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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-29168

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans on re-opening the Fair Start Scotland (FSS) employability service to new referrals.

Question reference: S6W-29169

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently employed directly or indirectly by the Scottish Government to deliver the Fair Start Scotland (FSS) employability service.

Question reference: S6W-29265

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 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan 2021-24 to include further focus on the intersectionality of women’s health inequalities, sexual health services, pain, chronic conditions and mental health.

The next phase of the Women’s Health Plan is in the early stages of development.

The ambition of the Women’s Health Plan is that women and girls enjoy the best possible health, throughout their lives. This remains the ambition of the Scottish Government and will continue to be our guiding principle as we consider our next steps for the Women’s Health Plan following the end of this initial three year phase in August 2024.

This next phase will be developed in collaboration with women and girls, including our lived experience stakeholder group, clinical experts, other relevant stakeholders and our Women’s Health Champion, using the most up-to-date evidence base.

Any future priorities will be determined in partnership with our stakeholders, and informed by women and girls, so are yet to be decided.

Question reference: S6O-03710

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, which showed a 22% rise in crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 in a single year.

Question reference: S6W-29264

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to create a permanent national "fund to leave" for women experiencing domestic abuse.

The Scottish Government received the final evaluation of the fund to leave pilot from Scottish Women’s Aid in August. This has fed into a wider assessment of the pilot looking at how it delivered against its objectives; how it improved outcomes for women and/or prevented their homelessness; and what lessons were learned during the pilot. The assessment is nearing completion and we will then be in a position to set out next steps.

Question reference: S6W-29262

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 4 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reform the public sector equality duty by producing regulations that aim to improve outcomes for people with protected characteristics.

The Scottish Government is taking forward a phased approach to improvement, which will include efforts to enhance the regulatory regime in Scotland, within the limits of devolved competence. We intend on progressing key initiatives, including our approach to inclusive communications, pay gap reporting, and utilising ministerial powers under Regulation 11. We are also considering insights from commissioned international research to inform our policies.

However, after careful consideration, we will not pursue regulatory changes for inclusive communications at this time. I have updated stakeholders on this work in a communication on 14 August, 2024, reinforcing our commitment to equitable outcomes across the public sector.

Question reference: S6O-03673

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to assist local authorities with repairing potholes, in light of reports of the detrimental impact that large numbers of potholes are having on drivers across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-29104

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to Home Energy Scotland's Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme since its inception.

For financial years 2020-21 to 2023-24, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17940 on 30 May 2023. 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.

For 2024-25, the allocated budget for Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme is:

Year	Allocated Budget
2024-25	£500,000

Question reference: S6W-29103

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many landlords have been granted funding through Home Energy Scotland's Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme in each year of its operation.

The Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme was launched in April 2020 to support landlords with the cost of installation of energy efficiency improvements, renewable systems and energy storage systems. It is a demand-led scheme open to landlords who choose to apply.

The following table outlines the number of landlords who received a loan offer in each financial year since the launch of the scheme:

YEAR	No. of Landlords
2020-21	110
2021-22	91
2022-23	75
2023-24	46
2024-25 (1 Apr-15 August)	14
TOTAL	336

Question reference: S6W-28966

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent studies have been carried out to assess the potential effects of polycystic ovary syndrome in the workplace in Scotland.

The health and wellbeing of women at work is an important element of fair work. Our policy approach is informed by evidence and findings from a range of expert stakeholders. This includes the 2023 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) which recommends employers provide appropriate workplace culture, environments and support that are menstruation friendly. These can increase employee attendance, and also legitimise absence where this is needed.

In addition, we have worked in partnership with the University of Glasgow on the ground-breaking study "Advancing Menopause and Menstrual Health in Organisations (AMMInO): A National Study of Employees in Health and Social Care".

Over 6,000 NHSScotland staff responded to the staff survey which informed the NHSScotland Menopause and Menstrual Health Workplace Policy, launched in October 2023. This policy and accompanying supporting resources are available on the National Wellbeing Hub which is accessible to the public.