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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-23051

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide clarification on whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will be replaced or reformed, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills using both terms during her ministerial statement on 7 November 2023.

Yes, the SQA is being replaced with a new qualifications body as part of the Scottish Government’s wider education and skills reform programme.

As part of the process of replacing the SQA, the Scottish Government has opened a consultation on the provisions in the Education Bill. The consultation is seeking views on the establishment of a new qualifications body that will replace the SQA, along with views on changes to education inspection in Scotland. The consultation is open until 18 December.

Question reference: S6W-23049

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the Barnett consequential funding that it received as a result of the UK Government's funding support for swimming pools in England will be distributed.

The funding received was included within the Scottish Government’s Autumn Budget Revision published on 28 September. It also formed part of the consequentials figures included in the Deputy First Minister’s letter to the FPAC on 21 November providing an update on the in-year budget changes.

This funding was utilised to support the range of measures outlined within the Autumn Budget Revision including £264.5 million being provided to Local Government for pay offers, £30 million for additional costs relating to the Ukrainian Resettlement programme and £50 million of additional capital funding being provided to the NHS.

Question reference: S6O-02828

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with East Lothian Council regarding the future of local public service provision in the area, including in relation to the Loch Centre in Tranent.

Question reference: S6W-22798

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider providing East Lothian Council with additional financial assistance to carry out the estimated £4.4 million worth of repairs reportedly required at the Loch Centre in Tranent.

The Scottish Government places great importance on community sports and leisure facilities. They are crucial to the wellbeing of all our country and most importantly, for our children and young people to be healthy and active.

We are fully aware that local authorities are facing challenging financial circumstances, particularly in the maintenance and operating of facilities such as swimming pools, largely due to energy costs and other cost of living pressures. In 2023-24, East Lothian Council will receive £221.5 million to fund local services, which equates to an extra £8.1 million to support vital day to day services or an addition 3.8 per cent compared to 2022-23.

Decisions on future local government finance settlements will be the subject of negotiations with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities and will be announced as part of the outcome of future Scottish Budgets.

The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

sport scotland are supporting Scottish Swimming to undertake the Scottish Swimming Facilities Project. This is a detailed piece of work to accurately understand the current pool provision and life cycle, and to predict the landscape in the short, medium, and long term. This important piece of work can help inform future investment decisions both nationally and locally to ensure sustainable facilities, in the right places, to serve their local communities’ needs.

Question reference: S6W-22799

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it is making available to East Lothian Council to assist with the cost of replacing the 140-year-old primary school in the village of East Linton.

It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, and Scottish Government funding is intended to augment, not replace, local authorities’ own investment in their schools.

East Lothian Council have been awarded financial support through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) for their Wallyford High School and Whitecraig Primary School projects.

In addition, through the previous Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme, the Scottish Government awarded East Lothian Council with funding of £9.5m towards 2 school projects.

As a result of investment by this government, the proportion of schools in “good” or “satisfactory” condition in Scotland has increased from 61% in April 2007 to almost 91% in April 2023. LEIP investment will build on this progress.

We will continue working with COSLA, local authorities and Scottish Futures Trust to explore how we can deliver further improvements in the school estate.

Question reference: S6W-22712

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any potential impact on multiple sclerosis (MS) nurses of the proposed National Care Service.

We remain committed to delivering a National Care Service to improve quality, fairness and consistency of provision that meets individuals’ needs. We are designing the NCS in partnership with stakeholders and experts, including NHS management and clinical staff.

The new national shared accountability framework agreed with COSLA and NHS will improve the experience of people accessing services by introducing a new structure of national oversight to drive consistency of outcomes and maximise the benefits of a reformed local service delivery.

The approach agreed provides that local authorities and Health Boards will retain delivery functions, staff and assets. NHS staff will continue to deliver those health services that are in scope for the NCS, together with existing community health providers.

During regional summer co-design sessions, we asked people with lived experience, third sector and statutory stakeholders about how community health services work with social care support and healthcare services. We will use what we have learned during these forums to continue to develop our approach to community healthcare in the NCS and how the National Care Service and NHS should work together.

Question reference: S6W-22711

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is assessing and monitoring (a) the process of transferring claimants from Personal Independence Payment to Adult Disability Payment and (b) any impact on the individuals involved.

All Personal Independence Payment awards received from the Department for Work and Pensions are tracked throughout the case transfer process, to ensure a safe and secure transition into Adult Disability Payment. We monitor the progress of transferring clients’ awards on a daily basis and have a joint Scottish Government and Department for Work and Pensions forum to discuss progress and to raise and address any issues that may arise. Approximately 90% of all cases transferred from Personal Independence Payment progress through the process automatically and do not require any additional checks by client advisers.

Social Security Scotland ask clients about their experiences of case transfer as part of their regular client survey. The latest published survey covers January to March 2023 and can be found on the Social Security Scotland website. The Scottish Government are also currently undertaking an evaluation of case transfers to Child and Adult Disability Payment as part of the wider programme of evaluation of disability benefits.

Question reference: S6W-22708

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, since August 2022, what percentage of claimants to be automatically transferred to Adult Disability Payment have been transferred because (a) their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award is due to be reviewed, (b) their PIP award is coming to an end and (c) they have reported a change in circumstances to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Official statistics show that as of 31 July 2023, 51,260 people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance had their award transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland. This accounts for 55% of the Adult Disability Payment caseload.

Information is not readily available showing a breakdown of the reasons for transfers from Personal Independence Payment to Adult Disability Payment. The next set of statistics covering the quarter up until end of October 2023 are due to be published on 19 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22709

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it expects to meet its target for transferring all Personal Independence Payment claimants to Adult Disability Payment by the end of 2025.

Question reference: S6W-22801

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported cumulative funding gap in excess of £71 million in East Lothian Council’s budget over the next five years, whether it will explore options for providing the local authority with additional funding to pay for any new infrastructure and other services needed to cope with the reportedly significant growth that it is experiencing.

The Deputy First Minister met with representatives of East Lothian Council on 23 August 2023 to discuss the specific challenges facing East Lothian, including population growth.

We are committed to taking forward work through the More Balanced Population strand of our Population Strategy, in partnership with COSLA and local authorities, to ensure a robust and sustainable footing for our communities irrespective of whether they are projected to see growth or decline in their respective populations.

Work is also ongoing with COSLA to establish a new fiscal framework for councils through the Verity House Agreement, a landmark agreement that is forging a stronger partnership between the Scottish Government and local councils to ensure that the people of Scotland continue to receive the high quality frontline services and support that they expect and deserve.

Decisions on future local government settlements will be the subject of negotiations with COSLA on behalf of all 32 local authorities and will be announced as part of the outcome of future Scottish Budgets.