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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-05330

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the devolution of aspects of asylum support.

The Smith Commission recommended that the Scottish and UK Governments should ‘explore the possibility of different powers being in place in Scotland for asylum seekers to access accommodation and financial support and advice.’ Discussions on this recommendation took place over a period of around two years, but concluded without making progress.

The Scottish Government continues to raise issues which impact people seeking asylum living in Scotland and has consistently pressed the UK Government to ensure that people have access to the support and services they need. This includes raising concerns about use of hotels as contingency initial asylum accommodation in correspondence published in January 2022: Use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers: correspondence with UK government - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

I have also requested that the Home Office re-establish regular four nation meetings on asylum to support continued discussions on asylum policy and operations.

Question reference: S6O-00677

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils in East Kilbride will be included in the roll-out of free school breakfasts and the expansion of free school lunches.

Question reference: S6W-05331

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 11 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the working from home guidance in place in Scotland, in light of its potential impact on UK Government civil servants working in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not had any general discussions with the UK Government regarding the potential impact that our regulations and guidance for businesses and workplaces on reducing the risk of COVID-19, might have on their employees in Scotland. However there have been discussions with individual departments about restrictions throughout the pandemic.

All businesses in the UK have a duty to manage workplace risks under existing health and safety legislation, and those with offices or business locations (with staff) in Scotland must also ensure that they adhere to the specific requirements set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 .

Furthermore, information on the UK Government website signposts to Scottish guidance and UK wide employers are reminded to keep in mind their employees needs to abide by regulations and guidance published by the employee’s local administration.

Question reference: S6O-00373

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work in connection with the consultation paper, Covid Recovery: A consultation on public services, justice system and other reforms.

Question reference: S6W-04081

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Zero Waste Scotland’s report, How Should Scotland Manage its Scrap Steel?.

The report ‘ How Should Scotland Manage its Scrap Steel?’ is the first in a series of reports being produced by Zero Waste Scotland looking at the circular opportunities for the energy transition in Scotland. I very much welcome the work being done by Zero Waste Scotland in this area and look forward to seeing the follow up reports, which will help inform our policy going forward. The report is very timely given the emphasis from COP26 in helping energy intensive industries like the steel sector as they move towards net zero.

Question reference: S6O-00364

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage the consumption of locally-sourced food.

Question reference: S6O-00267

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 7 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of Cold Spell Heating Assistance.

Later this year we will consult on our Low Income Winter Heating Assistance which we plan to introduce next winter.

We want people to have benefits they can rely on so this new £50 benefit will replace the unstable Cold Weather Payment provided by the DWP. The payment will bring stability and security for around 400,000 low income households who will now be able to rely on getting help with their fuel bills every winter and not rely on it being cold enough for long enough to get a payment.

This benefit is a clear example of where we are using our limited powers over social security to improve the lives of people and increase their incomes.

Question reference: S6O-00117

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of Brexit on Scotland’s ability to import essentials such as food and medicine.

Question reference: S6W-01950

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the planned improvements to the East Kilbride-Glasgow Central railway line.

Network Rail continues to progress early, on site, construction activities whilst the necessary development work for the complete project is progressed.

In June 2021, Network Rail announced as part of the East Kilbride Enhancements Project, Hairmyres station is moving to a new site off Redwood Avenue – approximately 600-metres to the west of its existing location.

Scotland’s Railway, South Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) continue to work collaboratively to fund and develop the expanded transport interchange at Hairmyres to encourage more people out of their cars and onto trains.

Future updates can be sourced via the dedicated project pages in the Scotland’s Railway website:-

https://scotlandsrailway.com/projects/east-kilbride-enhancements

Question reference: S6W-01266

Asked by: Collette Stevenson, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to uprate funding for free personal and nursing care, including for self-funding care home residents with dementia.

A contribution is made by the Scottish Government towards the cost of free personal and nursing care for self funding care home residents.

Each year this usually rises in line with inflation.

However, emerging evidence suggested that the cost of providing care has increased significantly. To help redress this for 2021-22 an above inflation 7.5% increase was applied to the weekly payment rates.

As such, the weekly payment rates for personal care for self-funders, including those with dementia, rose from £180 in 2020-21 to £193.50 in 2021-22 and the nursing care component rose from £81 to £87.10.