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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-06776

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any delays within the construction industry in (a) general and (b) relation to (i) workforce and (ii) material shortages, and what action it is taking to mitigate the impact of any delays on the construction of social housing.

We set up a short life working group and worked at pace with industry to examine where the immediate shortages were most acute and to identify opportunities to remove barriers and build capacity within Scotland. A letter summarising the key findings from the Materials Shortage Working Group’s work was sent to the Economy and Fair Work committee on 25 January 2022 and has been published on the Scottish Parliament website. Details of this letter can be found in the following link:

Construction Materials Shortages Working Group | Scottish Parliament Website

Our Construction Recovery Plan , published in October 2020, recognises the importance of local supply chains and the use of sustainable materials to build necessary resilience in supply. Actions in the Plan are focussed on the development of our supply chains to maximise local economic and community benefits and are being driven forward by the Supply Chain Subgroup of the Construction Leadership Forum (CLF). The Plan also identifies short, medium and long term actions in relations to skills and workforce.

An online Construction Directory is due to be launched this year. This will help businesses make connections to Scottish suppliers.

More widely, our Supply Chains Development Programme is identifying opportunities to strengthen domestic supply chains, improve resilience, support net zero ambitions and help grow the Scottish economy.

We continue to work closely with our social and affordable housing delivery partners and to monitor progress on a project by project basis across the country through our network of area teams. This is a constantly changing position and we are working together to deliver warm affordable homes for the people who need them as quickly as it is possible to do so and to make full use of the £3.6 billion five-year funding already secured to support the delivery of social and affordable housing across Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-00864

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report on misogyny and criminal justice in Scotland, published on International Women’s Day, which calls for a Misogyny Bill for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06306

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to (a) implement measures to make streets and pavements accessible for disabled people and (b) ensure there are lowered kerbs and correct tactile paving where needed.

Ensuring paths and pavements are clear and accessible for all’ is a key objective within our Accessible Travel Framework and a current priority in our Annual Delivery Plan . The Scottish Government continues to work collaboratively with a range of different organisations, including local authorities, the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) and disabled people’s organisations, on improving accessibility of streetscapes.

In relation to use of dropped kerbs and tactile paving, the Scottish Government is currently developing co-produced guidance on inclusive design in town centres and busy street areas in Scotland. The guidance, which will soon go to public consultation, is aimed at project commissioners, designers and members of the public to support the inclusive design and engagement processes that deliver accessible town centre and busy street environments for everyone.

Question reference: S6W-06918

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the experience of asylum seekers in Glasgow hotels as being within the scope of the inquiry into the handling of COVID-19.

The terms of reference for the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry task it with considering the strategic elements relating to 12 distinct areas of investigation. They do not name specific groups affected by the pandemic, ensuring that no groups’ experiences are excluded from the Inquiry’s remit, provided the experiences relate directly to the impact of devolved areas within the Inquiry’s scope.

It is a matter for the Chair of the Inquiry to decide how to investigate specific issues.

Question reference: S6O-00846

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S6W-06624

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the last (a) regular Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare and (b) bilateral meeting between the Department for Work and Pensions and Scottish Ministers, took place.

Question reference: S6W-06806

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the results of its monitoring and evaluation of the Winter Support Fund.

Question reference: S6W-06807

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the parameters and workstream details are for the programme of monitoring and evaluation of the Winter Support Fund.

Question reference: S6W-06119

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether ScotRail Trains Ltd and ScotRail Holdings Ltd will fall within the scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Question reference: S6W-06051

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address any pay disparities that exist for social workers in different local authorities, including differences in starting salaries.

The Scottish Government is aware of variations in social worker pay across different local authorities, both at recruitment stage and throughout their careers. Social workers primarily practice within, and are employed by local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for setting the terms and conditions and pay rates for the social workers they employ and this results in difference. One of the ambitions of the National Care Service (NCS) is to address this issue.

The Government proposals included within the NCS consultation would create a National Social Work Agency which would have oversight of pay and grading for social workers within a national framework. The consultation has concluded and Government decisions will be announced shortly.