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 31531 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-28119

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 24 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27769 by Kaukab Stewart on 5 June 2024, which stated that 35% of successful external applicants declared a disability, what the exact number is of external recruits to Scottish Government jobs who declared a disability.

Latest figures from our Diversity and inclusions statistics of the Scottish Government workforce 2023 official statistics publication show that there were 473 external recruits to core Scottish Government directorates between 1 Jan 2023 and 31 Dec 2023, excluding those that both joined and left in that period. Of those, 89 had declared their disability status by 31 Dec 2023, with 19 of those declaring one or more disabilities. This gives an estimated proportion of disabled external recruits of 21%.

The 35% figure previously quoted came from an earlier internal source of data where the declaration rate was lower (12 disabled out of 34 declarations). Staff diversity data is constantly updating as staff complete their diversity monitoring questions, and there may be a lag between external recruits joining and these staff declaring their diversity data.

Question reference: S6W-28102

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will allocate funding to organisations from the Strengthening Communities Programme for 2024-25.

Every action is being taken to facilitate a decision on funding for the Strengthening Communities Programme (SCP), subject to UK Government election period guidance, following which officials will be in contact with stakeholders.

Given the ongoing nature of the review process, interim funding will be released to support delivery costs up to the end of Quarter 2 and on a month by month basis starting from October pending the final decision being made.

Question reference: S6W-27945

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its proposals on restricting promotions of foods high in fat, salt or sugar, what assessment it has made of the potential impact that the proposed restrictions will have on the food and drink industry in Scotland, in light of reports that the industry is facing challenges due to regulatory burdens that increase the cost of doing business, the delay to the proposed Deposit Return Scheme, and uncertainty about the future of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.

The public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024. A partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) was published alongside the consultation, setting out the rationale for Government intervention and welcoming feedback on the expected impact on businesses of proposals. Consultation responses including feedback on the BRIA are now being analysed.

The consultation was run in parallel with an extensive and inclusive programme of stakeholder engagement. We will continue to engage with business, including the food and drink industry in Scotland, to finalise the BRIA.

In addition work continues with the independent Regulatory Review Group (RRG) to support Scottish Ministers in improving the regulatory environment for businesses and their involvement in the process. This work includes scrutiny of proposals to restrict the promotion of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt.

Question reference: S6W-28042

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to make provision for housing associations, and other organisations, to be legally compelled to attend meetings or committees that have been called by (a) it and (b) local authorities regarding the current or historic use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), and whether any such plans would only apply to specific obligations for which an organisation is deemed to be legally liable.

The Scottish Government has fully engaged with housing associations and organisations from all other sectors addressing issues relating to RAAC through a number of networks including the Scottish Government led RAAC Cross Sector Working Group. The Scottish Government has no plans to legally compel housing associations - or other organisations - to attend meetings or committees that have been called regarding the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Question reference: S6W-28303

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its residential rehab treatments exceed 12 weeks.

Question reference: S6W-28296

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to require all of its directorates to make the delivery of homes of all tenures across Scotland the top national infrastructure priority, in order to increase overall supply and improve affordability.

Question reference: S6W-28305

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its Hydrogen Sector Export Plan.

Question reference: S6W-28304

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider extending the provisions of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 to cover volunteers in the NHS.

Question reference: S6W-28299

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide clarity for investors by publishing, by the end of 2024, any proposed exemptions to the rent controls contained in the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S6W-28298

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to (a) review any relevant regulatory timelines for the next five years and (b) publish associated deliverable route maps, in accordance with the principles of its Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, in order to ensure that Scotland is an attractive location for investment.