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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-05769

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 31 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to travel agents to assist them in their recovery from the financial impact on their businesses of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

We know this is a difficult time for travel agents and we have had to make tough decisions to target funding to sectors immediately impacted by the updated public health guidance.

Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have benefitted from more than £4.4bn in support from the Scottish Government. This includes support for travel agents who benefited from sectoral grants of up to £25,000 per premises this year in addition to other support including the Strategic Framework Business Fund grants, Restart Grants, Contingency Fund, Non-Domestic Rates relief and furlough payments for staff.

We recently announced £375m of support for businesses impacted by the necessary public health measures introduced to control the spread of Omicron and have provided details on how £276 million of this will be allocated. Decisions on the allocation of the remaining funds will be confirmed following further consultation with affected sectors on how it can best be targeted.

Question reference: S6O-00720

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the services available to people with gambling addiction.

Question reference: S6W-05378

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were in the (a) higher and (b) top income tax bands in April 2021.

Question reference: S6W-05379

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people it anticipates will be in the (a) higher and (b) top income tax bands in April 2022.

Question reference: S6O-00690

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of its Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan.

Question reference: S6F-00650

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government will take to urgently progress the green transition in North Ayrshire, following the closure of Hunterston B power station on 7 January.

Question reference: S6W-04890

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend in the current financial year (a) on welfare, (b) on telecoms and (c) in total in order to mitigate any impact of decisions taken by the UK Government.

Estimated spend on the specified areas is detailed in the following table (this doesn't include the circa £3.5 billion of Social Security benefits which while devolved supports and supplements UK welfare benefits):-

Portfolio	Level 4	2021-22 Budget Amount (£m)	Associated Reserve Power	Assumption for inclusion
Safer Communities	Scottish Veterans Fund and the administration of the fund by Veterans Scotland, Capacity Building Grant for Veterans Scotland and supports Ministerial input to Commemorations.	0.5	Defence	Provides support for those in armed forces which links to defence
CEAC	International Development Fund	10.0	Foreign policy	Supports development programmes delivered by a range of organisations in Scotland. In line with Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, and underpinning agreement from the UK Government giving Scottish Ministers the necessary powers to undertake International Development work.
CEAC	Humanitarian Aid	1.0	Foreign policy	Budget for Humanitarian Emergency Fund. In line with Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.
F&E	Capital costs relating to improving digital connectivity infrastructure across Scotland.	98.2	Telecomms	Telecoms is a reserved policy area.
F&E	Resource costs relating to improving digital connectivity infrastructure across Scotland.	4.1	Telecomms	Telecoms is a reserved policy area.
Justice	Support for the armed forces and veterans community in Scotland.	1.5	Defence	Provides support for those in armed forces which links to defence
F&E	Employability - Fair Start Scotland	34.1	Employment	Funds employment support services for those most in need of support. Job search and support is reserved (except education, vocational and careers services)
F&E	Employability & workforce skills	22.0	Employment	Funds a range of employability services included for disadvantaged, disabled, care-experienced. Job search and support is reserved.
SJH&LG	Equalities	30.5	Equal opportunities	Promoting Equality and Human Rights which links to Equal opportunities
F&E	Consumer Scotland Policy and Advice	4.6	Consumer Protection	The consumer policy and advice budget is to allow the delivery of advice to citizens across Scotland by the Citizens Advice Network on consumer matters and to ensure consumer interests are represented to government, regulators and decision-makers. It will also support the establishment of a new public body Consumer Scotland to represent consumer interests.
F&E	Accountant in Bankruptcy	2.5	Insolvency	Linked to insolvency which is reserved. The budget continues to allow Accountant in Bankruptcy to ensure access to fair and just processes of debt relief and debt management for the people of Scotland, which takes account of the rights and interests of those involved.
F&E	Business Economic Network Support	2.0	Business Associations	This could be linked to business associations spend which is reserved. This budget covers the costs (principally in relation to accommodation, catering, travel and subsistence) involved in the biannual meetings of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands, a range of minor costs associated with sponsorship of SE and HIE.
F&E	Innovation and Industries (Aerospace Research & Development)	1.0	Outer Space	New capital funding to support Aerospace Research & Development, therefore could be linked to outer space which is reserved.
F&E	International Trade and Investment	18.0	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved. The Budget reflects Scottish Government’s increased ambition for internationalisation of the economy and will support delivery of the actions outlined in our three international economy plans for Inward Investment, Trade and Capital - all underpinned by our soon to be published values led Trade Vision.
F&E	Enterprise Zones	39.0	Industrial Development	NMIS and AMCF support manufacturing section which could be linked to industrial development. ‎ Support for the manufacturing sector and continued business engagement, it includes funding to progress the new National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) with the aim to develop and enhance skills, accelerate innovation and improve productivity.
F&E	Low Carbon Economy (Green Jobs Fund)	4.9	Employment ‎ Industrial Development ‎ Energy	Links to 3 reserved areas. This budget line has a focus on supporting our low carbon economy ambitions. Includes Green Jobs Fund (Supply Chain Development) ), Low Carbon Manufacturing Fund (£26m over 5 years) and Clyde Mission Low Carbon Heating (£25m over 5 years). Link to employment, Industrial development and energy.
NZ,E&T	Sustainable Action Fund (Climate Justice Fund)	1.7	International Relations	Climate Justice Fund purpose is to help fight global climate change therefore is linked to international relations which is reserved (note there is a separate FOI request about this fund specifically, following FM's announcement to treble the funding - 202100252499)
NZ,E&T	Sustainable Action Fund (Climate Challenge Programme Malawi)	0.8	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved
NZ,E&T	Climate Change Policy (International)	1.5	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved
NZ,E&T	Energy Efficiency and Industries	108.5	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ This budget supports the promotion of energy efficiency, the continual development of Energy Efficient Scotland and supporting heat decarbonisation. It includes funding to support major capital funding programmes to decarbonise the buildings in the non-domestic and public sectors; projects supporting the transition phase of Energy Efficient Scotland; development of district heating regulations and legislation; provision of programmes of advice and support to encourage the continued uptake of home renewables and non-domestic energy efficiency measures.
NZ,E&T	Renewable and Community Energy	38.8	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ In recognition of the potential of wind, hydro, wave and tidal energy to curb global emissions, this budget supports renewable energy projects, including support for the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). It also helps increase community ownership of renewable energy developments and supports renewables workforce development.
NZ,E&T	Low Carbon Economy	50.9	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ The low carbon economy budget is aimed at supporting the development of low carbon infrastructure projects including heat networks and the development of innovative financial mechanisms to encourage investment in low carbon infrastructure.
NZ,E&T	Energy Consents, Strategy and Operations	2.4	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ Energy Consents Unit processes applications for onshore wind farms, battery storage and other energy related projects. The bulk of spend is on staffing and related costs.
SJ,H&LG	Discretionary Housing Payments	83.1	Social Security (non-devolved social security schemes)	Funding for Discretionary Housing Payments to fully mitigate losses as a result of the "bedroom tax". Of the total, £71m is anticipated to be spent on bedroom tax mitigation. Also allows Local Authorities to provide support to qualifying individuals in housing crisis, including support for those affected by Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and benefit cap. These benefits are reserved.
SJ,H&LG	Promoting Equality and Human Rights	32.3	Equal Opportunities	Equal opportunities is reserved. This budget supports the equality and human rights infrastructure across Scotland. Investing in the capacity of equality organisations; Strategic Interventions to support key equality outcomes; and specific funds to support frontline activity to address violence against women and to support activities to promote equality and human rights.
	TOTAL	593.9

Question reference: S6O-00540

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making for holding an independence referendum in the first half of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-04194

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to spend on reserved policy areas in 2021-22, with itemised details for each expenditure line.

Question reference: S6W-04570

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much North Ayrshire Council will pay in Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) payments in the financial year 2021-22.