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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-09801

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent consideration it has given to the issue of incontinence poverty.

NHS Boards regularly assess continence patients' needs, with the assessments undertaken by dedicated Bladder and Bowel Teams or community nursing staff. This ensures that patients' needs are met, either through treatment or through provision of appropriate containment products. Referrals can also be made by patients' GPs where necessary, and also by a range of other healthcare professionals including pharmacists, consultants and care home staff.

Where a patient has been assessed as requiring continence products, they are provided by their local NHS Board's continence service on prescription.

Question reference: S6W-09493

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what further upgrades it has planned for the A77 in 2022.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving safety on our trunk roads including the A77. While there are no road improvement schemes or upgrades planned for the A77 in 2022, £6.75m has been allocated for the A77 through our provisional road maintenance programme for financial year 2022-23.

The Scottish Government has invested over £105 million on the A77 since 2007 to March 2022 to ensure its safe and efficient operation. In addition, we have spent approximately £64 million on five separate road schemes on the A77 including the recent completion of the £29m Maybole bypass which opened in January 2022 .

Question reference: S6W-09563

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many times Scotland Office ministers have requested a meeting with the Minister for Transport regarding the A77 and A75, and how many such meetings have taken place.

Question reference: S6W-09609

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that burial chambers are checked throughout Scotland, and what can SEPA do to assist regarding the situation at Ayr and Troon cemeteries.

Responsibility for the maintenance, upkeep and management of burial grounds in Scotland rests with the relevant burial authority: in the case of Ayr and Troon cemeteries, this is South Ayrshire Council. The Scottish Government has no locus to become involved in operational matters.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed that local authorities are the lead regulator for new burial grounds or extensions to existing burial grounds. SEPA’s role is to provide advice to the local authority on environmental risks during the planning consultation process.

SEPA has no direct role in the maintenance or safety of burial grounds and local authorities are not required to consult with SEPA once planning permission has been granted. SEPA can provide technical advice to the local authority should they request it.

The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring the respect and dignity of the deceased and the bereaved and will continue to engage with South Ayrshire Council on these matters and on what steps can be taken to avoid similar situations from occurring again.

Question reference: S6W-09298

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) encourage applications and (b) make an application itself for Scottish sites to feature on a new tentative list of natural, cultural and mixed sites for potential nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Scottish Government recognises the great value of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, and the impact which this celebrated international recognition can offer to both individual sites, as well as to the wider national natural, culture and heritage sectors. Through our sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, advice and guidance is delivered to support many local organisations and groups across the country, to develop and deliver appropriate maintenance plans and sustainable business models for a wide variety of sites.

When the UK Government decided to review and invite new applications to the UK’s World Heritage tentative list, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Constitution and External Affairs wrote to Nigel Huddleston MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that there would be representation from all UK nations on the independent panel of heritage experts who will be reviewing the applications.

Expressions of interest were due to be submitted by 6 May, with a full application form due by 15 July so that the expert panel can fully assess each application for suitability for inclusion.

Question reference: S6W-09266

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact of industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions, what recent discussions it has had with representatives from the theatre and cultural sector.

Question reference: S6W-09267

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of planned industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions, what mitigation measures it is putting in place to reduce any impact on the theatre sector and the wider night-time economy.

I recognise that the industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions is having an impact on the culture sector at a time when it has been seeking to recover from the Covid19 pandemic.

Scottish Ministers and officials from the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have been engaging closely with stakeholders in the culture and major events sectors on the impact of the industrial action.

The ScotRail planning team successfully managed to develop and schedule additional late night services specifically for Friday and Saturday nights across several key routes:

Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen St
Edinburgh – North Berwick / Kirkcaldy / Fife
Stirling – Edinburgh / Glasgow Queen St
Glasgow Central – Ayr / Gourock / East Kilbride / Neilston
Aberdeen – Inverurie

There is positive progress being made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, and I am hopeful that additional services will be added in the near future.

Question reference: S6W-09268

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of planned industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions, what its current assessment is of the potential impact that any such action could have on theatres and the wider night-time and cultural economies.

I recognise the potential impact of industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions on the culture sector at a time when it has been seeking to recover from the Covid19 pandemic.

Officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, including through engagement with organisations representing hospitality, cultural and events stakeholders.

There is positive progress being made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, and I am hopeful that additional services will be added in the near future.

Question reference: S6W-09265

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will offer to the theatre, cultural and night-time industries in the event that the proposed industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions continues throughout the summer.

I recognise that the industrial action by the RMT and ASLEF unions is having an impact on the culture sector at a time when it has been seeking to recover from the Covid19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government has provided financial support to the culture sector to support their recovery from the pandemic. This includes £3.2m for a recovery fund for independent cinema and £20.8m for a recovery fund for cultural organisations.

Officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, including through engagement with organisations representing hospitality, cultural and events stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-09297

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools in Scotland chose (a) not to opt in and (b) to opt in to receive a copy of the Platinum Jubilee book, Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration.