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-28234

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the outstanding medium-term Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 (CAFS2) recommendations that are not due to be completed until after 2024, as listed in the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 - Towards a Better Place for Everyone: 2023/24 Progress Report, including for what reason they are outstanding in each case.

Question reference: S6W-28236

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) A1, (b) A2, (c) A3, (d) B and (e) J26 NHS hospitals have closed in the last 17 years.

Question reference: S6W-28007

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in the (a) Hillend Junction and (b) A704.

Question reference: S6W-28237

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns from projects in Scotland regarding an anticipated future decrease in the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, and what action it plans to take to mitigate any loss of funding.

Question reference: S6W-28238

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been distributed to projects from the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-27891

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Amey is using masking paint patches to cover graffiti on the South West Trunk Roads Network, whether it will (a) request that Amey fulfils any contractual obligation to remove any graffiti and (b) consider commissioning street art murals on structures that are more prone to repeat targeting of graffiti.

Question reference: S6W-28235

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards are currently consulting on the future of any (a) A1, (b) A2, (c) A3, (d) B and (e) J26 hospitals, and which hospitals they are.

Question reference: S6W-28090

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported data published by the British Medical Association Scotland showing that the top five NHS boards with the highest number of GP vacancies per 100,000 population are within the Highlands and Islands region.

The British Medical Association has used data from the latest General Practice Workforce Survey , published by NHS Education Scotland in December 2023, which collects data on vacancies throughout the year. This report notes data quality concerns over vacancy status and advises caution when referring to vacancy rates published from the survey, which are likely an overestimation. It further suggests that the particularly high vacancy rates for island boards are unlikely to be an accurate reflection of the current staffing situation.

Improving recruitment and retention of GPs and other doctors is vital in all localities, including rural and island areas. The Scottish Government provides a range of supports to the GP workforce, including a rural specific graduate entry medical degree (ScotGEM), Golden Hello payments for harder to fill posts mostly in remote and rural areas, as well as bursaries for GP Speciality Training aimed at attracting GPs to work in rural Scotland. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) also provide a Rural GP Fellowship for those interested in working in general practice in rural and island Boards.

The Scottish Government funds the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care which focuses on recruitment and retention, education and training, research and evaluation, leadership and good practice.

We will publish a Remote and Rural Workforce Recruitment Strategy by the end of 2024.

Question reference: S6W-28148

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a national licensing provision to allow pubs to trade until 1.00 am during EURO 2024 fixtures, as has been done in England.

Decisions about whether to allow for extended hours under alcohol licensing law are for independent local Licensing Boards.

Unlike the Home Secretary under the England and Wales alcohol licensing regime, the Scottish Ministers do not have a power within the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to grant a general extension of licensed hours.

The 2005 Act provides that the administration of the alcohol licensing regime is devolved to independent local Licensing Boards – in effect the 32 Scottish Local Authorities.

Licensing Boards can grant general extensions of licensed hours if they consider it appropriate to do so in connection with a special event of local or national significance. Whilst these are matters for Licensing Boards in their areas, the Scottish Government is supportive of Licensing Boards having these powers.

An example where an independent local Licensing Board has indicated it will use their powers is Scottish Borders Licensing Board. If Scotland reach the semi-finals of EURO 2024, local media reporting has indicated that the Licensing Board will give permission for opening beyond the normal terminal hour of 23:00.

Late booze licences will be agreed – if Scotland reach the Euro 2024 Semi-Final - Midlothian View

Question reference: S6W-28095

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Public Petition PE2101, what its plans are for providing all primary and secondary schools with automated external defibrillators.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14642 on 6 March 2023 , funding for local authorities is provided through the annual block grant settlement from the Scottish Government. Local authorities should use funding resources allocated to them in the manner which they believe will best meet local needs and circumstances within their respective areas. 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 .

Therefore, decisions on the installation and maintenance of defibrillators in schools is a matter for local authorities to consider at the local level.

A number of organisations provide advice and support for the purchasing and maintenance of defibrillators. This includes:

The British Heart Foundation: Defibrillators - BHF

St Johns Scotland Public Access Community Defibrillators | St John Scotland