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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.

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Question reference: S6W-14828

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on putting the mutual investment model (MIM) into active use in Scotland.

The Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (most recently published in 2021) ( The Scottish Government's Medium Term Financial Strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ) sets out the revenue finance models available to the Scottish Government. The mutual investment model (MIM) is considered alongside a range of financing approaches including capital grant, capital borrowing, financial transactions and other forms of finance when determining how to finance projects. The approaches are regularly reviewed to ensure the best value for money.

Question reference: S6W-14840

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to ensure that the Scottish National Investment Bank invests in public infrastructure as a means of advancing broader societal goals and leading the transition to net zero.

As the first mission orientated investment bank in the UK, the Scottish National Investment Bank was established to respond to the need for long term ‘patient’ capital investment in Scotland. This means support for innovation and the creation of new markets where private investors are not yet ready to act.

The Missions, which were agreed across Parliament, are designed to steer the activity of the Bank into areas facing considerable challenge. The missions for the Bank are:

Achieving a Just Transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2045
Extending equality of opportunity through improving places by 2040
Harnessing innovation to enable our people to flourish by 2040

As the Bank operates independently, how they set out their investment strategy in order to achieve these missions is a matter for the Bank to decide.

To highlight an individual investment as an example, in January 2022 the Bank invested £35 million into the expansion of Aberdeen Harbour. This expansion allowed greater land and water access for offshore wind developers. The increased capacity will also play a vital role delivering the supply chain benefits of the ScotWind leasing round, supporting the Bank’s mission to achieve a just transition to net zero.

Question reference: S6W-15018

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to remove any asbestos from NHS Scotland premises.

We recognise the hazard of asbestos and the risks to health it poses. However, asbestos is only dangerous when it is disturbed or in poor condition. The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance states that it is safe for asbestos to remain in place if it is in good condition, well-protected and unlikely to be disturbed. Health boards carry out annual asbestos monitoring surveys and asbestos management plans are in place across the NHS estate. The Scottish Government will double its NHS estate maintenance budget and health boards can use that money to remove asbestos as and when it is appropriate to do so.

Question reference: S6O-01963

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards fulfilling its commitment to introduce a national system of rent controls by the end of 2025.

Question reference: S6W-14825

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it plans to take to ensure that the National Planning Framework and its plans for net zero are supported by implementing an alternative to public private partnership (PPP) arrangements across sectors.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted on 13 February 2023. Delivery of NPF4 is not the sole responsibility of one organisation or sector and implementation of the proposed actions will support leadership and collaborative working across the public and private sectors throughout Scotland.

Our NPF4 Delivery Programme will guide how NPF4 will be implemented by all relevant stakeholders and aims to create the conditions under which place-based collaboration can underpin the implementation of NPF4, by clearly setting out strategic actions, responsibilities and ways of working. The Delivery Programme proposes a governance structure that will include providing oversight of NPF4 implementation and delivery, supporting its incorporation into Scottish Government and wider stakeholder decision-making, promoting alignment across sectors and providing a framework through which delivery partners can communicate, identify barriers to delivery and be solution-focused. This includes establishing a new Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group, with a core membership of key external delivery partners and key agency representation, supported by a Scottish Government secretariat.

Question reference: S6W-13590

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent inquiry into the 2005 conviction of Luke Mitchell for the murder of Jodi Jones in 2003 is being considered by the Lord Advocate.

Where a person has been convicted of any offence, including murder, they can appeal against the decision of the independent court. Even where the normal appeals route is exhausted, if the person considers they have suffered a miscarriage of justice, they can apply to the independent Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) to have their case reviewed. The SCCRC have a power to refer a case back to the High Court for a fresh appeal if they believe there may have been a miscarriage of justice, and it is in the interests of justice to do so. If an applicant is dissatisfied with how the SCCRC have considered their application, it is open to the applicant to seek judicial review of the SCCRC's decision not to refer their case to the High Court.

Under the Inquiries Act 2005, the Scottish Ministers are empowered to establish a public inquiry where particular events have caused, or are capable of causing, public concern, or where there is public concern that particular events have occurred. In view of the fact that Mr Mitchell's conviction for murder remains in place following appeals and consideration by the SCCRC, the Scottish Ministers are not currently giving consideration to a public inquiry in respect of Mr Mitchell's conviction.

Question reference: S6O-01875

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking through its Covid Recovery Strategy to support students.

Question reference: S6W-14274

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in response to reports that the number of warrants for entry that have been granted has trebled since 2020.

Whether or not to grant a warrant for entry is a judicial decision.

Legislation places a duty on all government ministers; law officers; and members of the parliaments to uphold judicial independence, barring them from trying to exert influence over judicial decisions.

For the purpose of upholding that independence, there is a duty on the First Minister, the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Ministers not to seek to influence judicial decisions through any special access to the judiciary. "Special access" refers to any access which they may have which a member of the general public may not.

Additionally, if judicial training is considered necessary then this is entirely a matter for the Lord President as Head of the Judiciary.

For these reasons it would not be appropriate to meet with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals service to discuss the increase or otherwise of the number of warrants granted.

Question reference: S6W-14051

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of capacity at prison facilities for the purpose of relocating HMP and YOI Cornton Vale prisoners during the interim period between the prison’s closure and HMP and YOI Stirling’s opening.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS continually monitor both the prison population and the number of available spaces for all those in our care. The current women’s estate, excluding HMP & YOI Cornton Vale provides 349 single room spaces as follows:

HMP Edinburgh 92
HMP & YOI Polmont 117
HMP & YOI Grampian 48
HMP Greenock 52
The Lilias Centre 24
The Bella Centre 16

The current average number of Women in SPS care is 282.

Question reference: S6W-14273

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the recording and accuracy of data within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in relation to warrants for entry.