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-31063

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its decision to introduce a means-tested Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will have on strategic objective 5 of its National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024 to reduce levels of fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to overturn their decision to limit eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments.

The decision was taken without consultation and has forced us to review the way in which the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) will be delivered.

Nonetheless, the PAWHP will make a significant contribution towards the heating expenses of low-income, pension-aged island households.

Since December 2022, we have also provided £3.4 million in support of island households through the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund.

Question reference: S6W-30803

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with New Lanark Mill regarding the reported proposals for it to close.

There was no formal consultation with Scottish Government or Historic Environment Scotland on the closure of the spinning mill, though Historic Environment Scotland had been aware of an ongoing review of the Trust’s various enterprises as part of its wider vision to create long term sustainability for the World Heritage Site.

The decision to close the New Lanark Spinning Mill is a decision for the owner of the site, New Lanark Trust, to make. New Lanark Trust has the responsibility for these difficult commercial decisions which it needs to consider within the context of the wider implications for the World Heritage Site to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Question reference: S6W-30812

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that staff at the Trade Union Education Centre are being prevented from planning and offering courses beyond June 2025.

Operational decisions on course planning and delivery are for individual colleges to determine. I encourage the City of Glasgow College and the Trade Union Congress to build upon its recent partnership agreement and work together to ensure sustainable delivery of trade union education at the College on a longer term basis.

I raised this issue with the Principal of City of Glasgow College on 29 October 2024, who assured me the College remains committed to providing trade union education.

Question reference: S6W-30813

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate (a) it and (b) the City of Glasgow College has made of any lost revenue for the College resulting from unions reportedly being unable to secure places at the Trade Union Education Centre beyond June 2025.

Question reference: S6W-31067

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to date to "additional travel and subsistence support for island women to attend courses on the mainland", as set out in its National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024.

Question reference: S6W-30814

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that the Trade Union Education Centre will be able to provide an extensive range of trade union learning opportunities beyond June 2025.

Question reference: S6W-30811

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of the Trade Union Education Centre in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-31419

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses' residences are currently available in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian, and how many bedrooms each residence has.

Question reference: S6W-31417

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of frontline healthcare staff currently employed by NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian are due to retire in the next (i) year and (ii) five years.

Question reference: S6W-30136

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations as they relate to Scotland that are contained in the report, Taking responsibility: How the government can improve enforcement of farmed animal welfare laws, which was published in October 2024 by the Social Market Foundation and sponsored by Animal Equality UK.