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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-08540

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve victims’ experiences of and confidence in the justice system.

A public consultation on improving victims’ experiences of the justice system will open from today, 10 May 2022, until 3 August 2022. It will be available at https://consult.gov.scot/justice/victimsconsultation .

The consultation focuses on proposed legislative reforms with particular reference to victims of sexual offences. It takes forward our Programme for Government commitments to introduce a statutory right to anonymity for complainers in sexual offence cases, establish a Victims’ Commissioner and carefully consider the recommendations from Lady Dorrian’s Review into the management of sexual offence cases that require a legislative basis to deliver.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving victims’ experiences of the justice system by putting them at its centre. This consultation explores how to do this by making the justice system more trauma informed and person centred. It is an important part of a wide-ranging programme of work to bring about transformational change necessary to ensure our justice system is trusted, modern, smart and effective.

We will continue to take an open and collaborative approach to achieve this aim, and this consultation will seek to capture the views of a broad range of stakeholders including legal professionals, the third sector and those with lived experience of the system.

I look forward to considering the full range of views received.

Question reference: S6W-07371

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the most recent level of police, public order and safety spending per person in Scotland, and how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

The 2021 Country and Regional Analysis (produced by HM Treasury) includes analysis of expenditure on public services in Scotland and comparisons with other parts of the UK as a whole. In 2020-21 public order and safety spending in Scotland was £3.1bn. On a per capita basis, spending in Scotland was 11% higher than in England and 7% higher than in Wales, as shown in the following table:

Public Order & Safety Expenditure (per capita)

	2020-21 (£)
Scotland	569
England	512
Wales	534

Source: Country and regional analysis: 2021: Country and regional analysis: 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Spending on public order and safety includes expenditure on a number of areas including police, prosecution, criminal courts, the prison and probation services, and the fire services.

Question reference: S6W-07629

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the consideration of a Parades Commission for Scotland.

Today I am announcing the establishment of the independent ‘Facilitating Peaceful Assemblies in Scotland: Procedures and Best Practices – Short Life Working Group’ which brings together a small number of experts with backgrounds in marches, human rights, community engagement and mediation/dialogue.

The working group will consider what can be learned from other models used in relation to the regulation of marches and parades including, but not limited to the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland, and consider whether any of this learning can be usefully adapted and applied in Scotland to improve the regulation of marches and parades.

The remit for the working group is:

To identify any challenges that are involved in the running of marches and parades and the notification process in Scotland to achieve the right balance between the human rights of organisers/participants with those communities impacted by these events. To consider how these challenges could be addressed, and the practical implications of making any changes, and make recommendations based on these .

The members of the working group are:

Professor Dominic Bryan, (Chair) Professor at the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queens University Belfast;
Lorraine Gillies, Chief Executive Scottish Community Safety Network;
Graham Boyack, Director of Scottish Mediation;
Dr Michael Hamilton, Associate Professor in Public Protest Law, School of Law, University of East Anglia.

The working group will provide their initial report to me by summer and I will update the Scottish Parliament on any actions I propose to take in response to this report.

Question reference: S6O-00789

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its Covid Recovery Strategy is aiming to support the most vulnerable in Scotland's communities.

Question reference: S6O-00669

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the latest Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience Fund.

Question reference: S6W-05090

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will fulfil its Programme for Government commitment to launch a public consultation on the three verdict system and whether the not proven verdict should be abolished.

A public consultation on the not proven verdict and related reforms will open today, 13 December 2021, until 11 March 2022 and will be available at https://consult.gov.scot/justice/not-proven-verdict .

The Scottish Government recognises the strong case that can be made for the abolition of the not proven verdict but we also understand that there are many who have principled and informed objections to such a reform, or highlight the complex impact that moving to two verdicts could have on the wider Scottish criminal justice system.

We will continue to take an open and consultative approach to these matters and as part of this consultation will seek to capture the views of a broad range of stakeholders including legal professionals, the third sector and those with lived experience of the system.

This Government will listen carefully to what consultees tell us before we weigh all the evidence and reach a decision.

I look forward to considering the full range of views received.

Question reference: S6W-04495

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker MSP (on behalf of the SPCB) on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment was made of users' safety when updating the Scottish Parliament garage entry system.

In designing the new service yard and garage, both the safety of the overall operating system and the safety of those using and accessing the garage were fully considered and assessed.

Design assessments were made in relation to users’ safety and these assessments included:

· A design specification, setting out the safety requirements of the new system.

· An access report, covering the proposed flow of vehicle travel in the system.

· A design risk assessment. This was carried out by the gate manufacturer to reduce or eliminate risks from gates and barriers with appropriate safety measures.

· Safety features including automated traffic controls and safety sensors on all moving parts, including all barriers and gates.

· A health and safety review which resulted in updated health and safety arrangements in the service yard area.

The design process set out the safety standards the component parts of the new vehicle entry system was required to comply with. These included the European Standards relating to the safety of security gates and barriers. These were therefore installed and commissioned to appropriate European Directives. This process was carried out in conjunction with the Parliament’s Health and Safety Adviser.

In addition, a review of existing health and safety arrangements in the service yard area was carried out as part of the new system design. Existing arrangements include a 5mph speed limit in the service yard, annual training including vehicle movement toolbox sessions, marked pedestrian walkways and the requirement for pedestrians to wear hi-vis clothing at all times in this area. These existing assessments are considered appropriate in addressing any safety risks in the area.

Question reference: S6O-00433

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received the Low Income Pandemic Payment.

Question reference: S6O-00387

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with oil and gas businesses in the north east, as Scotland transitions to a net zero economy.

Question reference: S6W-03794

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 October 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support mental health and wellbeing in local communities.

I have today announced a £15 million Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund. This is in recognition of the important role that small, grass roots, community groups play in supporting adult mental health and wellbeing and aims to build on the excellent examples of good practice we have seen emerge throughout the pandemic.

It also reflects the importance that the Scottish Government places on promoting good mental health and early intervention for those in distress, ensuring that individuals can access a range of different types of support to match their needs.