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: S6F-00294

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-02763

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to promote the wearing of helmets by cyclists.

The wearing of a cycle helmet is not a requirement in the UK and remains a matter of personal choice.

The wearing of cycle helmets is covered by the Highway Code and is a matter reserved to the UK Government, however the Scottish Government is committed to improving the safety of vulnerable road users including cyclists. Scotland’s Road Safety Framework endorses the Highway Code, which recommends that cyclists wear a cycle helmet which conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened.

Many local authorities’ operating procedures insist on the use of helmets during Bikeability cycle training in schools. In others, it is left as a parental decision, in line with the absence of a legal requirement to wear a helmet when cycling.

Question reference: S6W-02475

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the hire of ministerial cars from private companies in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-02894

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the planning application, 21/02141/FUL, under consideration by Glasgow City Council, in light of this being for the construction of residential units on the site of the proposed Garngad Chord, which was in the scope of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) but postponed in 2011 by Network Rail and Transport Scotland.

As this is a live planning application it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits of the case so as not to prejudice the decision making process.

The Garngad chord was initially considered as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). The proposal was permanently removed from the programme scope after a further option development appraisal confirmed that the continued operation of Cumbernauld services into Queen Street Station, could be delivered more cost effectively without the requirement for the chord and also without a reduction in the overall outputs of EGIP. Transport Scotland has no plans to deliver the Garngad Chord.

Question reference: S6W-02473

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial cars are available for use; how this compares with each year since 1999, and what plans it has to increase the size of the fleet.

The Government Car Service currently has 28 operational vehicles. This comprises 24 vehicles that are allocated to drivers and 4 spare vehicles, which are used during periods of maintenance.

There are currently no plans to increase the fleet size.

The following table provides a yearly breakdown of the total number of vehicles used on the Government Car Service since 2001.

Year (1)	Total number of vehicles used (2)
01-02	23
02-03	26
03-04	29
04-05	33
05-06	29
06-07	26
07-08	36
08-09	31
09-10	28
10-11	24
11-12	28
12-13	35
13-14	31
14-15	28
15-16	25
16-17	25
17-18	27
18-19	33
19-20	41
20-21	41
21-22	28

(1) Information is not held for period prior to 2001.

(2) During each year there are a number of purchases and disposals. While we generally keep an operational fleet of between 25 – 30 vehicles at any given point, this number grew over 18-19 – 21-22 whilst surplus vehicles were awaiting disposal.

Question reference: S6W-03032

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government which research projects have received funding through its Saltire Research Awards.

Question reference: S6W-03007

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consideration it (i) has given and (ii) plans to give and (b) research it has undertaken regarding the impact of onshore windfarm developments on tourism.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to undertake research into the impact of onshore windfarms on tourism. As answered previously (S6W-02641 on 6 September 2021) our entire economic strategy is focused on sustainable and inclusive growth. While there are no plans for research in this specific area, any actions we take in terms of supporting immediate sector recovery and beyond will be focused on meeting the objectives of both our climate change and economic strategies.

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-03004

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any public funding for which it has responsibility that has supported companies that develop, manufacture or market in the arms trade in each of the last five years, also broken down by which companies received funding.

Question reference: S6W-03006

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when free dental care for 18- to 25-year-olds will be rolled out.

Question reference: S6W-02918

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS Recovery Plan will improve services and outcomes for people with osteoporosis.

Year	Expenditure
2016 -17	£183,416
2017 -18	£198,328
2018 -19	£286,216
2019 -20	£274,441
2020 -21	£22,016