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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-17612

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to set out guidance for local authorities on the implementation of community wealth building in the context of economic development.

The Scottish Government has consulted and sought views on Community Wealth Building (CWB) legislation, and as part of this, sought views on a duty and need for statutory or non-statutory guidance. Analysis of this consultation will take place over Summer 2023.

Further, a CWB Guide offering practical support for those seeking to pursue a CWB approach was published in January 2023. This guide was supported by the Scottish Government and produced by Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS) and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES).

Question reference: S6W-17613

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about incorporating community wealth building into its vision and priorities for local government and communities across Scotland.

Representatives of The Convention Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) participate in the Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill Steering Group, which I chair. This Group has met three times.

In addition, I met with Cllr Gail McGregor, COSLA Environment and Economy Spokesperson on 08 February 2023 regarding CWB and other matters.

Scottish Government officials regularly engage with COSLA officers regarding the development of CWB legislation.

Question reference: S6W-17618

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to review tiers of local democracy and whether reform is needed.

Question reference: S6W-17617

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the law to ensure that local authorities are prohibited from closing or selling public museums unless alternative premises have been identified for their replacement.

Question reference: S6W-17610

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported proposal by Common Weal regarding the creation of Development Councils, a new tier of democracy beneath current local democratic structures.

The proposal which Common Weal submitted on Development Councils as part of the first phase of the Democracy Matters engagement process made a valuable contribution to the debate about the future of local democracy in Scotland. Further involvement from Common Weal during the next phase of the conversation will add to the wide range of voices we need to hear from to ensure that we arrive at the best possible set of arrangements for all of Scotland’s communities. Democracy Matters engagement is part of the wider Local Governance Review which we remain committed to concluding within this parliament.

Question reference: S6F-02085

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the potential impact of the proposed timetable reductions by ScotRail on efforts to ensure a modal shift from car to train.

Question reference: S6W-17616

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the law to ensure that local authorities are prohibited from closing or selling public libraries unless alternative premises have been identified for their replacement.

The Scottish Government does not plan to amend the current legislation on matters around public libraries.

Under section 163(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, public library services in Scotland are devolved to local authorities who have a statutory duty to ensure that there is adequate provision of library facilities for all persons resident in their area, taking into account local needs.

Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities, as independent corporate bodies to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on libraries, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Any decision around public libraries must be considered extremely carefully and we would encourage local authorities to work in partnership with communities to explore ways of delivering services, based on need.

The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with local government to ensure that the people of Scotland continue to receive the high quality public services that they expect and deserve.

Question reference: S6W-17209

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported shortage of social workers, including any specific shortage of criminal justice social workers who, according to Social Work Scotland, have on average one of the highest caseloads.

We are aware that there are ongoing challenges around staff recruitment and retention in the social work sector. These issues have been exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19, which has had a significant impact on capacity over the last few years.

The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities for both children and families, and adult social work through the general local government financial settlement. Local authorities should determine how much resource is given to supporting the delivery of social work and social care services, plan their workforce and ensure appropriate levels of staff are in place to provide social services for their residents.

Funding for justice social work services, including community sentences, bail services, diversion from prosecution, and other community interventions, is provided by the Scottish Government through an annual ring-fenced grant to local authorities. Local authorities have considerable autonomy to direct this funding to meet local priorities. The Scottish Government has continued to protect the community justice budget, and in 2023-24 we will invest a total of £134m in community justice services. This includes £123m to local authority justice social work services.

Question reference: S6W-17208

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons for the reportedly high rates of community payback order absences.

Once a Community Payback Order (CPO) has been imposed, its management – including with regard to compliance and attendance – is a matter for the courts and local authority justice social work services. The Scottish Government therefore does not collect or collate this information.

Managing compliance effectively is critical to achievement of the purposes of a CPO. If an individual does not attend any part of their CPO, this will be investigated by justice social work services. If the reason for absence is not acceptable, this will result in the commencement of a formal warning process, which can result in the case being returned to court under breach procedures, where the court will consider the breach.

Seventy-nine per cent of orders which ended during 2021-22 did not involve any breach applications for the duration of the order. It is up to the independent courts to decide the most appropriate outcome where a CPO has been breached, based on all of the circumstances of the case, and ultimately this may include the imposition of a custodial sentence.

Question reference: S6W-16686

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of patient attacks on staff at the Langhill Clinic psychiatric care unit in Inverclyde, in light of reports that there have been almost 300 attacks on staff by patients since January 2020.

Health Boards are responsible for the health and safety of NHS staff. Scottish Government officials have been assured by NHS Greater Glasgow and Cycle (NHS GGC) that they have the necessary controls, protocols and support in place to protect staff. We will continue to work closely with NHS GGC to monitor the safety and wellbeing of staff at the Langhill Clinic.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Abuse towards NHS staff is unacceptable, and the courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who carry out such appalling behaviour on emergency workers.