Performing Companies, met with the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to explore how their international tours could further enhance the reputation and brand of Scotland overseas.

As a National Performing Company the National Theatre of Scotland receive direct funding from Scottish Government. Scottish Government officials have met regularly since May 2021 with the National Theatre Scotland as part of normal grant management processes.

Question reference: S6W-19308

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to promote (a) domestic and (b) international routes from Scottish airports to support the aviation industry’s continued recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

My predecessor as Transport Minister met with airline representatives in May and was pleased to note an ongoing recovery in passenger numbers and the extent to which Scotland’s route network has recovered

I will continue our engagement with aviation stakeholders in order to deliver the Scottish Government’s commitment to working with Scotland’s airports to help restore lost connectivity, and grow international connectivity, while not returning to previous levels of emissions. Our overall ambition is for Scotland to be as well connected as peer nations and regions. I welcome recent route launches to Beijing, Atlanta and Calgary which demonstrate a growing confidence in the Scottish aviation market. Transport Scotland, working in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, continues to work with airlines to promote Scotland and grow our international connectivity for business, tourism, exports and the wider economy.

In terms of domestic connectivity, we continue to provide funding to support the operations of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL). In 2022-23 we provided £62 million of funding, which helped to enable the operation of commercial air services by keeping HIAL’s airport charges lower than they would otherwise be. In addition we continue to support lifeline routes between Glasgow and Campbeltown, Barra and Tiree.

Question reference: S6W-19743

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Royal Society of Edinburgh since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

The Scottish Government recognises the invaluable contribution of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to Scotland’s research and innovation. As Scotland’s National Academy, the RSE meets regularly with a wide range of Scottish Government ministers and officials. Given the number of these meetings that take place across Government it is not possible to detail the outcomes of every meeting.

In recent months, however, I have met with RSE’s Chief Executive and RSE researchers to discuss shared priorities for Scottish research and innovation and the contribution of our Further and Higher Education sector.

Question reference: S6W-19737

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

The Scottish Government has held the following meetings with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland since May 2021. No agreed outcomes were recorded for these meetings:

1 June 2021: Introductory meeting between Jamie Hepburn (Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training) and Jeffrey Sharkey (Principal of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)
22 and 28th February 2022: Annual forum between Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and Scottish college and university officials (including Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) – To provide SAAS operational and policy updates to help support students in higher education.
24 March 2022: Meeting between Jamie Hepburn (Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training) and Committee of Scottish Chairs (including Nick Kuenssberg, Chair of Board, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)
12 May 2022: Meeting between Jamie Hepburn (Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training) and Jeffrey Sharkey (Principal of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)
23 and 28 February 2023: Annual forum between Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and Scottish college and university officials (including Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) – To provide SAAS operational and policy updates to help support students in higher education.

Question reference: S6W-19736

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Development International since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed.

Scottish Government Officials from the Directorate for International Trade and Investment have regularly met with the SDI since May 2021 as key partners to showcase Scotland’s strengths globally, boost inward investment and to achieve our export growth ambition. In addition, officials across a range of portfolios engage with the SDI as part of the policy development process and this will continue.

Question reference: S6W-19733

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-19697

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review future fares for ferries, and whether it will publish any feedback that it receives on this.

The Scottish Government is progressing the Fair Fares Review to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the future long term viability of a public transport system that is accessible, available and affordable for people throughout Scotland – including our ferry services. The Fair Fares Review will report by the end of 2023 and we will continue a meaningful and constructive approach to engaging with stakeholders throughout the process.