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-31449

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the process that is followed to include a building in its Cladding Remediation Programme (CRP) pilot scheme.

Question reference: S6W-31454

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Scotland’s different harbour owners to achieve a joined-up approach to the ferry network.

Question reference: S6W-31461

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what aims underlie the proposed restructuring of national networks within the NHS National Services Division.

Question reference: S6W-31450

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve the harbours that are owned by local authorities.

Question reference: S6W-31165

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it allocated to its violence reduction strategy in its 2024-25 Budget, and how this compared with each year since 2020-21.

Funding allocated to its violence reduction strategy* are as follows:

Year	£000
2020-21	1,848,000
2021-22	1,884,500
2022-23	2,041,500
2023-24	2,041,500
2024-25	2,016,500

*These allocations of funding do not including additional Scottish Government funding to Police Scotland, other justice agencies, local authorities, health boards, third sector organisations and cross government policy related areas that address the underlying causes of violence including but not limited to addressing child poverty, early years, employability and housing.

Question reference: S6W-31164

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the violence reduction strategy across communities.

In addition to our investment in policing, to strengthen our approach to address violence, in May 2023, we published a Violence Prevention Framework for Scotland. This sets out our strategy to prevent violence, and where it does occur, to reduce the harm. The Framework takes a public health approach to tackling violence, with a focus on prevention at a primary, secondary and tertiary level. By using the research and available evidence, in collaboration with our partner organisations we can target those most at risk of experiencing violence (victim and perpetrator), as early as possible.

Through the Framework’s Action Plan, we are delivering a range of activity to prevent and divert people away from violence, supported by over £2m investment this year.

Funding is supporting partner organisations to carry out a range of activities in schools, hospitals and across communities to prevent and respond to people at risk of experiencing or engaging in violence. This activity is being taken forward by the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Medics Against Violence, YouthLink Scotland, Education Scotland and Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.

A progress update outlining some of the activity carried out over the first year of the Framework was published on 11 September 2024.

Question reference: S6W-31143

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it is undertaking regarding (a) the implementation of firework control zones and (b) any impact that firework control zones are having on deterring the antisocial use of fireworks.

All local authorities are required to review the operation and effectiveness of any firework control zones designated within their area. Data gathered as a part of such reviews can be utilised for the Scottish Government's statutory obligation to report on the operation of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 for the period through to 10 August 2027. Ministers also engage with relevant parties, such as Police Scotland, to understand the impact of firework control zones.

Question reference: S6W-31438

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how priorities identified for land use in each regional land use framework align with national climate and environmental targets.

Following extensive engagement across the regions, each Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) captured a range of views from farmers, land owners, land managers and communities, on the regional priorities for land use.

Many of these priorities recognised the role of land use in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, through measures such as tree-planting, increased renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. More information on these is available on the respective RLUP websites:

South of Scotland region: Delivery & Strategies | South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership (southofscotlandrep.com)
North West Highland region: Land+ Project | NORTHWEST2045
Cairngorms National Park region: Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27 - Cairngorms National Park Authority
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park region: Read The Plan - Here. Now. All of us. - Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park (lochlomond-trossachs.org)

Question reference: S6W-31202

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions it will take in the event that any gaps are identified between safe staffing requirements and actual staffing levels across NHS boards.

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019: Overview - Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019: overview - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) commenced on April 2024, the Act places duties on Health Boards to ensure that at all times suitably qualified and competent individuals are working in such numbers as are appropriate for the health, wellbeing and safety of patients, the provision of high-quality care and the wellbeing of staff.

Under the Act, there is a Duty on Health Boards to submit a report on how they complied with their legislative requirements. Following this, Scottish Ministers must publish these reports alongside setting out how they have taken into account and plan to take into account, in their policies for the staffing of health service, the information included in the combined report. The first Health Board Annual Reports are due 30 April 2025.

Question reference: S6W-31444

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on progress on delivering the Programme for Government commitment to expand Scotland’s Migration Service to provide more support to users.

The full expanded version of Scotland's Migration Service will be launched on 19th November 2024.

We know that employers, inward investors and individuals often face challenges in navigating the UK immigration system. Scotland's Migration Service will provide practical advice and support to employers to help them recruit internationally; inward investors to move to, or expand their business in, Scotland; individuals looking to move to Scotland for work or family; and individuals in Scotland on a temporary visa, including international students, looking to move visa routes.

The Service will provide practical information delivered through a digital platform as well as free personalised advice appointments delivered by our expert suppliers, Citizens Advice Scotland and the immigration law firm Seraphus.

Delivery of this Programme for Government commitment will contribute to our work to grow our economy, maximise our existing talent pool, and attract more individuals to Scotland to address skills shortages and demographic challenges.