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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-25801

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25094 by Siobhian Brown on 16 February 2024, whether it is using the population estimate of 5,000 XL Bully-type dogs in Scotland as the basis for its estimates of the financial impact of the new regulations.

It is not known how many XL Bully dogs there are in Scotland. This is within the context of an unknown number of XL Bully dogs in the UK as a whole.

While estimates are challenging, for the purposes of the new safeguards being introduced, the Scottish Government is suggesting that approximately between 5,000 to 15,000 XL Bully dogs may be in Scotland. This estimate carries with it a considerable degree of uncertainty and reflects an estimated range of 50,000 to 150,000 XL Bully dogs in England and Wales.

Question reference: S6W-25709

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to support NHS Ayrshire and Arran to meet the four-hour A&E waiting time target, in light of reported evidence that it has not met this target since July 2020.

Like other NHS Boards and across the UK, NHS Ayrshire and Arran continue to experience challenges in their A&E performance primarily due to capacity shortages. Officials meet regularly with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to ensure progress against their delivery plan which focuses on reducing hospital occupancy and increasing alternatives to admission or attendance. The board have a number of actions underway to support performance recovery including optimisation of their call before you convey and care home referral pathway where residents receive assessment and care within a community setting, avoiding the need for onwards attendance to the acute sites.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) is working with NHS Boards including NHS Ayrshire and Arran to support delivery of the Urgent and Unscheduled Care collaborative, to ensure sustainable ways of delivering services, improving access for patients, and reducing unnecessary demand for services.

Question reference: S6W-25802

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has held any conversations with canine trainers or behaviourists regarding the support that may be needed to allow owners of XL Bully-type dogs to muzzle train their dogs.

The Scottish Government previously engaged with key dog control interests in Scotland, including canine trainers and behaviourists, to help assess the principle of introducing new safeguards for XL Bully dogs, and we continue to regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders to consider the impact of the new safeguards and to consider whether any additional support is needed

The Scottish Government understands the concerns expressed by dog owners about the impact that the new controls may have on their dogs. The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously and is committed to the highest possible welfare standards. There is however a balance to be struck between protecting animal welfare and protecting public safety.

Helpful and practical support and guidance has been published on the Mygov.scot website ( XL Bully dogs in Scotland - mygov.scot ) to ensure owners are made aware of how to comply with the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs.

That Mygov.scot webpage contains links to the support available from both the Dogs Trust and PDSA to assist with muzzle training XL Bully dogs.

Question reference: S6F-02896

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to promote community deer management on publicly owned land.

Question reference: S6W-25507

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many patients have been referred for a CT or MRI head imaging as a result of GP direct access to diagnostic services.

Question reference: S6W-25799

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 1 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been undertaken of the potential impact of short-term let regulations on the Scottish tourism sector and visitor economy, including on (a) visitor attractions, (b) activity providers, (c) service providers and (d) hospitality venues, and, if it is the case that no such analysis has been undertaken, what plans there are to do so.

We have published a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment, which is available on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/short-term-lets-business-regulatory-impact-assessment/

I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25506 on 28 February 2024. 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

Question reference: S6W-25566

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds any data on how many former prisoners who were held in custody as transgender men have de-transitioned since being released from prison.

Question reference: S6W-25570

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds any data on how many former prisoners who were held in custody as transgender women have de-transitioned since being released from prison.

Question reference: S6O-03171

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reopening of the train line south of Ayr, in light of the fire at the Ayr Station Hotel.

Question reference: S6O-03119

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting culture outside of the Central Belt.