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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-16501

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Scottish Government officials and Ministers meet with NUS on a regular basis to discuss ongoing policy development and issues impacting Scotland’s student population. Meetings are typically scheduled as part of an ongoing series of engagements, however ad hoc meetings may occur to discuss specific issues or concerns. There are not typically clear ‘agreed outcomes’, rather a continued discussion.

Meetings as part of steering groups, working groups and forums which NUS were members/in attendance:

Purpose Built Student Accommodation Steering Group, met on 6 July 2021, 6 August 2021, 14 October 2021, 5 May 2022, 6 June 2022, 3 March 2023, 24 March 2023.

Student Accommodation Group, met on 24 February 2021, 25 March 2021, 13 May 2021, 3 June 2021, 24 June 2021, 26 August 2021, 23 September 2021, 4 November 2021, 25 July 2022, 6 October 2022

Disability Related Student Support Review Steering Group, met on 1 June 2021

Student Support Stakeholder Engagement Group, met on 10 August 2021, 16 September 2021, 28 October 2021, 2 December 2021, 24 January 2022, 23 February 2022, 29 April 2022, 15 June 2022, 25 August 2022, 10 November 2022

Covid Recovery Group, as a full Covid Recovery Group member, NUS representatives attended meetings over the period of June 2021 – Oct 2022. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss covid response measures and the development and implementation of guidance for the FE/HE sector. Stakeholder attendance was optional.

Meetings with NUS and SG/SAAS/SFC officials specifically :

Meeting with NUS to discuss support for Ukrainian students and the establishment of the International Students Emergency Hardship Fund (meeting to raise awareness of support being offered), 14 April 2022

Introductory meeting between the NUS President and (then) interim Chief Executive of SAAS, 18 March 22

Meeting with NUS on the Scottish Government consultation on residency eligibility in Further and Higher Education. Officials met with a range of stakeholders who had a vested interest in the meeting. NUS were planning on submitting a formal response to the consultation, 8 March 2023

Introductory meeting between Director of ALS and NUS, 20 February 2023

Regular meetings between NUS, SG, SAAS and SFC, met on 10 May 21, 23 June 2021, 4 August 2021, 6 September 2021, 8 October 2021, 18 November 2021

Postgraduate Review - Stakeholder Consultation - NUS Feedback, 26 July 2022

Meeting with NUS on the outcomes of the SFC Review, 23 August 2021

Meetings between NUS and Minister:

Quarterly meeting, 18 February 2022

Attending NUS Scotland ‘BROKE’ event, 21 February 2022

Quarterly meeting, 19 May 2022

Spending review meeting, 31 May 2022

Introductory meeting with new NUS Scotland President, Ellie Gomersall, 21 September 2022

Quarterly meeting, 28 September 2022

Quarterly meeting, 6 December 2022

Meeting to discuss NUS Scotland ‘Cost of Survival’ report findings, 22 March 2023

Question reference: S6W-16781

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will communicate to the public its ambition for homes to aim to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C from 2025.

The Scottish Government published its Heat in Buildings Strategy in October 2021, which commits us, subject to legal competence, to introduce new regulations to require all buildings to reach a good level of energy efficiency by 2033, and use zero emissions heating and cooling systems by 2045.

As set out in the Programme for Government, the Scottish Government will consult in detail on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill this year. This will include further detail on how we propose to introduce regulations by 2025 to set minimum standards for energy efficiency equivalent to EPC C across all private housing, with backstop dates of 2028 for private rented sector (PRS) homes and 2033 for owner occupied properties, where cost effective and technically feasible.

Question reference: S6W-16486

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with One Parent Families Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed.

In addition, Scottish Government officials engage with stakeholder organisations as part of the policy development process. Officials, from across portfolios, work closely with One Parent Families Scotland to better understand the needs of single parent families and to ensure these families achieve their potential, reach a decent standard of living and are able to contribute to Scottish society.

Officials, from across portfolios, have regularly met One Parent Families Scotland since May 2021 and will continue to meet with them for the purposes of policy development and grant funding monitoring.

Question reference: S6W-16482

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Lanarkshire Enterprise Services Ltd since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

In the period since this commitment was made in 2021 we have invested £38 million directly into Scottish businesses and associated digital support for them to access. This does not include the value of the programmes that our enterprise agencies deliver on our behalf.

A breakdown of the £38 million is as follows.

DigitalBoost Development Grant - £30 million

Digital Development Loan - £5.1 million

DigitalBoost National Programme - £2.9 million

Digital Productivity Labs Pilot - £600,000

Data Readiness Tool - £170,000

Total - £38.77 million.

Question reference: S6W-16412

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessments it has undertaken regarding any financial reliance of Scottish universities on international funding.

The Scottish Government along with the Scottish Funding Council work with and engage, on an ongoing basis with a range of stakeholders including Universities Scotland and individual institutions, to monitor and secure the long term sustainability of the sector as a whole and ensure that Scottish Universities continue to deliver world class education.

These issues were discussed at a meeting between the previous Cabinet Secretary and Universities Scotland. As part of that discussion, it was recognised that as autonomous institutions Scottish universities are responsible for managing their long term institutional stability as operated through their own entry requirements, admissions policies and budgets. It was also agreed that it was vital to explore further the impact of the UK Government’s policy on immigration on Scottish Universities’ international student recruitment.

The Scottish Government welcomes the contribution that international students make to our society, culture and economy. International students add to the diversity of our communities, enrich the learning experience and support local businesses and jobs. Our priority is to become more active internationally fostering good global connections, and by promoting educational and research exchange to raise the profile of Scotland as a place to live, work and study.

Question reference: S6W-16493

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with The Promise Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-16480

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Inspiring Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with Inspiring Scotland across multiple policy areas including, but not limited to, the Young Person’s Guarantee, the Promise, children and families, mental health, autism and learning disabilities, rural and island communities, child poverty and procurement.

Levels of engagement are tailored to the requirements of each project and agreed in advance between Scottish Government officials and Inspiring Scotland representatives. Most meetings occur on a monthly basis however, ad-hoc meetings may also occur to discuss arising issues.

These regular meeting focus on matters relating to the development and management of projects we provide funding towards and provide an opportunity for Inspiring Scotland to outline progress made against delivery objectives which are agreed at the beginning of any grant management relationship.

Question reference: S6W-16772

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support third sector organisations to enable them to financially benefit from social prescribing, in order to recoup any additional costs of supporting these programmes such as increased volunteer training and management.

The Scottish Government recognise that social prescribing can be an effective method of improving an individual’s physical, mental and social health. There is growing interest in social prescribing approaches in Scotland and we are currently looking at how we can help develop these further.

At its core, social prescribing is a person-centred approach to supporting people to address the underlying causes of ill-health and an understanding of the importance of non-clinical community resources in helping with these challenges.

The Scottish Government already provides funding to third sector organisations to deliver a range of services, including social prescribing.

Question reference: S6W-16348

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of glass materials has been collected for recycling in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-16345

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with glass bottling companies regarding the inclusion of glass in the Deposit Return Scheme, and what the outcomes were of any such meetings.

Throughout the development of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), all relevant business sectors, including glass producers, were consulted. The Scottish Government continues to engage with industry to ensure that our scheme launches successfully on 1 March 2024.

Most recently, on 5 April 2023 the Director of the Environment and Forestry Directorate replied to a letter from British Glass which restated the Government’s position that glass will be included in Scotland’s DRS.