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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-27124

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to publish its consultation on Employment Injury Assistance.

The Scottish Government launched its consultation on Employment Injury Assistance on 30 April 2024 at 09:00. This consultation is an important first step in the longer-term reform of the UK Industrial Injuries Scheme in Scotland. I want to hear a broad range of views on the approach we should take to delivering Employment Injury Assistance, and I would encourage individuals and stakeholders with an interest to respond to our consultation. Responses to this consultation will provide us with vital insights into how Employment Injury Assistance can better meet the needs of disabled people in Scotland in the future.

The consultation can be accessed at https://consult.gov.scot/social-security/employment-injury-assistance-next-steps .

Question reference: S6F-03082

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2024

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on devolved social security benefits of the UK Government’s proposed reforms to disability benefits.

Question reference: S6O-03363

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on hospitality and other businesses in Scotland of new post-Brexit import fees on food products, known as the Common User Charge.

Question reference: S6O-03264

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of UK Government policies on its vision for a wellbeing economy in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-03224

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support victims and witnesses, particularly in domestic abuse cases.

Question reference: S6O-03211

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-03162

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the finance secretary last met the UK Government and what was discussed.

Question reference: S6O-03125

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what role culture and the arts play in delivering its missions of equality, opportunity and community.

Question reference: S6W-25237

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding the impact on households in Scotland, to reported data from Outra stating that the UK energy price cap increase has led to a 12.2% rise in fuel poverty.

Our own estimates show that with Ofgem’s price cap set at £1,928 for an average household until March this year, 840,000 of Scottish households are in fuel poverty – 34% of all households. This is a 2% increase – an extra 20,000 households approximately – in the number of fuel poor households from estimates for October to December 2023. These estimates are based on Scotland’s statutory definition of fuel poverty, whereas the Outra figure is likely produced under a different definition.

According to the Scottish fuel poverty definition, a household is in fuel poverty if:

in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, total fuel costs necessary for the home are more than 10% of the household's adjusted net income (i.e. after housing costs), and more than 20% in the case of extreme fuel poverty; and
if, after deducting those fuel costs, benefits received for a care need or disability and childcare costs, the household's remaining adjusted net income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living.

Subsidised support for the majority of consumers ended last year, but thousands of households continue to struggle to balance high energy costs along with unmanageable legacy debt. This is why we continue to call for urgent, targeted support including the introduction of a social tariff mechanism for those who need it the most. It is disappointing that our calls, consistent with those from the industry and third sector, have been ignored.

I urge anybody struggling with their energy bills to contact Advice Direct Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland who will be able to help in the first instance.

Question reference: S6O-03110

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Read Write Count with the First Minister programme.