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 1770 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-23621

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress towards closing the attainment gap among school pupils.

The latest 2022-23 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) data, published last week, show that the proportions of pupils in primary achieving expected levels of literacy and numeracy have reached record highs for children from both the most and least deprived areas, with the poverty-related attainment gap in primary literacy decreasing to its lowest on record, and the gap in primary numeracy also narrowing from 2021-22 levels. These latest figures also show improvements at secondary level compared to 2021-22, with increases in attainment across the board and the gap between those from the most and least deprived areas narrowing.

Last week’s ACEL results build on the good progress already made this year, shown in both the 2023 Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results and the 2023 Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations (SSAILD). The latest SQA results show the poverty-related attainment gap remains narrower than it was pre-pandemic (2019) for National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers, at grades A-C and SSAILD data shows a record low poverty-related attainment gap in positive destinations for 2021-22 school leavers 9 months after leaving school. We have also seen a record high number of students from deprived areas entering university, with 5,595 Scots getting places, up 41% since 2014-15.

A detailed breakdown of attainment and the poverty-related attainment gap can be found on the Scottish Government website - Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels: 2022/23 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations, No. 5: 2023 Edition - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

All of this, as well as the ambitious stretch aims local authorities had set for 2022-23 and have now set for 2023-24 to 2025-26, gives me confidence that we are making progress; and the Scottish Attainment Challenge programme, in which we are investing £1bn this parliamentary term, is having an impact.

But while there is clear evidence of progress, there is much more to do. I recognise the need to continuously improve our Curriculum in a planned and systematic way, as recommended by the OECD. We need to do so, to ensure it remains relevant, forward looking and ultimately supports high quality teaching and learning. That is why in 2024 we will begin a regular Curriculum improvement cycle. Our programme of reform across the education and skills system will help identify where further improvements can be made and I will look to drive enhanced attainment and make further progress in closing the poverty-related attainment gap, to ensure all young people meet their full potential.

Question reference: S6F-02673

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government can promote and assist organisations that tackle loneliness, isolation and self-harm over the festive period.

Question reference: S6W-23214

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22900 by Jenni Minto on 22 November 2023, whether it will provide the current percentage of P7 children with no obvious tooth decay in each individual NHS board, also broken down by SIMD quintile, as set out in Table 5 of the National Dental Inspection Programme report for 2022.

Question reference: S6W-23279

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the British Transport Police regarding expanding its remit beyond rail travel to other public transport networks, such as trams, as is the case with the London Tramlink.

Question reference: S6T-01658

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the finance secretary’s letter to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 21 November, whether it will provide an update on the delivery of “vessels and piers” projects, including the Small Vessels Replacement Programme and the port works at Ardrossan and Gourock harbours.

Question reference: S6W-22899

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report of the National Dental Inspection Programme 2023, for what reason only 21.9% of P7 pupils received a “detailed inspection”, and whether any target was in place for the (a) number and (b) percentage of P7 pupils that should receive a “detailed inspection”, between November 2022 and June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22968

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have (a) died from and (b) attempted suicide in each of the last 10 years, and what information it has on how many were (i) considered at risk of attempting suicide and (ii) receiving treatment for mental health problems, broken down by (A) institution and (B) gender.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

In relation to part (a) of the question, information regarding Deaths in Prison Custody (including apparent cause of death, location and gender) can be found on the SPS website here: https://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Information/PrisonerDeaths.aspx

In relation to Parts (b) and (ii) of the question, SPS do not record this information.

In relation to part (i) of the question, of those individuals who died by apparent suicide within the last 10 years, 14 were recorded as being on SPS’s Suicide Prevention Strategy at the time of death.

Question reference: S6W-22900

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide current data on the percentage of P7 children with no obvious tooth decay experience broken down by (a) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile and (b) NHS board area, in light of the latter breakdown being included in the 2022 report of the National Dental Inspection Programme but not the 2023 report.

Question reference: S6W-22809

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22430 by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023, in light of it having provided this data in the answer to question S4W-23569 by Derek Mackay on 21 January 2015, for what reason it stated in its answer that it does not hold this data, and whether it will now provide the information requested.

As noted in the answer to S6W-22430 by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023, we do not hold specific data on the frequency or average duration of road closures for the purpose of crime scene investigation. This is consistent with the answer to S4W-23569, answered by Derek Mackay in 2015, which noted that Transport Scotland does not hold definitive data that indicates when Police Scotland have carried out a crime scene investigation.

The information provided with the answer to S4W-23569 sought to be helpful by providing what information was held by Transport Scotland i.e. the number and duration of closures on specific routes. However the answer clearly advised that the information provided represented where police attendance was reported and which may or may not have involved a crime scene investigation. It also noted that Police Scotland do on occasions close roads for crime scene investigation without notifying Transport Scotland.

We would therefore reiterate that the closure of a road in the aftermath of an accident is a matter for Police Scotland, who liaise with NHS colleagues as appropriate to understand if accident investigation is merited. The decision to reopen a road after an investigation is also a matter for the Police in their operational capacity.

Question reference: S6W-22808

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22456 by Fiona Hyslop on 7 November 2023, in light of it having provided this data in the answer to question S4W-04735 by Keith Brown on 12 January 2012, for what reason it stated in its answer that this information is not held centrally, and whether it will now provide the information requested.