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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-04491

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have received funding through an Individual Training Account since 1 January 2020.

Question reference: S6O-00466

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure transparency in Scotland's public finances.

Question reference: S6W-04494

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have received support through the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme since 2018.

To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have received support through the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme since 2018

Claim year	Number of businesses that received a LFASS payment in an individual claim year
2018	11,057
2019	10,890
2020	10,827

Between 2018 and 2020, 11,654 unique businesses received a payment

The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) provides essential income support to farming businesses in remote and constrained rural areas.

Funding is used to:

allow farmers and crofters to continue to operate as viable businesses
avoid the risk of land abandonment
help maintain the countryside by ensuring continued agricultural land use
maintain and promote sustainable farming systems
Applications are submitted yearly via the Single Application Form

Question reference: S6W-04493

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have benefitted from the Beef Efficiency Scheme since 2018.

Question reference: S6W-04334

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated spend per student will be on the Saltire Scholarship scheme for EU students.

Scotland welcomes international students and recognises the important and valuable contribution they make to institutions, the economy and Scottish society. Hundreds of EU students will be supported to study in Scotland through the new £2.25 million scholarship programme.

A total of 290 places have been allocated to institutions, with an estimated average spend of £7,759 per student. This is based on a split of £4,000 per college place and £8,000 per university place.

Question reference: S6W-04492

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers were supported by the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme between 2018 and 2020.

Question reference: S6W-04263

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a date in place for the introduction of gene editing.

Scotland’s policy on GMOs has not changed. We are aware of current debate around novel genomic techniques such as gene editing and how these relate to existing GM legislation, and we note in particular the consideration of this at EU level. The Scottish Government is committed to keeping close to the EU and we will continue to align when appropriate. We are closely monitoring the EU’s position on this issue.

Question reference: S6T-00301

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to NHS boards that are under pressure.

Question reference: S6W-03845

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 22 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the environmental impact of the First Minister's use of international flights, and how it offsets the CO2 emissions of such ministerial flights.

The First Minister travels for a range of reasons including ensuring that the people of Scotland are effectively represented and ensuring that Scotland’s voice is heard on important issues.

Before arranging to travel on official business, Scottish Government employees and Ministers are first required to consider if their journey is really necessary. If they conclude that they are unable to conduct their business by other means, such as video or teleconferencing, they are then required to travel in the most cost–effective and time-efficient method available.

Travel is an essential part of official government business we take our responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport wherever possible.

Any business flights taken by Ministers and Scottish Government employees are subject to a carbon levy payment. Pre-Covid the levy collected approximately £40,000 per year, and is used to compensate for carbon emissions generated. For example, in August 2019 the levy was used to partially fund solar panels on the roof of St Andrews House in Edinburgh. The panels have so far saved 15 tonnes of CO2 equivalent to planting 696 trees.

Question reference: S6W-04261

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding gene editing.

Scottish Ministers received updates on Defra’s public consultation on changes to the regulation of genetic technologies in England at the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 28 June 2021 and 13 September 2021. You may view the minutes for these meetings at https://www.gov.scot/collections/inter-ministerial-group-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs-communiques/ .

Officials from the four UK administrations also meet on a regular basis to share information on topics of mutual interest, including the area of GMO regulation. These conversations have included updates on Defra’s public consultation and planned changes to the regulation of genetic technologies in England in relation to gene editing.

Year	No of farmers	Funding
2018	1,448	£4,055,193.48
2019	108	£226,157.75

Application Year	Number of supported claims
2018	6876
2019	6692
2020	6709