Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 2293 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-24353

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to delivering a Green Jobs Fund of £100 million to the five-year timescale set out in its Programme for Government 2020-21.

The Green Jobs Fund was created to support new and increased opportunities for green job creation across Scotland, by providing up to £100 million capital investment over a five year term.

Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise are working to deliver £50 million to businesses which provide sustainable or low carbon products and services to help them develop, grow and create jobs. Up to a further £50 million is aimed at supporting businesses and their supply chains create and safeguard jobs by investing in equipment, premises, research and development.

While public sector budgets are now under extreme pressure, the Scottish Government continues to invest in supporting existing businesses to transition to a low carbon environment and looking to fund new and innovative projects, which will take time to develop and deliver, and could result in more funding being required over the latter part of the five year term, as these newer markets grow and mature.

Question reference: S6W-24522

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund opening for applications on 29 January 2024 to support industrial sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to decarbonise, when it will open the next phase of the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to support Scottish businesses to decarbonise.

During 2020, Scottish Ministers announced their intention to administer a separate fund to the UK Government's Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and that more funds would be available for Scottish Industries than received as Barnett consequentials. We are in the process of concluding the due diligence process for SIETF applications and in the coming weeks intend to announce a further set of projects. Following this, we will engage with industrial representatives regarding potential proposals for future decarbonisation initiatives, including the possibility of a next phase for SIETF.

Question reference: S6W-24387

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial working groups there are that are currently in operation across the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio, and whether it will provide a list of any such groups.

There are currently 21 ministerial working groups that fall under the remit of the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio. In addition, portfolio Ministers sit on a number of ministerial working groups which are led by other Scottish Government portfolios.

Ministerial working groups that are headed by the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio remit are as follows:

FM Environment Council

National Strategy for 20mph Working Group

National Litter and Flytipping Forum

Storm Babet Ministerial Taskforce

National Strategy for Economic Trans Private Investment in Natural Capital Working Group

Deposit Return Scheme Ministerial Strategic Assurance Group

National Transport Strategy Delivery Board

National Transport Strategy Business Group

Orkney Ferry Replacement Task Force

Shetland Ferry Replacement Task Force

A83 Taskforce Group

LEZ Leadership Group

SEFARI Gateway Waste Emissions Specialist Advisory Group

Environment and Economy Leaders' Group (EELG)

Cleaner Air for Scotland 2: Ministerial Group

Peatland Expert Advisory Group

Green Heat Finance Taskforce

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Ministerial Group

Climate Change Plan Advisory Group

Scottish Aquaculture Council

Hydro Nation Forum

Question reference: S6W-24385

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many Cabinet sub-committees are currently in operation, and what the (a) title and (b) membership is of each.

There are currently 5 Cabinet Sub-Committees in operation, the titles and membership of which are set out in the following table.

Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC)

Membership

CSC on Legislation

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance(Chair)

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights

Lord Advocate

CSC on Local Government New Deal

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance(Chair)

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition

Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport

CSC on the Climate Emergency

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition (Chair)

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Minister for Transport

Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights

Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade

Minister for Energy and the Environment

Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

CSC on the National Care Service

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance(Chair)

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy

Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport

Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel & Tenants’ Rights

Lord Advocate

CSC on The Promise

First Minister (Chair)

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice?

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs?

Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport

Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy

Question reference: S6W-24457

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated impact of any increase in funding for community eye healthcare will be on patients in (a) Edinburgh and (b) the Lothians.

The 2024-25 draft Scottish Budget document, published on 19 December, set out a budget of £130.1m for community eyecare services. This increase in the budget provision supports national provision of free universal NHS eye examinations, NHS optical vouchers for eligible persons to help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses, and new NHS services such as the Community Glaucoma Service which will enable patients to be seen closer to home.

The Scottish Government can confirm that patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians will continue to benefit as recipients of these national policies.

Question reference: S6W-24389

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what reporting arrangements have been put in place regarding the role of the Deputy First Minister in co-ordinating cross government delivery, as referred to in the cabinet secretary mandate letters for the financial year 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-24370

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the consultation on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters, what its position is on whether any such closures would be considered to be an important measure in compensating for the potential environmental impact of offshore wind farms.

I refer to my answer to question S6W-24369 on 18 January 2024. The suitability of any closure of the sandeel fishery in Scottish waters as a compensatory measure for potential impacts from offshore wind farms will be considered by Scottish Ministers if and when such a case for compensation may be required and according to the merits of that specific case.

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-24369

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the consultation on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters, what its position is on whether the benefit of any such closures would be considered to be an appropriate compensation measure for offshore wind farm developments that are required to seek derogation under the relevant habitats regulations.

Scottish Ministers will consider the suitability of any measures proposed as compensation as part of a case for derogating from the habitats regulations at the appropriate stage in the process, if and when such a derogation case may be required. This applies to any closure of the sandeel fishery in Scottish waters which may be proposed as a compensation measure for offshore wind farm developments.

Question reference: S6W-24386

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial working groups there are that are currently in operation across the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio, and whether it will provide a list of any such groups.

There are 21 Ministerial Working Groups that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Portfolio which are currently in operation. They are:

1. Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Ministerial Forum

2. Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill steering Group

3. Construction Leadership Forum

4. Fair Work Oversight Group

5. Financial Services Growth & Development Board (FISGAD)

6. Grangemouth Future Industry Board

7. Hydrogen Industry Forum

8. Industry Leadership Group Chairs Roundtable (ILG CRT)

9. Manufacturing Strategic Leadership Group

10. National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board

11. New Deal for Business Group (NDBG)

12. Non-domestic energy consumers working group

13. Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Short Life Working Group

14. Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group

15. Retail Industry Leadership Group [please note this group is economy related but chaired by the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning]

16. Rural energy consumers working group

17. SEAB: the Scottish Energy Advisory Board

18. Tourism & Hospitality Industry Leadership Group

19. Trade Board

20. Vulnerable energy consumers working group

21. Wellbeing Economy Expert Advisory Group (WEEAG)

Please note these groups will be kept under review.

Question reference: S6O-03019

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with Police Scotland regarding potential station closures in Edinburgh.