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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-29912

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Natural Power regarding the Climate Neutral Milngavie project.

The Scottish Government has not had any direct engagement with Natural Power regarding the Climate Neutral Milngavie project.

We did fund a feasibility study via our CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme) programme, delivered by Local Energy Scotland. The feasibility study looked to determine what can be deployed to generate heat and power and related climate solutions for Milngavie. Natural Power was contracted by Local Energy Scotland in 2022 to undertake the study. The final report was delivered by Natural Power and presented to the MCC group at The Fraser Centre, Milngavie in April 2024.

Question reference: S6W-29911

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help East Dunbartonshire Council to reach its climate targets.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with all local authorities to help deliver our ambitious climate targets. The establishment of the joint Climate Delivery Framework will enable better alignment of our respective targets and collective decision making, supporting delivery.

The Scottish Government is supporting a number of initiatives in East Dunbartonshire, including long term funding to support the development and delivery of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and installation of public EV charging infrastructure and fleet decarbonisation, as well as £745,840 in 2024/25 for the Active Travel Infrastructure Tier 1 Fund.

New statutory guidance to support public bodies, including local authorities, in complying with statutory duties under the Climate Change Act is being developed that is due for publication in 2025.

A Scottish Climate Intelligence Service has been established to help build the capacity of local authorities to reduce area wide emissions.

Question reference: S6W-29909

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what statutory obligations community councils have to implement projects that help to meet climate targets.

Community Councils are not subject to statutory climate change duties.

Public bodies have had statutory climate change duties since 2011. Section 44 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires a public body, in exercising its functions, to: contribute to delivery of Scotland’s national net zero target; help deliver Scotland’s climate change adaptation programme; and act sustainably. Community councils are not subject to these duties, although local authorities are and they have statutory oversight of community councils.

Scottish Government continues to work closely with all local authorities to help deliver our ambitious climate targets. We have worked with COSLA to develop a Climate Delivery Framework that will enable better alignment of our respective targets and collective decision making, supporting delivery. A Scottish Climate Intelligence Service has been established to help build the capacity of local authorities to reduce area wide emissions.

Question reference: S6F-03383

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to embed domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms, similar to plans announced by the UK Government for England and Wales.

Question reference: S6W-29271

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to financially support the 19 Afghan medical students that are completing their medical degrees in Scotland.

The Afghan medical students are eligible for support under paragraph 12B of the Student Support (Scotland) Regulations 2022, as amended by the Education (Fees and Student Support) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2024. This provision enables the students to be considered as Scottish domiciled for the purposes of funding and entitles them to apply for tuition fees and living cost support in the same manner as other Scottish domiciled students.

Question reference: S6W-29266

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to develop a Scottish Institute for Women’s Health.

A Final Report will be published in the Autumn setting out the progress that has been made since publication of the Women’s Health Plan in 2021.

The Women’s Health Plan has brought about positive change, driving changes to policy, guidance and training in many of the ways envisaged for a Scottish Institute for Women’s Health. There is now a Women’s Health Leads Network; a specialist menopause service in every mainland health board and a ‘buddy’ support system in place for the Island health boards; there is a women’s health platform on NHS Inform; there is a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy for NHS Scotland and a Women’s Health Champion, Professor Anna Glasier OBE, has been appointed. In addition, the Scottish Government, primarily through the Chief Scientist Office, has invested in a range of women’s health related research, providing funding for grants and fellowships.

In light of the financial circumstances facing the Scottish Government, it is not possible at present to develop proposals for a Scottish Institute for Women’s Health.

Question reference: S6W-29624

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the healthcare infrastructure for people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).

Scotland’s Action Plan for Rare Diseases (2022) and Progress Report (August 2024) note awareness raising among healthcare professionals as the most important of our priorities, so that professionals are empowered to recognise rarer symptoms and have access to information resources on how to refer patients for appropriate care. Our long term aim is to embed training for rare conditions into the education pathway for healthcare professionals.

Question reference: S6W-29623

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with healthcare providers regarding reducing any prolonged diagnosis times for individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).

Clinical geneticists are represented on Scotland’s Rare Disease Implementation Board (RDIB) where issues around the referral and diagnosis of individuals with hEDS and HSD have been discussed. RDIB are responsible for overseeing the implementation of Scotland’s Action Plan for Rare Diseases (2022) and the priorities for the coming year set out in our recent Progress Report (August 2024). Faster diagnosis remains one of these priorities, for all rare conditions.

Question reference: S6W-29627

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to enhance the education and training of healthcare professionals on hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).

Scotland’s Action Plan for Rare Diseases (2022) and Progress Report (August 2024) note awareness raising among healthcare professionals as the most important of our priorities, including making educational and training materials available for rare conditions. Work is underway with NHS Education for Scotland to develop the first of these, for all rare conditions, which will be video based. We will continue to explore opportunities to develop or signpost further learning resources.

Question reference: S6W-29626

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to establish a pathway of care for individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).