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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-24706

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessments have been undertaken by, or with the involvement of, any of its agencies regarding projects seeking to utilise private investment in nature, woodland creation and peatland restoration, and whether it will publish any such assessments.

Question reference: S6W-24705

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 26 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress on the development of the Natural Capital Market Framework announced in its Programme for Government 2023-24; what consultation has taken place on this to date; what further consultation is planned on the proposed contents of the framework, and who it plans to consult.

Scotland’s Market Framework for natural capital markets aims to guide the development of responsible, high-integrity and values led natural capital markets in Scotland by setting out a clear long-term vision, a policy framework and guidance for market participants.

The project is currently in its discovery phase; desk-based research has been undertaken to collate existing evidence. We are also developing our engagement plan to help support and empower people to actively participate in the definition, design and delivery of the framework.

In the Spring, the project will enter its engagement and co-development phase. Stakeholders with a known interest will be approached within their existing networks. We will also host a series of open workshops for those with a general interest and ensure there is an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their reflections in writing.

Question reference: S6O-03033

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to tackle any police staffing shortages and operational capacity issues in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S6W-24400

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to make regulations under section 4 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 to enable pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.

Section 4 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) provides the Scottish Ministers with a regulation-making power to enable marriages to become civil partnerships, if the parties so wish. The Scottish Ministers have not yet made regulations under section 4 as the Scottish Government wishes to ensure that couples who change their marriage to civil partnership have full rights and responsibilities, including in relation to reserved and cross-UK border matters. There are potential points arising on aspects of pensions (which are generally reserved) and on the recognition in England and Wales and Northern Ireland of marriages changed to civil partnerships in Scotland.

In line with usual practice, we have, therefore, been in discussions with the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (OSSS) on making an Order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 (legislation.gov.uk) on UK consequential legislation following the 2020 Act.

On 17 November 2022, officials in the OSSS advised Scottish Government officials that “the UK Government is not yet in a position to make a decision on the recognition of converted Scottish civil partnerships in England and Wales.” Following this, Scottish Government officials sent the OSSS on 21 December 2022 a revised policy proposal for a section 104 Order relating to changing marriages to civil partnerships covering the reserved law of Scotland only. There has been no substantive progress on this proposal in 2023.

I have written to the Secretary of State for Scotland to ask about progress in taking forward the proposal we sent to them on 21 December 2022. I also said in my letter to the Secretary of State that if the UK Government does not consider the December 2022 proposal is an appropriate way forward, it would be useful if he could outline what would be appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-24104

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confirmed that the new ferries for the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy route will be able to dock at (a) Uig, (b) Tarbert and (c) Lochmaddy Harbour.

Question reference: S6W-24399

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23840 by Mairi Gougeon on 22 December 2023, regarding the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022, for what reason it was unable to begin the consultation process in sufficient time to allow the draft Plan to be implemented within the original timeframe.

Writing the national Good Food Nation Plan required an extensive internal drafting process, co-ordinating input from across multiple areas of government. This is the first iteration of the Plan and so there was a large amount of feedback on the initial draft, which we had to carefully consider and incorporate.

It is our intention to publish the draft national Good Food Nation Plan for consultation shortly.

Question reference: S6W-24105

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any customers who had bookings on the cancelled Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy ferry service between 16 and 21 December 2023, what specific support and alternative arrangements are being provided.

Question reference: S6W-24103

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what communication there was between the Highland Council, RJ MacLeod, CMAL and CalMac regarding the issues with new restraint bollards that led to the delayed reopening of Uig Harbour.

Question reference: S6W-24084

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment in its refreshed Equally Safe strategy of December 2023 to "eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls" (VAWG), what specific action it will propose to eliminate the various forms of VAWG identified in the strategy, in particular "commercial sexual exploitation, including prostitution".

The Scottish Government will publish a Framework that effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution, and to support those with experience of it, early this year. The Framework takes a holistic approach, recognising the links to wider forms of commercial sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls - aligning with the refresh of our Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy and Equally Safe.

In parallel, and to support this approach, the Framework’s implementation will be supported by the creation of a new multi-agency stakeholder group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation. More details will be made available once the group has been established.

Question reference: S6W-24083

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recognition in its Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, published in November 2023, of "behaviours which are particularly linked to human trafficking and exploitation, such as commercial sexual exploitation", what action it will propose to criminalise men who purchase women for sex.

The Scottish Government will publish a Framework to challenge men’s demand for prostitution and to support those with experience of it, early this year. The Framework will form part of Scotland’s collective approach to tackling commercial sexual exploitation and is cognisant of its links to Scotland’s Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy.

Once published, our focus will be on the delivery of the Framework, which will also improve access to support for women with experience of prostitution, with the implementation of it helping to inform any future legislative considerations.