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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-20179

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average value has been of vouchers issued through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS).

Question reference: S6W-20178

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what further support will be provided for (a) homes and (b) businesses that are outside the scope of the main R100 programme, but have chosen not to apply for a Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) voucher due to the ongoing cost of a bespoke connection, the reported inability to easily move providers, or the reliability of the technology on offer.

Given the reserved nature of telecoms legislation, it is the responsibility of the UK Government to ensure that people across Scotland can access reliable broadband. Despite this, the Scottish Government has had to step in and our R100 programme is currently delivering gigabit-capable, full fibre connections across Scotland. We want to push coverage as far as possible via the three R100 contracts and, so far, Openreach have connected over 6,700 additional premises, over and above those contracted at no extra cost to the Scottish Government.

The UK Government’s Project Gigabit should be a vehicle to connect any remaining premises but, to this point, UK Ministers have yet to commit a sufficient level of funding to deliver coverage across all parts of Scotland. We continue to urge them to do so.

Question reference: S6W-20123

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 11 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02399 by Gillian Martin on 21 June 2023, whether it plans to consider reforms that devolve the decisions of Grazings Committees to the local level.

The legal function of a grazing committee is to maintain the common grazing for the benefit of the crofters who share in it, and to manage the interests of those crofters.

The management and control of common grazing land, where there are many inter-acting rights, including those of crofters, landowners and grazings committees, requires safeguarding. The purpose of legislation is to ensure that these rights are kept in balance and that everyone’s rights are protected.

We will consult on the Bill proposals in due course and will consider all views as part of Bill development.

Question reference: S6W-19928

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it will give to extending the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme to include inter-island ferry travel, as reportedly called for in a motion passed by Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament at the July 2023 sitting in Orkney.

The Scottish Government published an Island Communities Impact Assessment of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme on 14 December 2021 which concluded that ferry travel should not be included in the scheme, but that issues relating to ferry fares should be considered as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan and the Fair Fares Review, which are underway. The issue of ferry fares for young people is being actively considered as part of this work.

Although the new statutory Young Persons’ Free Bus Scheme is for bus travel only, we are continuing our existing Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme which provides 16-18 year old islanders four free ferry journeys to or from the mainland every year, as well as discounted rail travel.

Additionally, significant fare reductions have been implemented on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks, including a fares freeze until the end of March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-20120

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 3 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to give effect to the recommendations contained in its publication, The Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services, published in June 2023.

Question reference: S6W-20121

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 3 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the conclusions of the Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services.

The Scottish Government is absolutely clear that it is vital that funding works most effectively and efficiently to improve outcomes both for those using services and in the sphere of preventative action. We thank the Chair and Advisory Group for the their work. The Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services Chair, Lesley Irving, has recognised that the recommendations contained within the publication are part of a long-term approach given the wide-ranging nature of the Report. The Scottish Government will now consider the report and its recommendations, along with COSLA, local authority partners and wider stakeholders, to ensure a stable footing for funding in the future is developed.

Question reference: S6W-20059

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Government funding for the charity Autism Understanding Scotland for 2023-24 has reportedly been delayed, and when the charity will receive its funding for 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-20122

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02399 by Gillian Martin on 21 June 2023, what its proposed timescale is for introducing proposals for crofting law reform.

I am committed to reforming crofting law by 2026, however, a decision on the timing of a Crofting Bill will be taken by Cabinet in the context of setting the content of future legislative programmes in the normal way.

The Crofting Bill Group is making good progress in reaching a consensus on the issues raised in 2016-2019, and further issues put forward by the Law Society and the Crofting Commission.

Question reference: S6W-20060

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what fund it has used in previous years to provide funding for the charity Autism Understanding Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19842

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a lack of accredited carbon audit advisers based in Shetland.

During the development of the Carbon Audit guidance, under Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF), early engagement with Agents and Lantra was conducted to ensure that the industry could start upskilling its network to meet the expected demand. As a result, the number of FBAASS accredited agents/ associates has increased to 151 (11-07-23). The spread might not cover every island, but it does create a growing network that is improving the access to farmers and crofters who request their services. We will monitor this position closely.