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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-23310

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for first appointments post-hearing aid fitting.

We continue to work closely with NHS Boards to reduce long waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic. This includes targets to address long waits and delivery of the commitments in our £1 billion NHS Recovery Plan to support an increase in inpatient, day-case, and outpatient activity.

While we know there is more to do, we are making progress. The latest Public Health Scotland data shows that in the 12 months to September 2023, almost 1.24 million (1,237,657) New Outpatients were seen across NHS Scotland; 2.5% more than previous 12 months.

We are also working with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) as a third sector partner to promote and deliver community-based support for hearing-aid users. RNID Near You is currently operating in three Board areas, with plans to extend to a further two areas this financial year, and provides after-care support including maintenance, battery replacement and peer support and advice.

Question reference: S6W-23307

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support the Scottish night time industry.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hospitality and night-time industry, having been the hardest hit of all sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic and cost crises.

The Scottish Budget 2023-24 ensures the lowest poundage in the UK for the fifth year in a row and supports a package of rates relief worth an estimated £749 million, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are eligible for 100% relief this financial year. Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2024-25 will be made as part of the Scottish Budget, which will be published on 19 December.

The Scottish Government is also supporting the sector through the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and through the New Deal for Business Group. In addition, the Town Centre Action Plan aims to revitalise our towns and town centres, which contributes to supporting the night-time economy.

Our recent request of the UK Government for a reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality sector was rejected.

Question reference: S6W-23206

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he was responsible in his former role as Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing between January and December 2020; whether he has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

Question reference: S6W-23205

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he was responsible in his role as Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance between May 2021 and February 2022; whether he has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.

The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006, and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants.

As a result, the Scottish Government is unable to confirm or comment on the details of any Rule 9 requests to individuals.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed in its cooperation with both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries in their independent work to explore the handling of the pandemic and to identify the vital lessons we all need to learn.

Question reference: S6O-02859

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce waiting times for post-mastectomy breast reconstructive surgery.

Question reference: S6W-22017

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the reported recommendation that Higher Education widening access targets should take regional context and under-represented areas into account.

We fully recognise that we have more to do, and all institutions have to work hard to ensure students from deprived areas receive opportunities to achieve their potential.

The Scottish Government is engaging with the sector to develop a consistent and robust set of measures to actively identify students who would benefit from our Widening Access policy.

We have established an Access Data Short-life Working Group to consider proposals and to investigate other widening access measures and data sources alongside existing SIMD measures. The group is due to report its findings to Ministers this autumn.

Question reference: S6O-02721

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of police station closures on police response times.

Question reference: S6W-22265

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 1 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the decision to reinstate the £6.6 million reduction of the Creative Scotland budget.

Over the last five years, Scottish Government has provided over £33m to Creative Scotland to compensate for the continuous shortfall in National Lottery funding.

As a result of rising costs and pressure on budgets across government, we are unable to make up the ongoing shortfall this year.

On 27 September the Board of Creative Scotland agreed to provide £6.6m for this financial year from its funding reserves, which totals £17m, to cover the shortfall in National Lottery funding. Therefore this means that none of Creative Scotland’s Regularly Funded Organisations will receive reduced funding this financial year.

Subject to the usual Parliamentary processes we will provide the National Lottery shortfall funding of £6.6m to Creative Scotland in 2024-2025.

Question reference: S6W-22232

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding increasing the frequency of media campaigns that raise awareness of the tactics that online romance scammers use to exploit their victims and the steps that individuals can take to avoid falling for such scams.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about the impact that scams can have on individuals, including those who are vulnerable to the activity of online romance scammers.

While we have not held any direct discussions with Police Scotland about romance scams, we continue to work with partners on scams prevention and to support the publication of a regular CyberScotland Bulletin (available at cyberscotland.com) which provides information on the latest cyber threats, scams and news. We also supported a media campaign run by Advice Direct Scotland last year to raise awareness around romance and companionship scams.

I would urge anyone who becomes aware of any suspicious activity relating to romance scams to contact ADS on 0808 164 6000 and urge anyone who feels they’ve been a victim of online romance scammers to report it to Police Scotland by calling 101.

Question reference: S6W-22011

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to tools other than the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) as a measure for widening access to higher education.

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is currently the national measure of progress on widening access to higher education, as was recommended by the Commission on Widening Access in its final report, A Blueprint for Fairness, in 2016.

Higher education institutions currently use a range of criteria to identify widening access students, but we recognise that there may be other suitable measures to work alongside SIMD.

Scottish Government has established an Access Data Short-life Working Group to consider proposals and to investigate other widening access measures and data sources. The group’s membership comprises a range of stakeholders, including Colleges Scotland, Universities Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, and further and higher education institutions. The group is due to report to Ministers this autumn.