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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-16901

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what the (a) short- and (b) long-term impact will be of the reported pause to Scotland’s involvement in the Venice Biennale, in light of the exhibition's reported role in promoting Scottish arts and culture worldwide over the last 20 years.

The Scottish Government recognises the important international platform offered by the Venice Biennale to promote the best contemporary art and architecture from Scotland on the world stage.

The decision by Creative Scotland and the other Scotland + Venice partners to pause their involvement in the Venice Biennale in 2024 allows for an important period of reflection and review.

The decision does not affect the delivery of the 2023 Scotland + Venice Architecture project, A Fragile Correspondence, which will take place in Venice from May – November, this year.

The Scotland + Venice partners will be undertaking sectoral engagement to explore new approaches to the project for the longer term while also looking to identify opportunities for artists and curators to experience the Biennale in 2024.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the Scottish culture sector’s international interests and ambitions and is currently developing an International Culture Strategy to that end.

Question reference: S6W-15995

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it still has an inter-ministerial group on policy coherence for sustainable development, and, if so, how many times it has met since May 2021, and who its members are.

In line with the 2021 Programme for Government commitment, the Ministerial Working Group on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) reconvened and met on 29 June 2022. Going forward, the Ministerial Working Group will support and input to the Wellbeing and Sustainability Bill scheduled to be introduced in 2024 under the stewardship of the Deputy First Minister.

The following Minister’s attended the 29 June 2022 meeting:

Then Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, (Chair) Neil Gray

Then Minister for Equalities and Older People, Christina McKelvie

Then Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport, Maree Todd

Then Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater

Then Minister for Children and Young People, Clare Haughey

Then Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee

It should be noted the Working Group, apart from being Chaired by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, has no fixed membership as Ministers are invited to attend as, and when, areas within their ministerial portfolios are discussed. Our approach is for responsibility for PCSD and its delivery to reside across all Ministerial portfolios, with the Group providing Ministers with the opportunity to reflect on how their portfolios shape and influence these issues, and what is required to improve policy coherence, not just within but across portfolios.

Question reference: S6W-16015

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter from the Scottish Government’s Health Finance Directorate to NHS boards stating that all capital investment projects are paused and that only projects that are legally committed to will be funded for the financial years to 2025-26, whether the plans to build the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion replacement project will be delayed, and when it expects this project will be completed and the asset to be operational.

The Health Finance Directorate has not written to NHS Boards stating that all capital investment projects should be paused. The Directorate does however, engage regularly with all NHS Boards, including NHS Lothian, on the overall funding position for both capital and revenue budgets. The replacement of the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion remains a government priority and the Scottish Government engage regular with the NHS Lothian team on project timescales.

Question reference: S6W-16043

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of GP provision in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6W-16044

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has at any point offered, or signalled support for, health services as part of the Gilmerton Gateway project.

Question reference: S6W-16045

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of primary care provision in Gilmerton.

Question reference: S6W-15999

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07586 by Patrick Harvie on 7 April 2022, for what reason it did not set out more detailed proposals on a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill by the end of 2022.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery wrote to the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 13 December 2022, which provided the Scottish Government’s response to the ‘Ambitions into Action’ Inquiry. The letter expressed the Deputy First Minister’s shared ambition for an NPF that better achieves impact that is recognised and felt by the people who live in Scotland. The letter also set out more details on the development of the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill.

The Committee, in their inquiry into the National Performance Framework, stated that where necessary the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (WSD) Bill should also give legal effect to the outputs of the statutory review of the National Performance Framework and National Outcomes. The Scottish Government is therefore considering how the NPF can be further embedded in the practices of government and public bodies which will therefore form a key part of the development of the WSD Bill.

The Scottish Government continues to develop the policy proposals for the Bill and intended to set out more detailed proposals after the Review of National Outcomes is complete.

Question reference: S6W-16000

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11088 by Patrick Harvie on 29 September 2022, how many organisations it has engaged with since September 2022 regarding establishing a Future Generations Commissioner.

Since 1 September 2022, I have held four meetings with representatives of larger stakeholder groups who have a keen interest in the development of a Wellbeing and Sustainable Bill and the establishment of a Future Generations Commissioner. In addition, I attended the WEAII Wealth of Nations 2.0 Conference joining in discussions with a range of participants in relation to a wellbeing economy and future generations.

Question reference: S6O-02077

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential reduction in taxation revenue from the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax - Green Freeports Relief proposals, which were published for consultation on 17 March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-15437

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14430 by Jamie Hepburn on 9 February 2023, whether it plans to consult with (a) universities and colleges and (b) the National Union of Students Scotland on collecting data on student homelessness, as part of the review of homelessness data collections.

Homelessness data collected by the Scottish Government is management information gathered by local authorities as part of carrying out their statutory duties in providing support to anyone in Scotland who is found to be unintentionally homeless/threatened with homelessness, and who is eligible for homelessness assistance, including students. Detailed information on occupation or student status of household members is not currently collected in the homelessness data returns.

The review of homelessness data collections is considering what changes need to and can be made to data generated by local authorities with the aim of bringing these up to date, improving consistency and better meeting user needs.

A public consultation on changes required for the homelessness data collections was carried out in Winter 2020. No responses were received from universities, colleges or the National Union of Students Scotland. Feedback on Scottish Government homelessness statistics can be provided to the homelessness statistics and analysis team at any time via their dedicated inbox homelessness_statistics_inbox@gov.scot.

Data gaps identified during the development of new homelessness data collection content will be considered as part of the review. Decisions on content will require a balance to be struck between asking local authorities to record any additional information, the resources this would require to implement, data quality and how much this would improve the overall monitoring of homelessness in Scotland.