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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-16542

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 14 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take, in light of the Scottish Fiscal Commission's Fiscal Sustainability Report, to address the reported long-term population decline.

The Scottish Government’s Ministerial Population Taskforce recognises the significance of long-term projected demographic change and since publishing the Population Strategy in 2021, it has focused - across government, and with local and regional partners – on ensuring Scotland’s population profile provides a platform for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and wellbeing.

In 2023, the Taskforce will launch a new Talent Attraction and Migration Service to support employers and those wishing to move to Scotland, and publish an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan with a focus on: place-based solutions to sustainably address discrete community need; and targeted, community-driven migration solutions to alleviate local labour market and demographic challenges.

Question reference: S6W-16616

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the £202.6 million figure that the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth stated to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 7 March 2023 (Official Report, c. 14), whether it will provide a breakdown of this figure; whether the figure represented the projected cost of the Ferguson Marine contract or the actual cost, to date, and whether the figure included the (a) £45 million loan payments agreed for Ferguson Marine in 2017-18 and (b) payments from Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited to Ferguson Marine under the original contract of £83.25 million.

The £202.6 million is the cost included in David Tydeman’s letter to NZET committee of 28 September 2022. The breakdown of this figure is:

£202.6m split

	801	802
Cost to complete (m)	94.8	101.6
Contingency (m)	2.7	3.5
Total cost to complete	97.5	105.1

The member will likely be aware that due diligence is ongoing on the costs to complete figure. This figure is the estimated cost to complete both vessels since public ownership. It does not include the £45 million loan payments paid to Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (FMEL) and it does not include the £83.25 million payment from Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to FMEL.

Question reference: S6W-16535

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will next meet with each chief executive of Scotland’s enterprise agencies.

Question reference: S6W-15975

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any potential impact of local authorities decreasing relief on non-domestic rates for empty, listed properties.

Empty Property Relief was devolved to councils on 1 April 2023, including non-domestic rates exemptions for unoccupied listed buildings. Listed buildings were specifically included following discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in 2019, as set out in a letter from the then Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy to the Local Government and Communities Committee dated 7 October 2019.

The Scottish Budget 2023-24 confirmed a financial transfer of £105m to local authorities to spend at their discretion, concurrent to this devolution. This allows local authorities to tailor any support for unoccupied property, including listed buildings, to best support their local needs.

The Scottish Government will collect data from local authorities on any local relief awarded to unoccupied properties, including listed buildings, which will inform an early evaluation of the impact of the devolution of EPR in advance of the next revaluation.

Question reference: S6W-15973

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to recommence operations at Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen, in light of reports from 12 February 2023 that there was about to be a "credible bid" made.

My officials in Scottish Enterprise remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators (Interpath Advisory) and continue to work with them to consider all viable options for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen.

The administration process continues to progress and, prior to formal marketing of the site, Interpath Advisory had re-engaged with potential interested parties in February 2023. Discussions between the Joint Administrator and interested parties continue.

Question reference: S6W-15974

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to assist the workforce of Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen, since the paper mill ceased operations.

The Scottish Government, through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), has provided continuous support to assist the workforce of Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen.

On 22 September 2022, PACE information was supplied to the administrator, Interpath Advisory, for distribution to the workforce immediately following the announcement of redundancies, to facilitate their self-referral to PACE services. As previously advised, a PACE support and employment event took place on 29 September, which was attended by approximately 136 individuals, followed by a Jobs Fair on 10 October, which was attended by approximately 500 individuals. Additional PACE support has also been routinely provided to the retained Arjowiggins staff, which included onsite delivery on 11, 24 and 31 January 2023. Further on site delivery may take place with retained staff, should demand be confirmed.

Question reference: S6O-02048

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce bullying in schools.

Question reference: S6O-01987

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would remove its presumption against oil and gas from its Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan in the event that it received significant feedback in favour of such a move.

Question reference: S6O-01961

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the £200 million Aberdeen to Central Belt enhancement project, which aims to reduce travel times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026.

Question reference: S6W-13029

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the late inclusion of Policy 27, part (d) in the revised fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), whether it considered any need to consult further with industry, in light of the change from the initial consultation and in line with section 3CA, part (5) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Consideration was given to the need for consultation in line with section 3CA, part (5), however, further consultation was not required because the changes respond to views received whilst remaining consistent with the original proposals and intent of the earlier draft NPF4.

In relation to Policy 27 (d), the changes represent a strengthening of the policy consulted on in Draft NPF4, not a late inclusion. In the Draft NPF4 (Policy 26(a)), we consulted on restricting drive-throughs in out of town locations and, in response to what consultees told us and through our broader strategy of transitioning to net zero, the policy has been restructured in the Revised Draft version of NPF4. This strengthened policy gives greater focus for local development plans to identify when this type of development might be appropriate. We continue to engage with industry and other stakeholders and interests to raise awareness and provide assurance on all aspects of NPF4.