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-05101

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angus Robertson on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff.

On 19 November 2021, the Welsh Government hosted a summit meeting of the British-Irish Council. The meeting was attended by Ministers from all of the Member Administrations with Guernsey joining virtually, and was chaired by the First Minister of Wales. The First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy represented the Scottish Government in person, and I attended virtually.

The meeting focused on Indigenous, Minority and Lesser Used Languages (IML) with particular regard to Early Years learning. The use of these languages was encouraged at the summit with First Minister Drakeford speaking in Welsh for large parts of the proceedings. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy gave an update on Scotland’s Economic Recovery from Covid in Gaelic, with simultaneous translation being provided for those present.

A meeting between portfolio ministers of the BIC administrations took place on the topic of IML ahead of the summit on Wednesday 17 November where the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills represented the Scottish Government.

The Council reflected on the latest political developments across their jurisdictions, and took the opportunity to engage on a number of topics of mutual interest, including the economy, trade, ongoing relations with the EU and the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Ministers discussed the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the progress of post-pandemic recovery programmes.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council after the meeting can be found on its website at: Thirty Sixth Summit - Wales - 19 11 21.pdf (britishirishcouncil.org)

Question reference: S6W-05090

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will fulfil its Programme for Government commitment to launch a public consultation on the three verdict system and whether the not proven verdict should be abolished.

A public consultation on the not proven verdict and related reforms will open today, 13 December 2021, until 11 March 2022 and will be available at https://consult.gov.scot/justice/not-proven-verdict .

The Scottish Government recognises the strong case that can be made for the abolition of the not proven verdict but we also understand that there are many who have principled and informed objections to such a reform, or highlight the complex impact that moving to two verdicts could have on the wider Scottish criminal justice system.

We will continue to take an open and consultative approach to these matters and as part of this consultation will seek to capture the views of a broad range of stakeholders including legal professionals, the third sector and those with lived experience of the system.

This Government will listen carefully to what consultees tell us before we weigh all the evidence and reach a decision.

I look forward to considering the full range of views received.

Question reference: S6W-04826

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs were created as a result of the 2020 round of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Question reference: S6W-04758

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish an evaluation of its pilot of the Child Disability Payment.

As noted in the answer to question S6W-04597 on 6 December 2021, the next set of Child Disability Payment statistics are due to be published in January 2022, covering the period of the pilot from 26 July to 21 November 2021. The Scottish Government will also publish feedback from clients and stakeholders to learn from their experience during the pilot in Spring 2022.

The purpose of the Child Disability Payment pilot was to ensure that Social Security Scotland could safely deliver a service for disabled children and young people, by ensuring that systems and processes work for them. It was not intended to evaluate the wider policy changes being made by the Scottish Government to disability assistance, which will instead be considered as part of the Devolution of disability benefits: evaluation strategy .

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-04690

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Holding Answer by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of emergency bed days that have been allocated to patients as a result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in each year since 2018, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-04828

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional business space was created as a result of the 2020 round of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Question reference: S6W-04716

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed governance structure for when the ScotRail franchise is managed by the Operator of Last Resort from March 2022.

Question reference: S6W-04673

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many standard bicycles it (a) has purchased since 2007 and (b) owns.

Question reference: S6W-04698

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the introduction of the named person scheme.

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) lies at the heart of Scottish Government policies and the services that are available to support children, young people and families. For over a decade, GIRFEC has shaped the way children’s services are planned and delivered in Scotland, and it is well-embedded in policy and practice.

One of the core components of Getting it right for every child is a named person or equivalent role, who is a clear point of contact for children, young people and parents to go to for initial support and advice. Children and families should be made aware of the help and support that is available, including named person, however there is no requirement to accept the help offered.

Whilst there is an intention to repeal Parts 4 and 5 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, on named person and child’s plans (which were never implemented and are therefore not currently in force), the commitment remains to deliver these core components of GIRFEC within existing law.

Question reference: S6W-04674

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many electric bicycles it (a) has purchased since 2007 and (b) owns.

The core Scottish Government has not purchased any electric bicycles since 2007. The Core Scottish Government does not own any electric bicycles.

The Scottish Government holds cycle friendly employer status from Cycling Scotland. The Scottish Government offers a cycle to work scheme which allows staff to hire a bike and safety equipment, paid for through monthly salary deductions.

During COP 26, 13 electric bikes and associated equipment (helmets, Hi-vis, lights, locks etc) were loaned from Energy Savings Trust (EST) to Transport Scotland for the duration of the conference. The electric bikes were for Scottish Ministerial and senior officials use.

The electric bikes have subsequently been returned to EST.