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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-25639

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what investment proposals for the River Clyde and Firth of Clyde are in the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council's (SOWEC) Strategic Investment Model.

The Strategic Investment Model (SIM), an initiative devised to respond to the recommendations within the Strategic Investment Assessment, is a novel industry-led approach which is delivering for the offshore wind sector in Scotland.

The SIM is helping the government, our agencies and the sector to identify key, shared priorities with an initial focus on investment in ports and harbours infrastructure improvements, manufacturing and fabrication. There is a strong pipeline of port infrastructure and supply chain projects now emerging through the SIM process.

On February 20 the SIM published details of 32 of the 38 projects that have successfully completed stage one of the process and have a completed project prospectus. 6 SIM projects have requested confidentiality. Strategic Investment Model Stage 2 projects announced | HIE (offshorewindscotland.org.uk)

An initial first three projects have been selected by the SIM to move into Stage 2 involving facilitated meetings between offshore wind developers and project proponents.

Currently, the 38 SIM projects have a combined total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of around £6.5BN.

Some project information is still commercially confidential. Therefore, the release of any further information will be undertaken by the SIM group.

Question reference: S6W-24895

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Chartered Institute of Building's report, Harnessing Scotland's Social Housing Expertise, and specifically its recommendations regarding changes to energy efficiency funding for the social housing sector.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report from the Chartered Institute of Buildings (CIOB) into social housing retrofit. Its findings and recommendations will help inform our thinking on how we continue to support the sector to help achieve our climate targets. Both the report and our current consultation on proposals for a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard will provide valuable feedback and insight on how the social housing sector can continue to build upon its progress on energy efficiency.

The Green Heat Finance Taskforce is also exploring ways to encourage a greater flow of private finance to help support the transition to clean heat, and its part 2 report this year will include consideration of financing options to enable social housing retrofit. All these sources of information will inform future decisions around funding support for energy efficiency and clean heat upgrades in social housing.

The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund (the Fund) has already undergone a review to ensure it is providing the best support to social landlords in the transition to net zero. As part of this, the Fund’s support for “Fabric First” only projects has been extended until March 2026 in response to calls from the sector. The Fund welcomes consortium bids from multiple housing associations and local authorities to help deliver retrofit on a larger scale.

The Fund can be used alongside Area Based Schemes to carry out whole retrofit of a multi-tenure block if the properties fit the criteria of both Schemes. There is also financial support for owner occupiers through Warmer Homes Scotland and the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme which can reduce the costs of taking part in whole building works.

Question reference: S6W-25308

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20147 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 August 2023, whether it can provide an update on Springburn railway station being nominated for Access for All scheme funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029).

Question reference: S6O-03129

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Police Scotland regarding the policing strategy for the safe consumption room pilot in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-24902

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the current tax base in Scotland is, as a percentage of GDP, and what assessment it has made of how this compares to other OECD economies.

According to OECD data, the UK’s tax revenue, as a share of GDP, was 35.3% in 2022, the latest year for which internationally comparable data is available. This is broadly in line with the OECD average of 34.0%.

No directly comparable estimate is available for Scotland. However, the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report suggests that Scotland’s tax to GDP ratio was similar to the UK’s in 2022-23, and so would also be broadly in line with the OECD average.

In the devolved context such measures need to be interpreted with caution as some taxes remain reserved.

Question reference: S6F-02847

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the analysis by Citizens Advice Scotland suggesting that over 660,000 people are experiencing mental health problems due to increasing household debt.

Question reference: S6W-25082

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23447 by Elena Whitham on 11 December 2023, when it expects that data for the number of Recorded Police Warnings issued in 2022-23 will be available.

Question reference: S6W-24903

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Glasgow Science Centre Limited and (b) Glasgow City Council regarding effecting the repair works required to reopen the Science Centre's Millennium Bridge across the River Clyde to marine traffic.

Question reference: S6W-24897

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will progress a feasibility study regarding the Chartered Institute of Building's proposal for a demolition levy.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to undertake a feasibility study into a Demolition Levy. Whilst the Scottish Government shares the Chartered Institute of Building’s concerns around carbon emissions from demolition and the preservation of our built environment, introducing a new fiscal measure is a lengthy and complex process. The Scottish Government believes the most expedient and appropriate solution is for the UK Government to address the VAT imbalance between new build and retrofit / refurbishment.

Question reference: S6O-03114

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that railway infrastructure is safe and fit for the future.