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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: S6O-00938

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve audit procedures for local authorities.

Question reference: S6W-07021

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what use has been made by the Russian Government or Russian-owned businesses of Prestwick Airport and any other Scottish Government-owned infrastructure during the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-07026

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been done, or is planned, on whether any successful applicants to the ScotWind auction have Russian partnerships or financing arrangements in place.

ScotWind, the recent leasing round for commercial-scale offshore wind projects, is administered by Crown Estate Scotland who are responsible for completing the process of due diligence in line with relevant guidance.

Crown Estate Scotland released a statement on 10 March in regards to ScotWind leasing in light of recent actions by Russia against Ukraine. The statement can be found here:

Statement regarding ScotWind Leasing and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The 17 successful ScotWind applications are mainly consortia of different project partners.

Crown Estate Scotland have advised they are committed to taking all appropriate action to not support trade and investment activity with Russia.

In early March, Crown Estate Scotland carried out an initial check of applicants for Russian ownership and / or registration. This did not uncover any Russian ownership or registration.

Crown Estate Scotland have confirmed they have taken a further step of seeking formal, written assurance from all applicants and project partners involved in each of the 17 applications that they will adhere at all times to the relevant sanctions regime. Project partners are subject to sanctions imposed by the state in which they are registered. UK registered entities will need to confirm they adhere to UK sanctions. Entities registered in another state will need to confirm that they adhere to the sanctions imposed by that state.

If Crown Estate Scotland do not receive sufficient assurance, Crown Estate Scotland will take appropriate action.

Crown Estate Scotland have advised that all applicants who secure an option agreement will be required to adhere to relevant sanctions throughout the term of the agreement.

In addition, Crown Estate Scotland have asked applicants for details of any Russian or Belarussian interests and steps that are being taken to divest of those interests.

The Scottish Government and Crown Estate Scotland will continue to work closely together to ensure each party is fully informed and taking appropriate action in what is a rapidly evolving situation.

Question reference: S6W-07022

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the implications of sanctions on Russia for any Scottish businesses that trade with Russia, and what support can be given to those businesses in order to best facilitate their rapid diversification in the face of such sanctions.

While international sanctions are reserved to the UK Government, we are exercising all possible levers at the disposal of the Scottish Government to ensure we reinforce the international response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Export Statistics Scotland 2019 show that Scottish exports to Russia (excluding oil and gas) were relatively small - worth £245 million (less than 1% of total international exports) in 2019. HMRC trade in goods statistics show that in 2020, 457 businesses in Scotland exported goods to Russia.

We have been clear that the Scottish Government and our Enterprise Agencies will not support trade or investment activity with Russia, and have encouraged all businesses in Scotland to review – and then sever – their links with Russia.

Our Enterprise Agencies are actively supporting businesses who previously traded with Russia to find alternative markets for their goods and services. Scottish businesses looking to find new customers in alternative markets can contact the Enterprise Agencies through the Find Business Support website at: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/ where they can also find relevant advice and guidance signposted.

Question reference: S6W-07023

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many Ukrainian students are estimated to be studying in Scotland and what support is being offered to them, in light of current international events.

In 2020-21, based on recorded nationality, there were around 125 Ukrainian students at university and 45 Ukrainian students at college. However, further students will have close links of family members affected by the current crisis and we want to support them as well.

We are continuing to engage with the sector to identify the likely impact on students studying at Scottish institutions. I met with University and College principals on 2 March to learn more about how they are responding to support students who may be affected by the situation and to understand some of the wider concerns they may have.

Ukrainian and other international students are already able to access a Coronavirus Fund put in place by Scottish Government to support students financially impacted by the pandemic. Scottish Government officials are also currently considering what additional support can be offered to students impacted by the conflict who are studying in Scotland.

We are also conscious of the impact of the ongoing situation on student mental health and wellbeing and welcome Universities Scotland’s ‘Statement of Solidarity with Ukraine’.

Students experiencing mental health and wellbeing or hardship issues, should, in the first instance, contact their respective institutions. Further mental health and wellbeing and finance advice is also available on the Student Information Scotland website.

Question reference: S6W-06251

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm if it is the case that data on teacher absence due to COVID-19 has not been collected after April 2021, and, if it is the case, for what reason.

Data on teacher absence due to Covid-19 has been collected since September 2020 and is still being collected and published on a weekly basis.

Data for the 2020-21 academic year can be found at this link in the 'School staff absence' tab: COVID19 - Schools and Childcare Information 2021 | Tableau Public

Data for the 2021-22 academic year can be found at this link in the 'School staff absence' tab: COVID19 - Schools and Childcare Information August 2021 | Tableau Public

Question reference: S6O-00823

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside in light of reports of the closure of GP practices.

Question reference: S6W-06255

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what specifically the recently announced funding of up to £5 million allocated to local authorities to help with classroom ventilation has been spent on.

All local authorities have been informed of their potential allocations from the up-to-£5 million fund. Our funding letter makes clear that remedial action should be undertaken in line with guidance on ventilation, with problematic spaces prioritised for action.

We have also agreed updated reporting arrangements with local authorities to ensure an appropriate understanding of how and to what extent funding is being used to support remedial action.

We will provide an update to the Education, Children and Young People Committee in due course, subject to receipt of local authority returns.

Question reference: S6O-00768

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dundee City Council regarding the local government funding settlement for 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-05712

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proportion of school pupils to whom it has (a) issued a free digital device and (b) provided free internet connection at home.

In 2020-21, as a response to the pandemic and the closure of school buildings, we provided £25 million to councils across Scotland to tackle digital exclusion. This resulted in over 72,000 devices and 14,000 internet connectivity solutions being distributed to disadvantaged pupils across Scotland to support their learning. 72,000 equates to 10.3% of pupils.

These figures do not include devices that will have been distributed from local authorities via their own programmes or any additional COVID funding. However, COSLA have reported that 122,000 devices (including the 72,000 funded by the Scottish Government) have now been distributed.

In addition, since May 2020, the Scottish Government has invested over £48 million in the Connecting Scotland programme which has resulted in 60,000 digitally excluded people being brought online.