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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-34809

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Peel Ports regarding the potential development of a cruise ship berth on the upper Clyde.

The Scottish Government has not held discussions with Peel Ports regarding a potential development of a cruise ship berth on the Upper Clyde. Transport Scotland officials communicate with ports, including Clydeport, on a wide range of issues including development opportunities. Ports are deemed to be commercial businesses, and decisions on how best to utilise their resources are the responsibility of the port authority.

Question reference: S6W-35024

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will calculate the gross national income (GNI) generated by Scotch whisky to establish what value of dividends and retained earnings of producers is accrued by residents in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has developed statistics on primary income flows and gross national income (GNI) for Scotland.

The GNI estimates produced by the Scottish Government are classified as official statistics in development and are reported at the level of totals for the whole economy. It is not possible to produce breakdowns of these statistics for specific industries, such as the whisky industry.

Question reference: S6W-35025

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate any impact, sector concentration and risk profile of private equity acquisitions of Scottish companies and assets, in light of reported warnings from the Bank of England over the past year regarding the stability of private equity-backed companies and the potential ripple effect it could have on the wider economy.

Question reference: S6W-35023

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a plan to increase Scottish ownership of the Scotch whisky industry, in light of reports that nearly 70% of malt whisky distilleries are ultimately owned by companies outside Scotland.

The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament.

Growing the economy has been identified as one of the Scottish Government’s four strategic priorities. Our approach to growing Scotland’s economy requires balance. It is important that we focus on both strengthening Scotland’s domestic industries and ensuring our economy is open and internationally focused. Attracting foreign investment that aligns with our values and supports our net-zero goals helps create jobs and prosperity for Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the economic importance of the Scotch Whisky industry, with over 150 distilleries, employing around 20,000 full time equivalent staff and exporting £5.4 billion worth of products globally.

Scottish Government Ministers and officials have a close and collaborative working relationship with the Scotch Whisky Association, and have regular engagement with them to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore how best to support the sector.

Question reference: S6W-35029

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) has commissioned a structural engineer that is registered on the Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE) to assess the structural condition of the Caerlee Mill at Innerleithen, and its viability for retention and conversion in whole or part.

Question reference: S6W-34332

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 24 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will make a representation to the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth requesting that it reviews its Standing Rules and considers admitting devolved parliaments and legislative assemblies to its membership.

The Parliament seeks to engage with other legislatures, inter-parliamentary bodies and international organisations in line with the SPCB’s International Strategy. This engagement is kept under regular review, with the Parliament’s International Relations Office providing six-monthly updates to the SPCB. Invitations to any event are a matter for the organisers. The International Relations Office constantly reviews opportunities for the Parliament to develop its engagement and maintains contact with event organisers, including of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, and will seek involvement for the Parliament where appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-34498

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Childsmile programme in the financial year 2023-24, whether it will provide the (a) total cost of the programme and (b) estimated cost per child per annum.

In response to part a) of the question, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26265 on 15 April 2024, in which I detailed the total cost of the Childsmile programme in the five financial years between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

In response to part b) of the question, Scottish Government does not hold this information.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-34435

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to run the National Dental Inspection Programme in (a) 2024-25 to date and (b) the four previous financial years.

This information is not held by Scottish Government.

The National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) is a key function of the Public Dental Service, delivery of which is the responsibility of Health Boards.

From the financial years 2020-21 to 2023-24, Scottish Government provided funding to Public Dental Services via Health Board allocations, however this did not specify funding for NDIP. From the financial year 2024-25, this funding has been baselined in to the overall Health Board allocation and is not separately identifiable.

Question reference: S6W-34327

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 16 full-time equivalent roles to support the mental health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce have been filled since the publication of this pledge in the national workforce strategy in March 2022.

Question reference: S6W-34326

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the health budget was spent on the National Wellbeing Hub in the financial year (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25.

The National Wellbeing Hub offers a range of self-service resources for staff across health, social care and social work on how to improve their wellbeing and resilience.

Less than 1% of the health budget was spent on the National Wellbeing Hub in financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25. The funding provided by Scottish Government is broken down as follows:

2023-24: £191,000 was allocated to the Hub.

2024-25: £96,000 was allocated to the Hub.