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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-11720

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into the viability and effectiveness of hydrogen-fuelled ferries.

Question reference: S6W-11721

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is seeking to procure hydrogen-fuelled ferries as part of its long-term plan for public ferries.

Transport Scotland liaises closely with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and other partners regarding future vessel projects. These discussions include appropriate consideration of design and operating options, including alternative fuels. As part of our work on the Islands Connectivity Plan, we will consult on pathways to zero/low-emission ferry transport, learning from experience in other countries.

Question reference: S6W-11827

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what actions it is taking to tackle sexual harassment in schools.

We continue to take forward a range of actions in schools, including the Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme, which tackles gender stereotyping and attitudes that condone violence against women and girls; and piloting a whole school approach to tackling gender-based violence with Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance.

The Gender-Based Violence in Schools Working Group is developing a national framework document for schools to help tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence. This will set out the practical prevention and intervention measures that can be used to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children and young people. This work is expected to be completed in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-11722

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its target date is for achieving a fully zero emissions fleet of public ferries.

Question reference: S6T-00942

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of misuse of fireworks and pyrotechnics on Bonfire Night.

Question reference: S6W-11113

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the meeting of its net zero targets of Crown Estate Scotland’s announcement that lease periods for targeted oil and gas projects will be extended to 50 years.

Offshore emissions generated as a result of the exploration for oil and gas in the North Sea are not counted as part of Scotland’s emissions inventory and instead are attributed directly to the UK emissions inventory and are not allocated to any devolved administration.

The Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) offshore wind planning and leasing round will build on the success of ScotWind and enable new innovative and unique offshore wind projects to directly remove oil and gas production emissions from our environment and help Scotland maximise our offshore wind potential and build our offshore wind supply chain.

Lease lengths and conditions were set out by Crown Estate Scotland following engagement with the relevant sectors. INTOG projects that are successful in gaining a lease and consent will help decarbonise the oil and gas production sector, as we manage the structured transition away from the fossil fuel sector, and by supplying excess energy to the grid or converting it to other fuels will directly help meet Scotland’s own net zero commitments. A full Sustainability Appraisal for the INTOG plan will be carried out before any projects are offered Option Agreements by Crown Estate Scotland.

The Scottish Government has stated that our contribution to climate change will end, definitively, within one generation. In line with this commitment, our Programme for Government 2021/22 states that "unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is incompatible with our climate obligations and meeting the aims of the Paris Agreement"; in a post-COP26 world.

Question reference: S6W-11320

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11100 by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2022, when it expects the (a) evaluation stage to be completed and (b) invitation to tender to be issued.

I would refer the member to the written answer of S6W-11101 of
‎ 4 October 2022; which confirms that significant progress is expected this year on the tender design stage, with the Invitation to tender stage to be undertaken thereafter.

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-11112

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what stakeholder engagement exercises it has undertaken in communities on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network to canvass opinion on procurement of the next contract, since the interim findings of the Ferry Law Review were published in December 2017.

I regularly meet with and engage directly with island communities to seek their views on the provision of ferry services and areas which the travelling public are keen to see improvements.

This work will be carried out as part of the preparatory work for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) contract. We are committed to ensure that the views and perspectives of key stakeholders and communities are considered, reflected upon and help shape the detail within the next CHFS contract.

Question reference: S6W-11109

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the key recommendations in the Strategic Framework of Options for the CHFS Network produced as part of Project Neptune.

I already set out my initial thoughts and response to the findings of Project Neptune in my statement to Parliament on the Future of Scottish Ferries on 8 September. Full and detailed consideration is now being given to all the findings and options, including as I announced, engagement with key stakeholders and local communities. I also undertook to update Parliament at the appropriate time when in a position to announce any relevant decisions. That will include a fuller response to the key recommendations highlighted.

Additionally, a presentation on Project Neptune, to which all MSPs were invited, was delivered in Parliament by Ernst & Young on 25 October. I know that Ms Clark has accepted the invitation, which I welcome, and hope she found the session informative.

Question reference: S6W-11108

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what date Ernst and Young agreed to Transport Scotland’s request for the Project Neptune documents to be (a) shared with third parties and (b) published.

The statement of requirements for Project Neptune clearly states, “the likelihood would be that the final report and recommendations will be published by Scottish Government. It is imperative that the content remains confidential until the Scottish Parliament has been informed.” By signing the Project Neptune contract on 9 of March 2021, the consultant, Ernst and Young, have agreed to requirements as set in the statement of requirements.