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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-22078

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its position on aligning its Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) with Scotland’s pathway for achieving net zero and (b) whether it has discussed creating a new methodology for assessing the contribution of individual infrastructure projects within the IIP to greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

Scottish Ministers are committed to complying fully with the requirements of section 94A of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and are engaging with Environmental Standards Scotland on this matter through the informal resolution process. To this end, the Scottish Ministers intend to publish an assessment of the extent to which investment in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment Plan is expected to contribute to the meeting of the emissions reduction targets in Part 1 of the 2009 Act. In the context of the informal resolution process, it is the Scottish Ministers’ intention to share with ESS the proposed assessment prior to publication. This will be done as soon as possible and before the end of the calendar year, with publication anticipated in early course thereafter.

An enhanced taxonomy approach will be adopted and will include an assessment on whether the IIP is contributing positively to the emissions reduction targets.

As set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan, Scottish Ministers are committed to considering developments in methodologies for assessing the contribution of infrastructure investment plans to the emission targets and this will be pursued in relation to future IIPs.

Question reference: S6W-22437

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what assessment it has made of any additional revenue raising tools, such as ticket levies on large music events and areas, to support grassroots music venues and the talent pipeline.

The Scottish Government values our culture sector and the contribution of the grassroots music industry to the cultural and economic offer in Scotland. I met with Music Venue Trust on 20 September to discuss the challenges faced by grassroots music venues, and their proposal to develop a ticket levy. I recommended that the Music Venue Trust asks the Cross-Party Group for Music to convene an industry roundtable to discuss the proposal.

Question reference: S6W-22436

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to support grassroots music venues across Scotland.

The Scottish Government fully values the important contributions that grassroots music venues provide for Scotland and recognise the role venues play in skills development and the talent pipeline. I met with the Music Venue Trust on 20 September to better understand how we can further support the music sector and grassroots music venues. The outcomes of this meetings are included in my answer to question S6W-21872 on 20 October 2023. 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: S6F-02494

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2023

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is making public transport more affordable.

Question reference: S6W-22564

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on developments regarding access to bus travel.

On 28 October 2023 the Scottish Government announced that £2 million will be made available in next year’s budget to progress free bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland. Work will continue to establish the most appropriate way to extend this support, given that in broad terms immigration is reserved to the UK Government.

This announcement is the next step in making sure our transport system, and our country, is fair and accessible to all. In taking these next steps we will consider the impact on people we are seeking to support.

Question reference: S6O-02678

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to residents who have been required to evacuate their properties due to deteriorating reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Question reference: S6W-21615

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19419 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 July 2023, whether any more local authorities have submitted assessments to identify any roads that are appropriate for the adoption of 20mph speed limits.

Question reference: S6O-02591

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-02561

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations regarding taxation policy in Oxfam GB's analysis, Payment Overdue: Fair ways to make polluters across the UK pay for climate justice.

Question reference: S6W-21092

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

We have today published a consultation on our Biodiversity Framework. The Framework will accelerate the pace and scale of our efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity, creating a nature positive Scotland and supporting people and communities to take the opportunities presented by restoring and protecting our natural environment. It includes an updated version of our Biodiversity Strategy, which takes into account the outcomes of CoP15 and the new Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as the first underpinning Delivery Plan, where we set out a range of ambitious and wide reaching actions to tackle the nature crisis. The Consultation also includes draft frameworks which set out the Vision and Principles that will underpin delivery of our commitment to protect 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030, and to create nature networks across Scotland. Elements of the proposed Natural Environment Bill are also being consulted upon, including our proposal to create statutory nature restoration targets, and enhancements to National Parks legislation to reflect the important role our Parks already play in tackling the biodiversity and climate crisis. The consultation and associated documents are available at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835212769 .