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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-31143

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it is undertaking regarding (a) the implementation of firework control zones and (b) any impact that firework control zones are having on deterring the antisocial use of fireworks.

All local authorities are required to review the operation and effectiveness of any firework control zones designated within their area. Data gathered as a part of such reviews can be utilised for the Scottish Government's statutory obligation to report on the operation of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 for the period through to 10 August 2027. Ministers also engage with relevant parties, such as Police Scotland, to understand the impact of firework control zones.

Question reference: S6W-31145

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with industry representatives regarding standards of specification to categorise "silent" or "low-noise" fireworks, in order to incorporate their use into the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

The current maximum legal noise level for fireworks is defined in UK-wide legislation, the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015.

While we recognise that some retailers label fireworks as silent or low noise consultations with various stakeholders had confirmed that no formal standard or specification exists to identify or differentiate these products.

We are keen to stay informed about advancements in this area, and I have written to the new UK Government to request a meeting to discuss possible updates to fireworks regulations on a UK wide basis. I recognise we share the goal of enhancing community safety and wellbeing, and I plan to address noise as part of these discussions.

Within the powers available to us, we have taken a series of proportionate, evidence-based steps to strengthen the law around access to and use of fireworks.

Question reference: S6W-31144

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is reviewing whether to incorporate, via regulations, a provision for “low noise” or “silent” fireworks into the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

Question reference: S6O-03994

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-30882

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 11 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measurable objectives it has for building cohesive communities.

Community cohesion stretches across a number of policy themes and outcomes. For example, our Vision for Justice three year delivery plan remains to deliver a just, safe resilient Scotland. This will see us living in safer, more tolerant and inclusive communities, free from inequality and hate. We are progressing with delivering on our three year plan, and key milestones. We also continue to promote the use of the Place Standard Tool as an effective tool for community engagement, including within community planning and spatial planning. It includes themes and prompts relating to exploring community cohesion, and its use can in itself promote trust and increased participation in decision making, as well as drive improvements in neighbourhood quality. We don’t have formal measurable objectives regarding use of the tool.

The report Social Capital and Community Wellbeing in Scotland (published on 1 October 2024) provides a measure of social capital that includes ‘community cohesion’ as one of the four domains, and it provides a range of measures to track community cohesion over time and broken down by geography and population subgroups.

Question reference: S6W-30883

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 8 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with developing the toolkit for local authorities to build cohesive communities, and when this will be published.

Question reference: S6O-03964

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to improving the living costs support available to part-time disabled students.

Question reference: S6W-30733

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the research that it commissioned on the experience of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland during the so-called Tinker Experiment, which was originally due to be completed in September 2024.

Question reference: S6W-30466

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 17 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the introduction of the proposed The Promise Bill.

The Scottish Government is committed to keep The Promise by 2030 and has recently set out further detail on activity underway in our Promise Implementation Plan Update 2024.

This includes a continued commitment to introduce a Promise Bill by the end of this parliamentary session, dependent on wider pressures on the Parliamentary legislative calendar. The Scottish Government continue to work with partners, including The Promise Scotland and COSLA, to identify areas where a legislative direction may support delivery of The Promise. There are a number of public consultations underway which, where appropriate, will inform any legislative change required. This is supported by a programme of engagement and participation with the care experienced community which is being led by Who Cares? Scotland and Barnardo’s.

Question reference: S6W-29999

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government on what date (a) it currently anticipates that CMAL will deliver the Glen Sannox to CalMac, (b) the operator currently anticipates that it will begin delivery to operational sea trials of the vessel and (c) it currently anticipates that the Glen Sannox will enter service on the Troon-Brodick route.

In his most recent letter to the NZET committee on 12 September, the interim Chief Executive of Ferguson Marine indicated that the handover date for MV Glen Sannox of 30 September 2024 was delayed by around two weeks. Following successful Builder’s LNG sea trials the vessel is on track for delivery by mid-October 2024.

Following delivery there will be a period of familiarisation needed by the operator, usually around 6-8 weeks, to conduct further owner’s sea and berthing trials and conduct final operational readiness preparations before she is ready to enter service.

CalMac anticipate the vessel entering service on the Troon-Brodick route around the end of November based on current planning assumptions.